Favela Pods, Diploma Technical Submission
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Favela Pods Diploma 5th year project By Nick Varey Unit XS
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Nick Varey, University of Greenwich 5th year Diploma student. Unit XS, Kevin Rhowbotham
Transcript of Favela Pods, Diploma Technical Submission
Papercrete infill panels
Compact toilet -rotates out for use
Glulam pillars
Retractable ladder
Roll up bed
Clothing storage and push out drying panel
Mor�se & Tenon joint
Entrance
Fave
la P
ods
Dipl
oma
5th
year
pro
ject
By N
ick V
arey
Unit
XS
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
2 Co
nten
ts
06 General arrangement— General arrangement intro and plans— General arrangement elevation
07 Site construction and build— Series of construction renders— Site preparation— Piling— Super Structure— Super structure detail— Pod support details— Pod exploded details— Internal structure
08 Building materials— Papercrete— Glulam
09 Object specification— Object specification renders— Lantern renders (night)— Toilet and shower renders— Solar powered shower system— Water collection system— Fire escape
10 Site and project management— Site management and contract
01 Project outline— Project brief and outline— Personal statement and goals of project— Project Story— City Introduction and outline— Site Details
02 Precedent studies— Precedent study #1— Precedent study #2
03 Scheme— Scheme introduction— Concept final render— Design development— Night renderings on site
04 Final renderings— Pod arrangement render— Whole page render #1— Whole page render #2
05 Internal space and details— Internal renders— Plans and sections— Elevations— Joinery details
01
01 P
roje
ct o
utlin
e
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
6 Pr
ojec
t brie
f and
out
line
Fave
la P
odTh
e pr
ogra
mm
e of
my
arch
itect
ural
prop
osal
will
deve
lop
the
them
e of
hom
o m
achi
nae,
hum
an/m
achi
ne,
from
the
pers
pect
ive o
f hom
o lu
dens
(play
ing
hum
an) a
s op
pose
d to
hom
o fa
ber (
wor
king
hum
an).
KEY DEFINITIONS —Hom Ludens or “Man the Player” (alternatively, “Playing Man”) is a book written in 1938 by Dutch historian, cultural theorist and professor Johan Huizinga. It discusses the importance of the play element of culture and society. Huizinga uses the term “Play Theory” within the book to define the conceptual space in which play occurs. Huizinga suggests that play is primary to and a necessary (though not sufficient) condition of the generation of culture.
Homo faber (Latin for “Man the Creator” in reference to homo sapiens meaning “wise man”) is a philosophical concept articulated by Hannah Arendt and Max Scheler that refers to humans as controlling the environment through tools. Henri Bergson also referred to the concept in The Creative Evolution (1907), defining intelligence, in its original sense, as the “faculty to create artificial objects, in particular tools to make tools, and to indefinitely variate its makings.”
In anthropology, Homo faber, as the “working man”, is confronted with Homo Ludens, the “playing man”, who is concerned with amusements, humor, and leisure.
Specifically, the programme will address the issue of how we can occupy the hostile environment of a highway intersection in one of the world’s busiest, and most polluted cities. The issues related to using such a site can be divided 2 fold; programme specific issues relating to how the project is pursued, and site specific issues that will affect any programmatic system employed.
The sites themselves offer unique spatial arrangements that relate to how not only people, but vehicles move through the space. The dominant presence of the motor vehicle, and the space occupied by the road network make any proposed programme on the site a secondary entity within the area, having to exist within parameters outlined by the roads. These parameters include, but are not limited to:
Noise Pollution Access restrictions
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
8 Pe
rson
al st
atem
ent a
nd g
oals
of p
rojec
t
When attempting to address this complex series of issues relating to the site, I wanted to explore a programme pertinent to my chosen part of the world, that would, in my opinion, not only address the conditions imposed by the site, but also serve to address a prevalent architectural question that exists within the region.
