Upside In House
Habitat for Humanity
The Upside In House scheme is meant to challenge typical architectural elements or spaces, such as the attic, that have been taken for granted as a solution for storage and natural ventilation but that might not be the optimal solution for our current lifestyles.
By taking two standard houses from the neighborhood, inverting one and placing it on top of the other, the idea is to give back, with a roof garden, the green area that is occupied by the footprint while, at the same time, provide a middle roof that replaces the common known attic with a more accessible and practical multiuse space.
The middle roof not only isolates social from private activities or one unit from the other but it also allows the introduction of natural indirect sunlight, on the ground level, through skylights. The 1 ft. wall thickness and punched in windows are meant to reduce the solar heat gain on the interior spaces. On the other hand, the introduction of the courtyard, also used for vertical circulation, allows cross ventilation and release of hot air while providing natural light as well.
Additionally, the middle roof and the roof garden act as capture elements for solar energy and rainwater. The pattern is both visual and performative as 2D tiles transform into 3D elements to increase the active area where there is more solar exposure.
The controlled window sizes and disposition, in addition to the courtyard and the roof garden, for interior protected space, provide a safe environment within its surroundings.
The flexibility of the scheme allows easy adjustments depending on the family needs and sizes, with models that can go from being super compact and for a single family to others that can accommodate extra rooms for extended families, or multi-family options with a duplex or even a triplex.
The project aims for maximum use of the site, proposing 3 units, one single family residence and one duplex for an increased density.
Instructor: Darin Johnstone
Team: Cathy Qu and Sylvia Liu
SCI-Arc // Spring 2015
Site and Floorplans
Level 1 and 2
Site Diagrams
Floorplans 3 and Rooftop
Elevations and Concept Diagram
Sections and Axonometric
Architectural Assembly
Structural Assembly
Sustainability Assembly
Renders
Model Options
