MP2 Calendar

MP2 Calendar


11/18 - 11/24
Finalize floor plan. Draw sectional detail drawing. Contact mentor. Update WebBlog. Log sheet due 11/23.

11/25 - 12/1
Draw roof plan. Contact mentor. Update WebBlog.

12/2 - 12/8
Draw foundation plan. Draw landscape plan. Contact mentor. Update WebBlog.

12/9 - 12/15
Draw 3-D drawings/renderings if all other drawings are complete. Make a schedule of finish materials for all exterior and interior surfaces. Contact mentor. Update WebBlog.

12/16 - 12/22
Finalize all drawings and schedule of finish materials. Contact mentor. Update WebBlog.
Developmental work due 12/19. Bid process due 12/19.

12/23 - 12/29
Contact mentor. Update WebBlog.

12/30 - 1/5
Start math and science analysis. Contact mentor. Update WebBlog.

1/6 - 1/12
Begin construction on final model. Prepare for formal progress update. Make outline for presentation. Contact mentor. Update WebBlog. Math and science analysis due 1/10.

1/13 - 1/19
Begin construction on final model. Contact mentor. Update WebBlog. Formal progress update (presentation) on 1/17.

1/20 - 1/28
Prepare mentor contacts. Prepare formal report to mentor about all progress (midterm exam). Contact mentor. Update WebBlog. Marking period ends 1/28. Mentor contacts due 1/23.

Selection/Rejection/Intention Report

Background Situation
Several ideas for a solution to my design project have been developed. The alternate solutions will be sorted through and the most viable idea will be continued for development.





Report
All three alternate solutions were designed under the guidelines of affordable living and encompass a family of six including an aging set of grandparents. Also all possible solutions are one story homes with a minimum of three bedrooms. They also feature a separate living area for the grandparents and a bathroom that is easily accessible by bedrooms. In order to choose a final solution a design matrix will show on a scale from one to ten, which areas and features of the house are most feasible.

Design Matrix

Each total percentage was based off of an individual area or feature of each alternate solution. Since there were ten areas of interest for scoring, the final score was obviously out of 100%. Alternate solution #3 came out with the highest percentage and is therefore going to be chosen as the final solution. To further solidify this choice pros and cons will be discussed for each alternate solution and the final solution will be elaborated on.

The first solution is a four bedroom house featuring a covered porch. The foyer or entrance into the house is extremely large and the space is not utilized well. To the left of the foyer is the family room. This is poorly placed and also cannot be used well, especially since it has a small niche. Continuing through the family room is a small laundry room, bathroom, and three bedrooms. The two children’s bedrooms are symmetrical except for their closets. The entrance to these rooms is not very conducive if two people are entering or leaving their rooms at the same time. The grandparent’s room features a small living room and kitchen, but they are almost too small to be functional. The kitchen has enough space for cabinets, a dishwasher, and a refrigerator. It has also has a large pantry located in the back.
Straight through the foyer opens up into the gathering room and the dining room. The space is small, but feasible for this size house. The master bedroom is not a perfect rectangle so space can not be utilized to its full potential. The room also features a bathroom and a large walk-in closet. Overall the cons outweigh the pros for this alternate solution.

The second alternate solution also consists of four bedrooms. Again a large foyer is used as the entrance to the house, in which a lot of space is wasted money. The great room is a grand amount of space located in front of the entrance to the house and is not very convenient for a couch or a television set. A fire place is also located in the great room adding some uniqueness to this design. Directly behind the great room is the dining room which is easily accessible from the kitchen. The kitchen is built in an L shape with a very small pantry in the bottom corner to form two access ways into the room. The right side of the foyer and great room lead to the master bedroom. A lot of space is wasted in the entrance way to the room, where the walk-in closet should have been placed and the master bathroom has a very small walking space. The laundry room is placed strategically in the entry from back of the garage.
On the other side of the house are three other bedrooms and a bathroom. The two children’s bedrooms are a little bigger than needed and one room is missing a closet. The hallway leading to the grandparents’ room needs to be widened to three feet. Finally, the grandparents’ bedroom is evidently too small and needs to be pushed back farther. Unfortunately, this alternate solution’s cons also outweigh its pros.

