#re_con01

The two current sites for RE_CON 01 and RE_CON 02 are narrower than the previous site at 318 N St Clair, with each lot measuring 24’ 4”. This change in size meant that is was important for us to start by critically refining the plan. The narrower width of the lots is also reflective of the size of most lots around the city, with 25’ being the most common width dimension. The sketch shown here is a quick and initial plan study that focuses on the movement of the sun. The studio has worked extensively through multiple iterations of plan drawings to experiment with core placement, variations on stair, and overall circulation paths.

The mission of the UDBS is to develop appropriate, affordable, replicable, and regionally-specific design solutions. For the RE_CON housing initiative, this means developing a system of prototypical houses that can be replicated across the Pittsburgh landscape. The varied topography of Pittsburgh has created a street infrastructure that is formed by the intersection of multiple street grids. Thus, there are a variety of different parcel orientations and ways that land is organized. To accommodate our goals for replicability, we looked at replicability at two scales: the interior scalability of space and the exterior adaptability of the facade/shell. The stair and mechanical core anchors the home in the top row across the page, diagramming how spaces can extend out or scale back depending on the dimensions of the lot. The width of the proposal would remain consistent as it is the most accommodating of the three most prevalent lot sizes. The bottom row exemplifies the environmental adaptability of exterior elements such as shading, overhangs, porches and trellises whilst still maintaining the same core and body.

Jay and I have been looking at developing an MEP core for the RE_CON 01 and RE_CON 02 houses, and, after looking at a plethora of products, we have come up with a number of proposals - combinations of various energy star rated equipment. We based our selections on attempting to balance the initial cost as well as the potential for long time savings by virtue of the quality of the equipment. Our selections were also steered by the extensive research on PHIUS certified passive houses in the state of Pennsylvania that I mentioned earlier. So far, we have specified 3 mechanical heating/cooling systems -  a conventional central gas furnace/AC package with an ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) and single and multiple combined multi zone ductless heat/AC heat pump with ERV. The 2 domestic hot water systems we have specified include a conventional 50 gallon tank capacity gas fueled system and a tankless gas fueled system. While all these systems are viable, we are in the process of weighing out the advantages and disadvantages of these and narrowing them down to use the ones that best fit the homes. Since the design of the homes is still an ongoing process, it is a little difficult to size the equipment perfectly and we are continuing work on calculated assumptions and rules of thumb. We are also considering radiant floor heating systems and solar photovoltaics to add to our energy savings in the long run.

What drew me to this meeting was the discussion of potential policy change in response to people’s needs, and this meeting was in East Liberty, the neighborhood where RE_CON 01 will be located. Issues brought up at this meeting  were directly related to those discussed in Matthew Desmond’s book Evicted. Concerns for residents with criminal records were raised, with a suggested policy change on the table to prevent landlords from using criminal history to discriminate against people. I suggested the creation of a policy that created Miranda Rights of sorts for those who find themselves being evicted so that it is a requirement that residents are informed of their rights when being served an eviction. Other suggestions included preventing landlords from initiating evictions for the same people monthly, creating a system where people can have their eviction record expunged, and making sure that landlords can be held accountable without causing their tenants to lose their homes. While it was great to be a part of the conversation, we were there mainly to listen to members of the community that we are doing work in, to see the issues that they deal with, that they see their families deal with in regards to housing specific to their neighborhood. It is important that architects take these opportunities to understand the nuance and variety of issues specific to the neighborhoods that they work in.

The larger sketch shows a section through the switchback stairs in the center of the home.  The section 1) shifts the traditional house gable roof to the side in order to maximize the ceiling height and the top of the stair, as well as keep the height of the home down to prevent our design from dwarfing the neighboring homes.  This home also 2) provides a basement and brings the house above eye level thus creating, what Jay and I believe to be, an appropriate height above the street for the porch.  This height is similar to the height illustrated in the first social porch section.

Every Wednesday, the UDBS meets with our Reality Computing team to collaborate on the integration of a virtual reality environment into the HOME_Inc.UBATOR.  On one of those Wednesdays, the IDeATe Professor, Tom Corbett, walked us through navigation of a virtual reality experience within Google Earth.  In the video attached he shows briefly how to navigate the environment, change the time of day and shifting between google street views and aerial views.