Apr 24, 2010
Two nest Village | OFIS
Image courtesy OFIS
Project team:
OFIS : Rok Oman, Spela Videcnik, Janez Martincic, Katja Aljaz, Janja Del Linz, Andrej Gregoric, Katarzyna Bernatek, Robert Janez
Cristian Gheorghe, Mayse & Associates, Inc., Dallas, Texas, Dan Kazachki
Consultants:
Sustainable engineering:
Anthony Martin PE, LEED® AP
Henderson Engineers, Inc. , Dallas, Texas
Structure engineering:
Jaka Zevnik u.d.i.g., ELEA IC d.d., Ljubljana, Slovenia
Image courtesy OFIS
The proposal separates the site in two roughly equal halves: North and South. The North is reserved for Phase II of the development, because its corner location is better suited for its anticipated use as a commercial or mixed use development. The housing complex is located in the quieter, southern part of the plot and is organized in the form of a nest – living mound of apartments, stuck one above another. The form makes a perfect shape of a shield, which protects the units from sun and wind, but on the other hand offers a quality environment:well lit and ventilated with a variety of shared areas, both external and internal.
The apartment units are oriented towards the internal park or towards the exterior. The resulting views offer a choice of intimacy (facing the courtyard) and openness (facing the surroundings – urban scenery and mountains in the background).
Apartments on level +1 around the internal park have atriums and terraces connected to the plaza. All other apartments have small loggias which incorporate shading devices with small planters.
Image courtesy OFIS
Central garden
The roof of the garage on ground level creates internal park on the level +1. Apartments on the ground have own gardens and patios protected by sand mounts-lifted landscape creating fence and feeling of security and privacy. Apartments on level +1 around the internal park have atriums and terraces connected to the plaza. All other apartments have small loggias-shading devices with small space for plants.
Communal areas – spaces of friendship, communication and interaction
The spaces between and around the apartment units are shared. The organization evokes communal space that is rich and diverse. Some spaces are sunny and can be used on cold days, while others are shaded and protected from the sun and wind. While some spaces are more intimate others are more open thus evoking communication. While some have views to the city or the mountains, others are enclosed and offer views of the communal courtyard located on level 0. The garden incorporates patterns of sand and desert vegetation.
The topography of the landscape is folded and creates patios with fences in front of ground floor apartments. Some parts of level 0 are used for parking and loading.
Intimate Park
The roof of the parking garage on the ground level creates an internal park on the level +1. Apartments on the ground floor have their own gardens and patios protected by lifted landscape creating a natural barrier and a feeling of security and privacy. Apartments on level +1 around the internal park have atriums and terraces,
which are connected to the plaza. All other apartments have small loggias.
Pedestrian friendly
Access to the garage is from the South East. Covered visitor parking is located close to the entrance. Its roof doubles as a plane for mounting the photovoltaics. The bicycle entrance and the bicycle storage is at the same level. The rest of the site is reserved for pedestrians.
Traffic access
Volumes of apartment units are stacked vertically and joined horizontally in a way that creates different types of shared areas on all levels, both external and internal. These include gazebos, gardens, patios, lobbies, common living areas, opened and closed terraces. On one hand the organization and orientation of the apartment units creates intimacy and privacy, and on the other it evokes communication, socialization and dialog between neighbors.
Landscape
Landscape design is inspired from natural environment around El Paso. It is combination of stones, sand and pebbles in different colours and textures. Plants selection does not need extra care and maintenance and it does not need artificial watering- combination of cactuses, palm trees and desert plants. Landscape creates flat areas as well as ramps and slopes. These artificial mounts create entrances to the plaza on level +1 or fences that offer intimacy of ground apartments and their gardens.
Living units: space of intimacy, safety and protection
There are two types of living units: 52 one bedroom apartments and 14 two bedroom apartments. Apartment layouts are repetitive and simple, but when joined together they form a shape that is unique and special. All bathrooms, closets, kitchen units, windows with shading devices are identical. Prefabrication often results in
cost and time savings to the Owner.