The third and chosen solution features a three bedroom house. A covered porch opens up into a foyer that is also oversized, but is compensated by a convenient closet. The entry from the garage into the house is a mud room like the previous alternate solution. The kitchen features a small pantry and contains an opening in the wall to serve food and drinks to the gathering and dining room. The dining room is easily accessible from the kitchen. In the back of the house is the gathering room with an ample amount of space.
From the gathering room, a large hallway leads to the children’s bedroom and the master bedroom. The master bedroom’s main aspect is its large walk-in closet and bathroom. The best feature of this alternate solution is that the grandparent’s living quarters because they are located away from the rest of the family, giving them a feeling of living on their own. They can easily access the bathroom and have their own living room and miniature kitchen. The living room leads into a separate bedroom and overall gives the grandparents plenty of space. All in all, this alternate solution has proved to be the most viable because of the interconnection of similar rooms and how the layout flows.

Since alternate solution three has been chosen, it has been further developed into an Auto-CAD drawing. The floor plan has several modifications in order to maximize the effective of the flow and use of space. The foyer has been made slightly smaller and a half bathroom has been added on the left side. A mechanical/storage room and a mud room have been placed directly behind the garage. Also, a small pantry has been added near the kitchen. The dining room and living room have been sized down keeping in mind affordable housing. The island in the kitchen is now more easily accessible to the dining room.
As for the living section of the house, one more bedroom has been added to allow the children to have separate rooms. A bathroom has been placed conveniently and has two doors so that both the children and grandparents can easily obtain entry. The master bedroom has been sized down slightly and now contains two smaller closets instead of one walk-in closet. The bathroom has also been rearranged in size and layout to allow more walking space. The shower and bathtub were combined to reduce space used as well. Finally the main feature of the house was left virtually the same. The grandparents’ room still features a living room, small kitchen, and a separate bedroom. Overall this design has proved to be very effective in making use of space and keeping related rooms near one another.

A preliminary model will be constructed and then the final solution will be developed even further. Several types of plans will be drawn consisting of a sectional detail drawing, foundation plan, roof plan, landscape plan, one or several exterior views, and three-dimensional drawings/renderings. (If time permits) After all plans have been drawn, the final model’s construction will commence.

Alternate Solutions

Alternate Solution #1

Alternate Solution #1

• 4 bedroom




• covered porch




• foyer opens up to family room and gathering room




• kitchen with large pantry




• opening from ktichen to gathering room




• grandparents room has separate living room and mini-kitchen




• storage makes room for utilities located in garage




• master bedroom with walk-in closet, bathtub and shower

Alternate Solution #2

Alternate Solution #2

• four bedroom




• foyer opens up into great room




• fire place




• kitchen connected to dining room




• kitchen is exposed along dining room area




• grandparents room contains mini-kitchen and living room




• master bedroom contains large bathtub and shower

Alternate Solution #3

Alternate Solution #3

• 3 bedroom




• covered porch




• foyer opens up into kitchen




• garage leads up to dryer/washer room




• ktichen leads to dining room




• gathering room and dining room are interconnected




• master bedroom has large room attached consisting of walk-in closet, vanit, double sink, bath, and shower




• grandparents room is in beginning of house to give separate living quarters feeling




• room begins with living room and mini kitchen and opens up into bedroom

Alternate Solution #3 Auto-CAD

Brainstorming

Floor Plan Ideas:

• 1 story





• 2 stories





• 3 rooms





• 4 rooms





• separate living area for grandparents (mother-daughter house)





• kitchen in grandparents bedroom





• island in kitchen





• kitchen has opening over counter into dining room





• fireplace





• bathroom accessible by children's room(s) and grandparent's room





• covered porch





• closet in foyer

Brainstorming Bubble Diagram: displays main rooms of house surrounded by related rooms. Rooms that are connected by a line should placed next to or near each other. This diagram helps to show the flow of the house and where rooms should be placed.

Brainstorming Diagram

MP1 Calendar

9/2 - 9/8
Finalize background information, design brief, specifications, limitations, testing proecdures, and summer research. Contact mentor. Update WebBlog.

