THE SYSTEM HOUSE PROJECT BEGAN WITH AN INTEREST IN ENERGY CONSERVATION BUT QUICKLY BECAME NESTED WITHIN THE INDUSTRIAL PROCESS, AND HOW, THAT PROCESS, MIGHT ENGAGE IN THE PRODUCTION OF AN ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCT THAT REDUCES ITS ENERGY FOOTPRINT. TO EFFECT CHANGE ON A BROAD SCALE CONCERNING THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE, THE STRATEGY IS TO MAXIMIZE A SINGLE UNIT’S ENERGY EFFICIENCY TO BENEFIT THE REGIONAL ENERGY GRID. WITH THIS APPROACH, SMALL STEPS IMPACT LARGER AND INCREASINGLY COMPLEX SYSTEMS.
ACROSS A BROAD SECTRUM OF INDUSTRIES AND PRODUCTS, RESEARCH INTO SPECIALIZED MANUFACTURERS AND UBIQITIOUS SUPPLY CHAINS GAVE RISE TO A PRODUCT-ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE WITH AN AMBITIOUS GOAL OF DELIVERING BESPOKE HOUSING AT A LOWER COST THAN TRADITIONAL CUSTOM, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCIAL CONSTRUCTION.
THE DESIGN ASPECTS OF THIS PRODUCT ARCHITECTURE CULMINATED IN 15 FUNDAMENTAL CONSTRUCTION ORIENTED STRATEGIES, AIMED AT MAXIMIZING ENERGY EFFICIENCY WHILE REDUCING BUILDING COSTS AND CONSTRUCTION TIME.
THE HOMES ARE DESIGNED AS A HYBRID OF SITE, AND MANUFACTURED COMPONENTS. THE FOCUS IS TO ESTABLISH A “KIT-OF-PARTS” THIS IS SUPPLIED NATIONALLY AND ASSEMBLED LOCALLY.
THE BUILDING COMPONENTS ARE DESIGNED WITHIN STANDARD MATERIAL MODULES TO REDUCE WASTE WHEN MANUFACTURED AND ASSEMBLED.
THE FLOOR PLAN ORGANIZATION BORROWS FROM HIGH-RISE CORE DESIGN (ELEVTORS AND PLUMBING/ MECHANCIAL CHASES), AND SEQUESTERS BATHROOMS, LAUNDRY AND KITCHEN FUNCTIONS TO A CENTRALIZED LOCATION WITHIN THE BUILDING PERIMETER AND AWAY FROM EXTERIOR WALLS.
THE FOUNDATION SYSTEM IMPLEMENTS A STRUCTURAL JOISTED FLOOR, WHICH ALLOWS THE FOUNDATIONS TO BE INSET FROM THE BUILDNG PERIMETER, FOR A SMALLER BUILDING FOOTPRINT, LESS EMBEDDED ENERGY, LESS TIME TO CONSTRUCT, AND REDUCED FOUNDATION COSTS.
THE FOUNDATION SYSTEM CAN BE EXTENDED INTO THE LANDSCAPE AS RAISED PLATFORMS THAT ARE ADJACENT EXTERIOR LIVING SPACES.
THE FOUNDATION SYSTEM RETAINS A CRAWL SPACE, TO ACCOMMODATE EASY ACCESS TO BUILDING SYSTEMS, SUCH AS MECHIANICAL, ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING SHOULD FUTURE UPGRADES BE NECESSARY.
THE FLOOR SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CANTILEVER OVER ITS FOUNDATION AND WHERE APPROPRIATE, RENDERS THE BUIDLING CONDITIONED SPACE ABOVE ADJACENT GRADES. THIS SIMPLE DESIGN APPROACH APPEALS TO A MODERN AESTHETIC AND ACTS AS A BULWARK AGAINST STORM SURGES.
THE BUILDING WALL AND ROOF ASSEMBLIES INCORPORATE STRUCTUALLY INSULATED PANELS, OR SIPS, FOR SPEED OF ERECTION AND A SUPERIOR THERMAL ENVELOP. THE PANELS HAVE A HIGH R-VALUE THAT KEEPS PACE WITH THE 2018 IECC REQUIREMENTS WITH MINIMAL THICKNESS. SIP PANELS COME STANDARD WITH INTREGRATED ELECTRICAL AND LOW VOLTAGE CHASEWAYS.
THE BUILDING AND DOOR PACKAGES MEET 2018 IECC REQUIREMENTS. PRODUCT EXPLORATION INCLUDES OPTIONS FOR HEATED GLASS AND CONCEALED BLIND DETAILING, WHICH CAN BE SELECTED FROM A PLETHORA OF NATIONAL WINDOW AND DOOR MANUFACTURERS.
THE INTERIOR FLOOR AND WALL FINISHES, ALTHOUGH ORIENTED TOWARDS GREEN MATERIALS, ARE SOURCED THROUGH MAJOR MATERIAL SUPPLIERS. BECAUSE OF PRE-EXISTING SUPPLY CHAINS, THE MATERIAL IS AVAILIBLE NATIONWIDE.
INTERIOR STORAGE AND CABINETRY ARE SOURCED THROUGH NATIONAL SUPPLIERS AND DESIGNED TO BE WALL MOUNTED.
INTERIOR PLUMBING IS KEPT WITHIN 20-FEET OF A HOT WATER SOURCE ON MOST DESIGNS, THUSLY REDUCING SIGNIFICANT WATER WASTE AND HEAT ENERGY.
MECHANICAL SYSTEMS INCLUDE THERMAL HOT WATER GENERATION, PV SOLAR AND STORAGE FOR OFF-GRID LOCATIONS. THE EFFICIENCY OF THESE MECHNANICAL SYSTEMS ARE FURTHER AUGMENTATED BY THE PANELIZED EXTERIOR ENVELOP.
INTERIOR LIGHTING LEVERAGES LED LIGHTING AND AVOID CEILING PENETRATIONS. RELIANCE ON SURFACE MOUNTED LIGHTING, DROP CEILINGS AND CEILIING SCRIMS, CONCEAL LIGHTING AND MECHNICAL SYSTEMS. LIGHTING AND WINDOW SHADING ARE AUTOMATED THROUGH SMART CONTROL SYSTEMS.
MARKET DISTRIBUTION OF THE SYSTEM HOUSE RELIES ON LOCAL DISTRIBUTORS TRAINED IN THE CONCEPTS AND ORGANIZATION OF THIS SPECIALIZED BUILDING PROCESS. IN MANY WAYS, MARKETING AND SALES ACTS LIKE FRANCHISING VARIOUS MODERN PRODUCTS.
ALTHOUGH THE BUILDING SYSTEM REMAINS THEORETICAL, TWO HOMES WERE CONSTRUCTED USING THIS DESIGN APPROACH. THE VILLA PONG DANCE STUDIO AND THE PREFAB HOUSE ARE TWO EXAMPLES OF A HIGHLY FLEXIBLE BUILDING SYSTEM THAT CAN BE MODIFIED TO MEET THE BESPOKE REQUESTS OF AN UBIQUITOUS CLIENT BASE.