This, as I see it is the necessary way to develop the programatic approach in this specific site. The area is such that it calls for an architectural response that could perhaps otherwise not exist elsewhere. The nature of the site, and its undesirable nature creates an environment suited to an architecture that would perhaps struggle to find a home elsewhere.
To address the concept of Homo Ludens, I have chosen to study its relationship to the way we live our daily lives, or more specifically, how the residents of this part of the world do. In a society far more fragmented than our own, with different extremes of wealth and poverty and differing ideas of life, love and work. Across these social levels, the concept of Homo Ludens becomes disparate, related more to social circumstance than any one notion of enjoyment or play.
I want to explore the idea of Homo Ludens at the bottom end of the social scale, within the confines of those that live in poverty. This idea becomes warped within a social environ wrecked by crime, poverty and housing insecurity. My approach and understanding of the idea calls for an architecture that would promote and enable resident participation, and to create an architecture of creation and self build.
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
10 P
rojec
t sto
ry
Favela is a generally used term for Shanty Town in Brazil, and is a architectural form and concept universally associated with Brazil. In the late 18th Century the first settlements were called Barros Africanos (African Neighbourhoods) - they were places for former slaves with no land ownership. Today, Favela’s are generally defined as meeting the following conditions:
• illegal occupation of land • urbanised outside of legal standards • narrow and irregular ways • differing sized plots
Lots of problems arise from this system, so an attempt to create more stable frameworks has begun in part, and more modern Favela’s take on a more organised and rigid arrangement, with some even becoming legally recognised neighbourhoods.
These planning issues that exist within the Favela’s have arisen because they exist outside of any proper framework. Even the more stable Favela’s would be considered unsafe structurally in any other circumstance, yet they persist to exist in their current state, home to millions without any real security or ownership to speak of.
There are many complex social issues related to the Favela’s, most of which exist outside the remit of architecture, and they cannot simply be solved through building. There are however real architectural issues that can be addressed, like population density, poor sanitation and structural irregularity.
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
12 C
ity In
trodu
ctio
n an
d ou
tline
City
Intr
oduc
tion
and
out
line
Sao
Paul
o is
loca
ted
in th
e so
uth-
east
of B
razil
. It i
s no
t on
ly th
e lar
gest
city
with
in th
e co
untry
by
popu
latio
n, b
ut
large
st in
the
Sout
h Am
erica
, and
rank
s am
ongs
t the
5
large
st m
etro
polis
’ on
Earth
. Sao
Pau
lo it
self
is bo
th a
sta
te
and
a cit
y, w
ith b
oth
serv
ing
as h
ubs
of c
ultu
re, fi
nanc
e an
d co
mm
erce
.
The Favela’s exist in a state of flux, due to the expansive nature of the rest of the city. Their location’s are always under threat due to the growth of the middle class within the city, and their need for new neighbourhoods and homes.
The city has a population of 10,659,386 (2010 IBGE Census), with the state proper having a total population of 41,252,160 (2010 Census). Like Rio de Janeiro, this population size has led to the growth and existence of Favelas across the city. The Favelas are home to the lower classes in Brazil, and the settlements exist on the periphery of accepted society, home to not only the poor, but also the unwanted, criminal and outcast.
Fave
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ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
14 S
ite d
etail
s
My site is located just outside the Sao Paulo city limits. This is the site of a major intersection, providing road users with no less than 3 crossings of the river in a small area. The major highway into Sao Paulo (Rodovia Castelo Branco) passes directly by the site, along with other major arteries.
The site historically has been an industrial area, now moving towards shopping and services. The area has seen a rise in the number of middle class families occupying the area. The site itself offers a caveat to the areas economic growth being that it is an intersection, and therefore a site that offers no development opportunities for regular construction processes. Due to the large number of highways and minor highways, the site has an abundance of cheap, unutilised land. More to the point, this is unwanted land, undesired by the expanding suburbs.