9/9 - 9/15
Finalize brainstorming/alternative solutions. Fill out mentor fact sheet.Contact mentor. Update WebBlog.

9/16 - 9/22
Devolop calendar. Contact mentor. Update WebBlog.

9/23 - 9/29
Research annual income. Contact mentor. Update WebBlog.

9/30 - 10/4
Research all materials for house and model. Begin model. Contact mentor. Update WebBlog.

10/7 - 10/13
Work on model. Develop Selection/Rejection/Intention Report.Contact mentor. Update WebBlog.

10/14 - 10/20
Work on model. Finalize Selection/Rejection/Intention Report.Contact mentor. Update WebBlog.

10/21 - 10/27
Finalize model. Finalize mentor contacts.Contact mentor. Update WebBlog.

10/28 - 11/3
Prepare for formal presentations.Contact mentor. Update WebBlog.

11/4 - 11/10
Contact mentor. Update WebBlog.

11/11 - 11/13
Contact mentor. Update WebBlog.

MP1 Assignments

MP1 Assignments

Background Information-9/6/2007
Design Brief, Specs and Limitations-9/6/2007
Testing Procedures-9/6/2007
Summer Research-9/6/2007
Participation/Schedule/Calendar and Log Sheet-9/20/2007
Brainstorming/Alternative Solutions-10/3/2007
Mentor Contacts-10/31/2007
Selection/Rejection/Intention Report-10/31/2007
Model-10/31/2007
Webblog Portfolio-Work on throughout marking period
Formal Progres Update Presentation-11/1/2007

Work-Cited

1. 350 Affordable Home Plans. Washington: Hanley Wood, 2006.
2. Affordable Home Plans. Tucson, Az: Home Planners, 1997.
3. Affordable Housing Design Advisor. 7 Jul. 2007 . (AHDA)
4. Altman, Adelaide. Planning Your Best Home Ever. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green, 2002. (BHE)
5. Eck, Jeremiah. The Distinctive Home, A Vision of Timeless Design. Newtown, Ct.: Taunton
   Press, 2003. (DH)
6. National Building Museum. 7 Jul. 2007 . (NBM)
7. Residential Home. 8 Jul. 2007. (RH)
8. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 8 Jul. 2007 . (HUD)

Testing Procedures

1. Finalize all floor plans.
2. Finalize model.
3. Take photograph of model placed on level surface to depict realism.
4. Test if model is aesthetically pleasing through survey of 25 people.
5. Submit all items to the TSA competition in order to be evaluated by several judges.
6. Evaluation is based on points earned for the notebook, the architectural model, and the finalist interview.

