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Precedents and design philosophy

GH001

2011 Open ARchiTecture Challenge:Ghana

12/11/2010

Varun Thautam (VT)

VT

A100a

Architectural Character

The traditional dwelling is the Ashanti compound house, roughsquare plan (fig 1). The general layout has remained the same forcenturies. The built up area in the image shown is about 1220 sft

(not including the courtyard). In both towns and villages, thearrangement f compound houses have invariably conformed to a

definite grid layout with streets, alleys and open spaces. Thearchitecture in the tropical rainforest region of Ashanti has to be

strong, robust and climate responsive.

Art and architecture reinforce each other to speak an architecturallanguage unique to that of the Ashanti region. As an outsider and

an architect, this language is difficult to understand withoutexperiencing it firsthand. As the art village aims to preserve and

propagate traditional knowledge, we feel that this knowledge has tobe embodied into the architecture trying to get as close as possibleto the vernacular truth aided with pragmatism. We believe that the

greater cause of the project is social and economic sustainability byreviving the dying traditions / patterns of life in the region. Thebuilding should save the individuality of the villages and instill

peoples pride over their traditions.

Design Philosophy

Design has to be informed by studies of the patterns (patternlanguage, Christopher Alexander, 1979) and of the cultural

landscape, social order, architectural technology, decorationand composition (Vernacular Architecture, Henry Glassie, 2000)of the Ashanti region. Through this competition, we propose adesign that is flexible, incremental, subject to change with thedecision making left to the users/artist community and local

architects.

Architects Identity

Varun Thautam: I am an architect who believes that the art of usingearth in construction lies in the wisdom that has developed overhundreds of years of local use. My role would only be to use my

knowledge and expertise to revive the artisans/local faith in his ownculture. I am setting out to share my expertise in cost effective

rammed earth construction and am keen on seeking a culturallyenriching project development experience. I head a design and

build firm in Bangalore assisted by

Ajinkya Unhale - Architect (Indian) - Project Management, sitesupervision, training and documentation.

Judith Vogel - Architect (German) - Permaculture design andexecution of landscaping and infrastructure.

We strongly believe in Minimum damage to the site, ecology andresources, use of modern barefoot alternatives to provide a

comfortable environment to an international community,permaculture and a working landscape that ensure self sufficiency

and ecological sustainability.

Project Strategy and Goal

It is clear that the program envisioned is hard to meet with thecurrent resources available. The project has to be phased. I believe

that a strong documentation and publicity effort will ensuretremendous international interest in the project development.

Additional funds can be generated through donations andgovernmental grants if one showcases high quality work that is

ingenious and innovative. The goal is to deliver processes of theproject that are well documented that will inspire similar

developments in the region/rest of Africa.

Fig 1

Fig 2

Fig 3

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Concept development

GH001

2011 Open ARchiTecture Challenge:Ghana

12/11/2010

vt

vt

A100b

1 Concept

Design development

Planning Guides1. Common walls ensure savings, Scattered development whould be avoided.2. Simple identical roofs ensure savings. Having largely uniform width of spaces will enable theuse of simple repeatable roofs. (Either bamboo truss / Fired brick or adobe vaults and domes.3. Courtyard planning is a recognizable vernacular pattern and should be used to create aculturally rich experience walking though the complex. Moreover, it saves infrastructure costsas services can be sandwiched in to nodes of intersection.4. The landscaping has to be a working one, (permaculture) plantations of vegetables andfruits on the site will be needed for self sustenance.5. The units are an assemblage of locally available natural elements (we will not use toxic orindustrial waste).6. having a single access for services (to the kitchen) and to the entrance of the complex will becost effective.7. the most important planning aspect is to set a pattern (courtyard planning) that will emerge throughphase wise development of spaces (incrementally).10. Landscaping; several trenches will be dug out around the site that will act as rainwaterharvesting trenches. The trenches will recharge the aquifer and will also reduce dependency ofthe landscape on manual watering.11. Soil dug out from the trenches will be used for construction.