Site details
02
02 P
rece
dent
Stu
dies02
Fave
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ods
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ichol
as V
arey
18 P
rese
dent
stu
dy #
1
Prec
eden
t St
udy
#1
Antill
ean
Got
hic,
by
Amon
le St
udio
Wor
ksho
p
It is conceived to promote 4 ideals:
1. That the principal building material - namely bamboo - should have the potential to be sourced locally (grown and processed) and sustainably.
2. That the the construction methodologies should provide the opportunity for community self-built, managed and maintained units.
3. That the home should be a safe place to be in natural disasters - earthquakes, hurricanes and floods.
4. That the configuration of the home should provide the best possible access to natural light, ventilation and clean water.
Inspired by the ‘shotgun shack’, or ‘shotgun house’ of the American South and originally Haiti and Africa, the Antillean Gothic expands on the notion of elongated homes to create a new home. Simple in its approach and construction, it is designed to maximise the ventilation of the space, making it well suited to the region.
These clear principles of design make this a perfect study case for small, cheaply build dwellings. It’s use of locally available materials ensures that it is easy for this dwelling to be constructed locally.
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
20 P
rese
dent
stu
dy #
1
Prec
eden
t St
udy
#2
Paco
Hou
se, b
y Jo
Nag
asak
a an
d Sc
hem
ata
Arch
itect
ure
A project that expressed the ideals of micro living. Within this ‘cube’s’ 3msq floor space exists an entire home for 1. It efficiently stores the majority of the components needed for living within the floor, with clever use made of the walls and ceiling also. The Paco House is manufactured almost completely in a factory, meaning that it differs greatly from Antillean Gothic in terms of what it offers local residents who may wish to self build.
03
03 S
chem
e03
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
24 S
chem
e in
trodu
ctio
n
The Pod’s have been designed from the ground up to be completely built and assembled on site, by those that will be living within the homes. The compact nature of the properties has not meant that the homes lack any of life’s essential things. Each Pod has a double bed, toilet, sink, kitchenette, table and 2 chairs as well as a wind up generator to provide power for the basic electrical goods needed (microwave, hob). Light is provided within the Pod’s and the Favela as a whole thanks to wind up LED lanterns. Showers can be had thanks to solar heated shower bag of 20lt.
The Pod’s will exist within an unwanted part of the city, and will provide a visible social incursion within the intersection. They have been designed to look neat and will be arranged in a systematic stack system that not only allows for efficient arrangement, but will also ensure residents have ample space to move around the, both in times of safety and danger.
The Masterplan role out has been designed to ensure outside engineering support is only required at the foundation laying stage, and to ensure that the Pod’s can be connected into the city’s sanitation system. Water will be provided thanks to rain water harvesting
Scheme introductionThe scheme the project is to move forward with was chosen for a number of reasons. The nature of its individual pod construction and stackable nature, that offered residents the opportunity to self build meant that the design would not only provide an expandable and adaptable architectural model, but also one that would provide skills to the new residents.
and collection. Once the foundations and sanitation support systems have been put in place, the residents, and indeed future residents are free to start building their homes using materials they have created themselves.
These small but highly efficient homes will provide those that live in the untidy, dangerous Favela’s outside of the city, but work within it a new place to call home. A chance for own and build there own property. They are perfect for young couples, just beginning their life together, happy to build their own property, but also to live in a smaller home until they are able to move into something larger.
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
26 C
once
pt fi
nal r
ende
r
19,889,559POPULATION OF SAO PAULO
The concept at this point for the Pod was an attempt to determine how the structure itself would appear externally, based on the materials used. Having considered many materials, I decided to focus on materials that could be produced locally, by those living in the Favela, from materials found or collected from across the city. Working out the materiality of the structure had me thinking about how these might effect the internal space, and it was vital that the material would be suitable as both an external and internal aesthetic.