Research

Affordable Housing

• The generally accepted definition of affordability is for a household to pay no more than 30% of annual income on housing.
• Many families whose housing payments exceed this percentage cannot afford such necessities as food, clothing, transportation, and medical care.
• Well-designed developments can offer new opportunities for the least wealthy Americans, while creating real value and assets for their surrounding communities. (NBM)
• Good design can make a world of difference for the people who will live in the affordable housing you help build, and for the neighborhood surrounding it.
• Can provide the people who live there with everything we all expect from our home: comfort, security, and an atmosphere to thrive and do our best in.
• A project that strives for good design -i.e., which consciously and aggressively tries to meets user needs, enhance its neighborhood, respond well to its context and be built to last
• Generates occupant satisfaction and pride, sparking ongoing concern for and care of the project.
• Enhances and helps stabilize its neighborhood, primarily through the pride and commitment of its occupants and the respect afforded the project by the community
• Is easy to maintain and lasts longer.
• Appreciates in value, all other things being equal
• A project is well designed if it meets the following four basic criteria: Meets User Needs, Understands and Responds to its Context, Enhances its Neighborhood and is Built to Last
• Quality materials and finishes, on the other hand, contribute to the longevity of a project and to its ability to appreciate - not depreciate - in value. They also make a project easier to maintain, potentially reducing operating costs.
• "Building in" energy and environmental efficiency - through better windows, insulation and equipment - reduces operating costs over the life of the building.
• Not every product or system can be top of the line. In these circumstances, consider favoring exterior materials and finishes over interior ones when making tradeoffs. Likewise, consider favoring products and systems which are permanent and hard to replace over those that the occupant can replace on their own.
• Consider utilizing a variety of building forms and roof shapes rather than box-like forms with large, unvaried roofs.
• Maximize window number and size (within budget constraints) to enhance views and make spaces feel larger and lighter.
• Ensure that all building entries are prominent and visible and create a sense that the user is transitioning from a public to a semi-private area. Avoid side entries and those that are not visually defined. At all entries consider issues of shelter, security, lighting, durability, and identity.
• Ensure that stairs are durable, attractive and safe.
• Provide enough space to accommodate a large table and enough chairs for occupants and guests.
• Provide visual screening of bathrooms from the entry and from the living and dining areas.
• When more than one bedroom shares a bathroom, consider separating the lavatory from the toilet/tub area to allow use by more than one person at a time.
• Access to natural light in all bedrooms and the living room is essential and cross ventilation throughout the unit is encouraged.
• Consider layouts that allow natural light to the kitchen and allow the natural ventilation and lighting of bathrooms.
• Provide as much storage space as possible. At a minimum provide an amount of bulk storage commensurate with the size of the unit and the number and ages of residents it is expected to accommodate, including: coat closets in the entry area, large closets in the bedrooms, linen closets, pantry spaces, and storage rooms adjacent to exterior balconies or patios.
• Avoid materials that require frequent maintenance, especially by specialists. Consider materials that residents can maintain themselves.
• Provide floor coverings appropriate to use in room - generally use resilient flooring in kitchens, bathroom, laundries, dining rooms and entries.
• Evaluate selection of materials in terms of lifecycle and environmental cost. (AHDA)
• The economic expansion of the 1990s obscured certain trends and statistics that point to an increased, not decreased, need for affordable housing.
• The generally accepted definition of affordability is for a household to pay no more than 30 percent of its annual income on housing.
• Families who pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing are considered cost burdened and may have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation and medical care.
• An estimated 12 million renter and homeowner households now pay more then 50 percent of their annual incomes for housing, and a family with one full-time worker earning the minimum wage cannot afford the local fair-market rent for a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the United States.
• The lack of affordable housing is a significant hardship for low-income households preventing them from meeting their other basic needs, such as nutrition and healthcare, or saving for their future and that of their families. (HUD)
  

Architecture plans/design

• Quarter-inch scale, generally used for residential planning, means that ¼ inch on a standard American ruler equals 1 foot of actual space and is written ¼” = 1’-0” (one inch would equal 4 feet of actual space)
• Walkways should be continuous from the driveway to the house, or from a detached garage to the house, and at least 36 inches wide
• Minimum width of a single door is 32 inches; minimum door height is 6 feet, 8 inches
• Door handles should be a bout 42 inches from the ground for most people , but measure for your own comfortable height
• Closet for outerwear should be located near the entrance door and be fitted with reachable shelves or compartments
• Hallways should be minimum 42 inches wide
• One operable door or window is required in each sleeping room below the fourth floor, and in basements, as follows: Minimum net area: 5.7 square feet; minimum openable height, 24 inches; minimum openable width, 27 inches; maximum sill height, 44 inches
• Minimum headroom for stairs is 6 feet, 8 inches above the nosing; the minimum width, 44 inches. Risers should be no higher than 7 inches ; treads a minimum of 4 inches
  Stair handrails should be 1 ¼ inches to 1 ½ inches in diameter and installed on both sides. Should extend 12 inches plus on tread beyond the bottom step railing height is to be 30 to 34 inches above stairs; spaced away from wall 1/1/2 inches minimum to 3 inches maximum
• Doors should not open into hallway
• Folding doors for closets provide easy access and visibility
• Raised toilet seat should be 18 to 19 inches from floor centered 18 inches from the side wall (BHE)
• Distinctiveness of a home lies in the balance between the site, the floor plan, the exterior, elements, and the details.
• Four essential features of every house that can have a lasting impact: how it occupies its site, how the floor plan maximizes efficiency and comfort for today’s living, how the exterior is balanced and blends naturally with the site (or neighborhood), how selected exterior and interior details transmit an enduring sense of quality care and thought.
• Make use of space underneath a stairway for a sitting area, or niche ( holds books) (DH)