Prefabrication and repetition
Housing units are repetitive rectangular containers made in horizontal and vertical grid with common dimensions. A repeated layout will be economical and facilitate faster construction. Construction systems and installation details are uncomplicated. Both, apartment units as well as its elements such as room sizes, kitchen, bathroom, window and door dimensions, closet assemblies, cabinets, ceiling and flooring materials are standardized and simplified. They can be prefabricated in a factory and installed on site. Stairs, columns, beams, elevator shafts, floor and wall panels, vertical shafts such as refuse chutes are precast elements. The structure is simple – made of reinforced concrete with standardized beam and column sizes. The side walls of apartments are load-bearing. They also contribute to the project’s sustainable features by facilitating the passive heating / cooling system with their thermal mass. All other elements inside the unit and common areas are non-load bearing walls which allows for flexibility and future remodels.
Innovative Use of Materials & Designs
Project consists of simple and repetitive units stuck together in a unique form. Complex is a living mount with shared areas between living units. Units are separated due to cooling effect and have shading devices. Different levels create rich external spaces and terraces that are occupied by shared facilities. The thick walls of the living units which act as the walls of a refrigerator box to keep the right temperature inside the units are finished with plaster and stucco. The shading system is made of precast wooden panels. The shading device is of textile that produces shade but still allows the inhabitants to see out through it. The materials are durable, economical and easy to maintain.
Other Conceptual Issues
Important conceptual issue is to create a human friendly environment. Shared spaces are positioned and organized in a way that evokes friendship and dialog. The scheme provides a welcoming and adaptable living space for local families. Security is still a priority. Complex is easy to control and secure, nest organization
evokes privacy and intimacy. On the other hand views, daylight, and cross ventilation is allowed.
Roof Garden / Living Roof
The complex is higher on the north and lower on the south. Difference in levels creates terraces and living roof. These are spaces of diverse character and sizes. The spaces between the apartment entrances are airy and bright and create a loggia effect. These are small shared areas for dialog, rest and meetings that are used as a semi-private terrace. The building roofs incorporate terraces. Some are covered, some uncovered, and some are partly closed from the side. This creates different spaces that can be used in all weather conditions. One can enjoy the sun in the winter or be protected from it in hot summers. One can be protected from the strong winds, but still enjoy external space that is ventilated and airy. On the roof top the design team proposed a gym and small spa. It can be extended to the terrace. We also propose spaces for barbecue and sun-terraces. Since the roof appears both on top of level 3 and level 4 each unit has its roof terrace almost next to it. The roof of the parking garage is an internal garden that is a special feature of the housing complex. This space creates its own intimate, green and friendly ambient. One fells safe and protected from the sun, wind, views from the road and surroundings.
Parking below the garden:
Locating most or all parking spaces under the communal garden serves a dual purpose. On one hand, it reduces the development footprint thus enhancing open space, minimizing the heat island effect and storm water runoff. This also contributes to the following LEED credits: (1) SS Credit 5.1: Site Development- Protect and Restore Habitat, (2) SS Credit 5.2: Maximize Open Space, (3) SS Credit 6: Storm water Management, and (4) SS Credit 7.1: Heat Island Effect – Nonroof. On the other hand, the garage space is used to draw air from the outside and channel it upwards through vertical chases to ventilate the buildings and create a passive heating / cooling effect. An angled drive connects the parking garage with Boone Street. There is some surface parking along the South side of the drive for visitors. The parking spaces will be covered. Pervious pavement is used for the drive which contributes to LEED SS Credit 6.1 Stormwater Design–Quantity Control. We are proposing to use shading devices on the East and West of the building to protect the units rom Summer Sun, while allowing the Winter
sun to heat the units. Once the individual units a modeled the shading devices will be adjusted and optimized. Organisation of the nest evokes safety. All spaces and entrances can be easily secured and controlled.
All images courtesy OFIS
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Very futuristic but the question is if it is a comfortable living???