Concept final render
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
28 D
esig
n de
velo
pmen
t
Desi
gn d
evel
opm
ent
For t
he P
od’s
to fu
nctio
n as
an
alter
nativ
e to
the
crow
ded
Fave
la se
ttlem
ents
, the
y re
quire
d th
e ab
ility
to b
e ar
rang
ed in
a s
tack
. Thi
s w
ould
allo
w fo
r hig
h de
nsity
liv
ing
on th
e sit
e.
Through the development of the stacking system, the architectural language of the individual Pod’s themselves begun to influence the structure as a whole. A need to keep the number of materials used to a minimum, whilst also developing a robust and secure structural system influenced this language further.
The arrangement of the Pod’s themselves dictated a certain level of mobility for residents, and the structure needed to allow this without adding complex systems of support or extra materials. I experimented with systems in order to discover a connection system based in regular carpentry joinery.
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
30 N
ight
rend
erin
gs o
n sit
e
04
04 F
inal
ren
dering
s04
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
34 P
od a
rrang
emen
t ren
der
The Pod’s are arranged in a circular manner, around a central core, in groups of six. This arrangement allows for a balanced appearance to the Favela, but also a sound structural organisation.
The six pods in any arrangement have their entrances meet in the middle, creating communal spaces, with a sense of relationship between the Pod’s.
The handrails double up as vegetable and plant growing spaces, with each Pod provided with equal space for growing things.
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
36 W
hole
page
rend
er #
1
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
38 W
hole
page
rend
er #
2
05
06 In
tern
al S
pace05
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
42 In
tern
al re
nder
s
The Internal arrangement of the Pod’s is designed to utilise the space as much as possible, offering a home containing the esential elements of home.
There is a strong focus within the space on prodiving clean and tidy areas to store and keep possessions. From clothes to kitchen utensils to cleaning products and even the shower and sink, the Pod offers space to allow 2 people to not only occupy the Pod, but also have their personal belongings within.
Along with a shower, sink, toilet, kitchenette and bed space, the Pod also has a double bed located above, accessible via a drop down ladder. A table with 2 chairs are also available for use, neatly stored away when not needed.
The Pod’s have a focus on being as self reliant as possible, and to that end there aren’t any items that require external power, thus removing the need to connect the settlement to the grid.
Internal Space
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
44 P
lans
and
Sect
ions
Access ladder to bed space
Sink
Entrance
Kitchen counter
Storage
Dining chair storage
Hatch to bed area
Entrance
Kitchen counter
Standing room
Storage
Access ladder to bed space
Sink
Entrance
Kitchen counter
Storage
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
46 E
levat
ion
rend
ers
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
48 E
xter
nal f
ram
e jo
iner
y
To enable easy construction in-situ, the Pod’s have been designed using simple carpentry joints. With a little training, it will be possible for local people to construct the individual Pod’s.
The main frame uses a mortise and tenon joint system. This form of joint is common through the world, and ideal for use on site thanks to its reliability in both construction and structural soundness. The frame is designed to lock into place with the aid of screws where needed.
06
06 G
ener
al a
rran
gem
ent06
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
52 G
ener
al ar
rang
emen
t int
ro a
nd p
lans
Gen
eral
arr
ange
men
t in
tro
and
plan
sTh
e Po
d’s
exist
on
a st
ruct
ural
fram
ewor
k th
at p
rovid
es s
uppo
rt an
d ac
cess
fo
r res
iden
ts. T
he ‘s
uper
stru
ctur
e’ w
ill be
cre
ated
, like
the
Pod’
s th
emse
lves,
by
the
resid
ents
. The
nat
ure
of th
e lay
out a
nd a
rrang
emen
t sys
tem
of t
he
Pod
supp
orts
mea
ns th
at th
e gr
owth
of t
he F
avela
is o
nly
reall
y lim
ited
by
exist
ing
stru
ctur
es a
nd n
atur
al ba
rrier
s. T
he s
yste
m is
repe
titive
, ens
urin
g ea
sy ro
le lo
ut a
nd c
onst
ruct
ion.