Limitations

• Nothing that identifies the participant’s name, school, chapter, or state can be included on the model or notebook.
• Each drawing to be submitted on maximum drawing sheet cut size B- (11”x17”) with appropriate scale size noted on the drawing.
• Materials should not be applied (to the model) that are intended to illustrate or simulate the appearance of regular construction materials. A variety of commercially produced materials is available that may be used to illustrate or simulate the appearance of regular construction materials. Although these materials may be used to enhance a model, they are not recommend for use or required. Participants choosing to use any of these materials are reminded to pay close attention to the scale of the materials as they relate to the scale of the model.
• No glass or liquid may be used as part of any model.
• Must be started and completed during the 2007 to 2008 school year.

Specifications

• Designed for a single family residential home
• Family of six including two grandparents
• Follow the principles and guidelines established for the development of affordable housing in America
• The architectural model must be placed on a site board no larger than a 24” square.
• A design notebook [use a standard three ring binder with clear plastic insert cover] must be submitted with the model
• Design notebook must include the following and be arranged in this order:
  1) One page that includes a description of the style and merits of the design concepts
  2) One page that includes a schedule of finish materials for all exterior and interior surfaces of the architectural design (this is not a list of the model construction materials)
  3) A reproduction copy of original hand drawings and printer/plotter generated copies of CAD drawings for the following required drawings:
  a. Original floor plan(s)
  b. Sectional detail drawing
  d. Foundation plan
  e. Roof plan
  f. Landscape plan
  4) 3D drawings/renderings, if included
• Model construction materials and techniques:
  1. Balsa wood, illustration board, or similar materials are to be used for all interior walls, exterior walls, and roof construction
  2. Foam-core board is to be used for the model base
  3. Dowels may be used to represent columns or circular components
• Model Construction- All participants in this event are encouraged to contact a local architect or a school of architectural design to research and observe actual models in order to gain a greater perspective on how to approach the construction and assembly of an architectural model
• The architectural model must be aesthetically pleasing (tested through survey)
• Walls must be 6" in width
• Floor plan must be built with rooms flowing in a sensible manner and amount of space used must be kept to minimum
• All doors must be 3' wide and 6' 8" tall
• All hallways must be atleast 3' wide
• All tops of windows must be placed 7' tall on walls
• All closets must be atleast 2' wide
• All walls must be 8' tall
  

Background Information

The need to design and construct affordable housing in America is urgent. Twenty-five percent of all American households face severe housing problems. Among these are lack of sufficient funds for monthly payments, maintenance, and repairs; overcrowding, both within individual dwellings and in high-density multi-family developments; and structural deficiencies.
These 30 million households include not just the poorest individuals and those without jobs, but also teachers, librarians, firefighters, health-care workers, and many others who make significant contributions to our communities.

Figure 1 H.U.D. Banner

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the generally accepted criteria of affordability is that a household pays no more than 30% of its annual income on housing. In many localities across America, an increasing number of families are earning less than 50% of the median income in their respective area, assuming they spend no more than 30% of their income for housing.

Figure 2 H.U.D. SEAL

The economic expansion of the 1990s obscured certain trends and statistics that point to an increased, not decreased, need for affordable housing. Families who pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing are considered cost burdened and may have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation and medical care. An estimated 12 million renter and homeowner households now pay more then 50 percent of their annual incomes for housing, and a family with one full-time worker earning the minimum wage cannot afford the local fair-market rent for a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the United States.


The lack of affordable housing is a significant hardship for low-income households preventing them from meeting their other basic needs, such as nutrition and healthcare, or saving for their future and that of their families. (HUD)

Research will be conducted on the guidelines established for affordable housing. After sufficient information is collected, brainstorming for a single family home will begin. Several floor plans will be drawn and finalized, and one solution shall be chosen. An architectural model will be constructed based off of the final floor plans. An understanding and aptitude for the process of architectural design, development of plans, and basic modeling techniques will be demonstrated throughout the course of the project.

Figure 3 Floor Plan

Design Brief

Develop architectural plans and construct an architectural model for the 2008 TSA Architectural Model competition.

Test Post

Test Post