Thi
s ba
sic p
rincip
le of
sim
plici
ty o
f des
ign
and
exec
utio
n w
ill en
sure
that
pro
duct
ion
can
take
plac
e w
ithin
the
confi
nes
of th
e sit
e its
elf.
My General Arrangement plan locates the Pod structures in the context of the site, and notes its relationship and connections to the surrounding roads and highways. Stairs and supports are arranged, with their location dictated by their starting point, and proximity to the assembly crane on the site. The Pod’s are arranged in a hexagonal system, with the backs of the Pod’s facing outwards to ensure rainwater runoff is taken away from the Pod entrances and main access points. To expand the Pod system, the hexagonal arrangement is mimicked and expanded upon.
The plan illustrates the way in which the Pod’s are arranged around their central core, which, depending upon their location within the site could contain either stairs, hanging gardens or the crane. On the plan it is clear to see the spatial arrangement of the Pod’s within the site, and how their arrangements help them relate.
The stair core is visible in this image, highlighting both its structural and spatial arrangement. The space it exists within is ample, and as such will be used to funnel sunlight and air into the spaces below, as indeed will all the triangular spaces.
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
54 G
ener
al ar
rang
emen
t int
ro a
nd p
lans
Gen
eral
arr
ange
men
t El
evat
ion
Look
ing
at th
e ve
rtica
l arra
ngem
ent o
f the
Pod
’s, w
e ca
n se
e th
at m
uch
as in
plan
, the
Pod
’s ar
e ar
rang
ed in
a re
peat
able
syst
em. T
his
simpl
e, re
petit
ive fo
rm a
llow
s fo
r qui
ck a
ssem
bly,
but a
lso e
nsur
es th
at th
eir e
xists
no
heira
chy
with
in th
e Fa
vela,
all P
od’s
bein
g eq
ually
size
d an
d eq
uippe
d.
07
07 S
ite c
onst
ruct
ion07
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
58 S
eries
of c
onst
ruct
ion
rend
ers
Serie
s of
con
stru
ctio
n re
nder
sTh
ese
rend
ers
repr
esen
t the
var
ious
elem
ents
that
mak
e up
the
Pod
and
supe
r stru
ctur
e, b
ut n
ot th
e pr
oces
s of
co
nstru
ctio
n its
elf. T
he im
ages
repr
esen
t the
diff
eren
t ele
men
ts th
at e
xist w
ithin
the
cons
truct
ion.
When it comes to building on site, a system of preparation will take place, beginning with providing access to the site itself for foundation laying and sewage connection.
1.Due to the access restrictions that exist on the site, heavy goods vehicle access will need to be supplied via a crane located outside the construction site. The site management portacabins will also be located in this area, along with a temporary construction bridge providing direct access without traffic disruption for workers and management.
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
60 S
eries
of c
onst
ruct
ion
rend
ers
2. Land to be cleared, including any demolition required, with environmental clearing and recycling of materials to take place. Any and all useable earth to remain on site for relaying once foundations have been laid.
3. Land to be excavated to a depth of 4m and graded to ensure level site.
4. Foundation piles to be driven into ground. Pre cast piles, will be driven into ground. There is no concern with noise or height restrictions on site, therefore the piles can be hammer driven into the soil to gain suitable depth and penetration. Due to the build up of road ways on the site, hammer driven instead of exploded, vibrated or jetted piles is preferred. The benefit of pre cast piling is that the quality and soundness of the pile can be checked prior to being driven.
5. Pile caps to be placed with top approx 4m below proposed finished ground level. Steel piles will rise through caps, caps to be welded to piles.
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
62 S
eries
of c
onst
ruct
ion
rend
ers
6. Top of piles to be capped with removable hat to ensure adequate water run off until use. Soil to be returned to ground to create finished ground level.
Crane is to be placed into site during foundation laying for future use in placing constructed Pod’s on site.
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
64 S
uper
stru
ctur
e re
nder
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
The structure has been designed to grow incrementally as Pod’s are constructured, and people move in. This segmented construction pattern means that the image to the right is strictly incorrected, both visually and physically, but it shows the extent of the super structure support that will provide the integrity to the entire complex.
The joints rely on a combination of mortise and tenon connections as well as screws to ensure stability and solid connection. The angle of the supports and the verticle columns ensure that gravity also plays an active role in distrubting the load forces downwards safely, through the structure as designed.
66 S
uper
stru
ctur
e re
nder
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
68 P
od to
sup
er s
truct
ure
supp
orts
Much like with the construction of the individual Pod’s, the support structure that the Pod’s attach to has been designed to be as simple as possible, using traditional timber joints that can be worked by locals.
The interlocking nature of the design creates multiple levels of support, guaranteeing structural stability throughout.
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
Papercrete infill panels
Compact toilet -rotates out for use
Glulam pillars
Retractable ladder
Roll up bed
Clothing storage and push out drying panel
Mor�se & Tenon joint
Entrance
Papercrete infill panels
Compact toilet -rotates out for use
Glulam pillars
Retractable ladder
Roll up bed
Clothing storage and push out drying panel
Mor�se & Tenon joint
Entrance
70 P
od e
xplo
ded
view
Papercrete infill panels
Compact toilet -rotates out for use
Glulam pillars
Retractable ladder
Roll up bed
Clothing storage and push out drying panel
Mor�se & Tenon joint
Entrance
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
72 P
od in
tern
al fra
min
g
The internal support structure has been designed to make the implementation of storage as easy as possible. The frame compartmentalises’ the space, much like a warddrobe or cupboard might, constructured in a similar way also.
These simplicity enables these Pod’s to be entirely built on site, without any special skills.
08
08 B
uild
ing
mat
eria
ls08
Fave
la P
ods
by N
ichol
as V
arey
Wha
t is P
aper
cret
e?Pa
perc
rete
is a
rece
ntly
deve
lope
d co
nstru
ctio
n m
ater
ial
whi
ch c
onsis
ts o
f re-
pulp
ed p
aper
fibe
r with
Por
tland
ce
men
t or c
lay a
nd/o
r oth
er s
oil a
dded
.
76 P
aper
cret
e
First patented in 1928, it has been revived since the 1980s. Although perceived as an environmentally friendly material due to the significant recycled content, this is offset by the presence of cement.
The material lacks standardisation, and proper use therefore requires care and experience. Eric Patterson and Mike McCain, who have been ascribed with independently “inventing” papercrete (they called it “padobe” and “fibrous cement”), have both contributed considerably to research into machinery to make it and ways of using it for building.
The Process
Pulping and Mixing
Papercrete can be made in batches of any size, from a bucket to a cement truck. The pulped paper, once mixed with the cement and water looks similar to the image below. One key at this stage is to ensure the paper has been pulped to a semi-fine fibrous state.
Molding
Once the mixture has been created, it needs to be poured into molds. These moulds need to be porous, and once poured stored in a warm, dry environment, out in the sun if the location and weather permits. Inside 30mins the papercrete holds its shape. The drying process from this point depends on the speed that the water is drawn out of the papercrete.
Completed Block
Once the blocks have dried, they are light weight, as the picture below shows. This makes handling on site extremely easy. This light weightness comes from the air pockets that form within the block as the water evaporates.
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Glued laminated timber, also called Glulam, is a type of structural timber product composed of several layers of dimensioned timber bonded together with durable, moisture-resistant adhesives. This material is called ‘laminating stock’ or lamstock for short.
In most structural applications, the life of Glulam can be considered virtually unlimited. The use of modern phenolic synthetic resin adhesives also ensures an indefinite life for the bond between the laminations. The high thermal insulation characteristics of timber, and the charcoal layer that forms on it, both ensure that the interior of a fire-exposed member remains cool and structurally sound over the design period. A glulam member also behaves as a single unit throughout its exposure to fire because of the high resistance of laminating adhesives to fire temperatures.
This reliability of Glulam’s performance in fire means that it is possible to predict the inherent fire resistance of a particular component, or to design a component to resist fire for a specified period without the need of expensive testing.
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Within the Pod’s themselves, a number of items have been provided to ensure that the residents have access to power, light and hot and cold food. These supplied items must all exist within the Pod, and the space needed to store them must be accounted for. These items will mean that the Pod’s have no need to be directly connected into the grid of the city.
Pedal powered Generator
Wind-up Lantern
Electric Hob (2 ring)
Microwave combi oven
Solar powered shower
Hand pumped taps
Intermittent absorption refrigerator (x2), Tank for refrigeration
One of the great inventions of the modern era, the intermittent absorption refrigerator offers the Pod’s the ability to provide food refriegeration for periods of upto 24hrs without the need for any external engergy supply.
The concept itself has been around for nearly 100 years, and works on the following principles:
Evaporation: A liquid refrigerant evaporates in a low partial pressure environment, thus extracting heat from its surroundings – the refrigerator.
Absorption: The gaseous refrigerant is absorbed – dissolved into another liquid - reducing its partial pressure in the evaporator and allowing more liquid to evaporate.
Regeneration: The refrigerant-laden liquid is heated, causing the refrigerant to evaporate out. It is then condensed through a heat exchanger to replenish the supply of liquid refrigerant in the evaporator.
At TED 2007, Adam Grosser presented a small Intermittent absorption vacine refrigeration unit. This compact unit offers the ability to cool the contents of a 3 gallon tub to a temperature of just above freezing for upto 24hrs. This innovation provides short term refrigeration within the Pod’s, allowing for the short term preservation of food.
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To save space within the Pod’s, the shower, sink, toilet and toilet related storage has been designed into a vertical cupboard, with access via cupboard doors, or in the case of the toilet, a rotating bowl. This innovation allows me to hide away the usual access space required to use these things, when they aren’t in use. As with the kitchenette and the storage, the occupants will occupy the ‘access space’ when the toilet or shower is needed.
This space saving design has saved approx 700mm2 of ‘dead space’ that an unused shower would take up.
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To allow the residents to have a shower, without the Pod’s being connected to the mains water supply, each Pod is supplied with two camping solar powered showers. This is a comfort that should be considered an essential, especially in areas of high density.
A solar shower works by heating up water in a 20 lt black plastic bag placed in direct sunlight. The water can reach 40degrees with only 3 hours exposure time.
Process
1. The bags should be hung out in direct sunlight for a period of 3 hours..
2. Residents will be able to collect their bag from the hanging area after this period of time.
3. The bags will need to be refilled and then the process repeated when needed again.
The Pod’s don’t contain any wet areas, so to prevent water damage from showering, residents will be supplied with a ‘shower bag’ made of clear plastic. The bag will have a velcro secrued opening in the top half of the unit, allowing entrance and exit regardless of water content. When the shower is finished, residents will need to empty the contents of the bag into the draining system that feeds into the SVP to the rear of the Pod.
Solar heated shower bag
Shower head
Shower bag
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The Favela is only connected into one main Sao Paulo system, and that is the sewage collection system, which will manaage the toilet and sink waste water. The Pod’s will not be recieving and mains water, so will need to collect their own water.
This will be achieved via water collectors connected to the back of each Pod, which will feed off the down pipes. The idea is to offer residents the ability to collect the amount of water relevant to their needs, and to this end, each Pod will be able to attach a water collector (upto a certain size) that suits their daily needs.
This water will need to provide them with water for showering, washing, cooking, drinking and toilet flushing. Excess water will be collected in communal containers at ground level. During times of excessive rain fall (of which Sao Paulo can suffer heavily from), excess water will be allowed to run off into the ground, thereby satuarating the ground before seeping into the water table.
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Due to the nature of the building and its high population density, it is vital that all individual pods, as well as the entire structure (whatever size it happens to be at any given size) offers residents an adequate escape from fire. The likelyhood that these structures should be engulfed in fire are low, but if such a case were to arise, the pods offer residents the means to escape from both the living and sleeping quarters. Due to the low height of each unit, escape from the top ‘floor’ without separate means of decent is sufficient.
The orange pods above are all made of glulam, with papercrete infill panels forming the entirety of the external envelope. This provides the pods with a high rfire resistance (Papercrete has yet to recieve an offical rating, but tests point to a fire resistance capability similar to that of concrete. Glulam will provide minimum protection of 40mins, more with the right material construction methods.
In accessing the entire complex, the residents will have access to a high number of stairwells in the event of a large scale fire. The site offers a high number of various escape routes that criss cross the various floors and stairwells, ensuring a clear passage to safety can be found.
The integrity of the materials being used should ensure their ability to continually perform, even during fire. To ensure that in case of a structure failure within a single element within the sturcture, each stack will be reliant on a 3 point support system that is interconnected to a wider array of supports. The stairs will themselves exist freely of the surrounding structures, providing their own support.
The red dots represent primary supports for the pods circled. In the case that one of these members were to fail, the interconnected nature of the structure (the tertiary supports in orange) will ensure the integrity of the structure remains.
The interwoven nature of the stairwells and pathways offers those escaping danger many escape routes.
The multiple stairwells offer residents access to a large number of stariwells, with them never being more than appox 10m from the nearest means of escape.
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This development has been initially funded by the municipal government of the state of Sao Paulo. There is a recognition that the Favela’s as they currently exist pose many social, economical and cultural issues for the residents, and the wholesale rebuilding of them is required. With populations within the individual Favela’s running into the hundreds of thousands, they also recognise the need to offer the residents a cheap, temporary (at least initially) form of accommodation.
Such wholesale population relocation requires significant financial outlay if a new town is to be constructed, so to avoid this, the government financial involvement extends only to the site preparation, piling, steel support placement and connection to the city sewage system.
From this point, training will be given to the first few residents to enable them to have the skills necessary to construct the Favela Pod’s, but also for them to be able to train others. It’s hoped this communal, ‘pay it forward’ system of training and construction will foster the development of a skilled labour force in the area, raising the economic ability of the favelas’ residents.
Another key aspect is the supply chain of materials. The municipal government will be involved in the supply of all materials necessary for the above funded work. Beyond this, the state will use its extensive recycling program to funnel the necessary materials to the site for use. Using the pre existing system will allow for a reduction in the use of new materials, but will also help to improve the reusing of ‘waste’ materials.
The nature of the construction process requires the architect to have a some what free approach to the use of his designs, and as such will be releasing the design of the Pod’s as an open source project, with all plans freely available on the internet to any interested. The structural elements of the project will be required to go through all stages of design, construction drawing, S.E. verfication and tendering in order to maintain structural, aesthetic and economic quality. This phase of the project will be completed only upon sign off from the architect.
The open source nature of the Pods’ design alters the relationship between the architect and the client (at this stage of the project, the client will no longer be the government, but those working on, and living in the Pod’s. The Pod’s, prior to being placed on the internet for free use will be presented in a ‘designed to building regulations approval’ legal statement. This will inform any and all attempting to use the plans that the Pod’s, if used as expressed online will be structurally sound and accurate, but any deviation from the initial design will affect this, and the architect can no longer confirm soundness, with all responsibility transferring to that of the user.
The government will be retaining the consultation services of the architect during the process, and after their intitial involvement in the project, to aid in the development of the project, highlighting their commitment to a cost effective, yet architecturally sound project.
thank you for reading.
Favela Pod’sNick VareyUnit XS