Socio-cultural Guides

1. A close knit guild will create greater exchange of ideas and experiences.2. Common activities such as dining etc shall be used as an opportunity where public caninteract with the artisans.3. It is very hot to stay indoors. Most activities spill out to the courtyards. Dining, sleeping,working all happens in the courtyard.4. The walking path through the courtyards should increase triangulation and interactions.5. Human scale is important for an enriching environment. The ratio of building height tocourtyard with will lie in between 1:2 and 1:6

Technological Guides

1. Rammed earth / Cob can be used to carry loads up to 2 floors (30 cm thick wall). Thisopportunity will be exploited but in phases.2. It is important to have lighter roofs that can be dismantled and re assembled after theconstruction of the upper floor.3. Vaults and Domes are cost effective construction technologies. Square shaped rooms andequal width of rooms will ensure lower costs of formwork, training and ensure simplicity inexecution.4. Wood lintels shall be used if Good Seasoned wood is available at a low cost. Else archedopenings will be preferred.5. Rammed Earth flooring is easy and effective flooring that will be used.6. Outdoor areas can use cost effective flooring such as terracotta / fired brick / other localalternatives.7. Stone slabs can be placed over Vaults/domes after an infill is done. These stone slabs willautomatically serve as a flooring material for the upper floor.8. Solar panels will not be used as they are not cost-effective. Only a donation of solar panelswith a UPS/Backup system will ensure use of PV voltaic. A Solar Cooker will be installed in thedance courtyard. Solar water heater will be installed on the terrace of the toilets/bath.9. A wind pump (wind mill) will drive water from a rainwater tank to an overhead tank above thetoilets and kitchen.

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Construction technologies - walls

GH001

2011 Open ARchiTecture Challenge:Ghana

12/11/2010

Author

Checker

A100c

Rammed Earth Walls by VarunThautam (2009) @ Bangalore

Cob Walls by Judith Vogel and VarunThautam @ Auroville, India (2008)

Making Adobes and unfired clay bricks byVarun Thautam @ Arumbakam, India (2009)

Bamboo - Wattle and Daub, Auroville Earth Institute, India (Varun Thautam worked onsite) (2009)

Lowcost formwork developed by Varun Thautam@ Bangalore (2010)

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Construction technologies - Roofs

GH001

2011 Open ARchiTecture Challenge:Ghana

12/11/2010

Author

Checker

A100d

Vault construction without forms, Varun Thautam underwent a one month onsite traning@ Auroville Earth Institute, India (2008)

Ferrocement water tanks, WC's, ChannelsVarun Thautam traiined at @ CSR, Auroville, India

Building domes, Varun Thautam @ Auroville, India(2008)

Low cost ferocement partition walls have been designed and built byAjinkya Unhale @ several residences in Bangalore (2008 - 2010)

Bamboo truss, simple joinery, Varun Thautam and Judith Vogel worked on site @Auroville, India (2009)

Building Arches and Vaults, Varun Thautam and Judith Vogel worked on site @Auroville, India (2008)

Bed Room1

Bed Room2

Bed Room3

Bed Room4

Bed Room5

Bed Room6

Dormitory1

Bed Room7

OutdoorGallery

Gallery /Studio Office

Store /Shop

Office

ComputerLab

Musicstudio /

Recordingroom

Leisure/porch/sleep

out /Community

Meetingspace

Residentialcourtyard Dance

Court

CoveredStage /Dining

Open to airstage

Dining /waiting

areaCommunity

Kitchen

Artscourtyard

Entrance

Studio 1Studio 2

Seating /Leisure

Play room

Tool store

BuildingConstruction

workshop

Lockersand wash

Store

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Ground floor plan

GH001

2011 Open ARchiTecture Challenge:Ghana

12/11/2010

vt

vt

A101

1/16" = 1'-0"1 Level 1

Design Program - Phase 1Name Area Space type

Bed Room 1 173 SF Enclosed, CoveredBed Room 2 173 SF Enclosed, CoveredBed Room 3 173 SF Enclosed, CoveredBed Room 4 154 SF Enclosed, CoveredBed Room 5 148 SF Enclosed, CoveredBed Room 6 148 SF Enclosed, CoveredBed Room 7 148 SF Enclosed, CoveredCommunity Kitchen 132 SF Enclosed, CoveredComputer Lab 169 SF Enclosed, CoveredGallery / Studio 140 SF Enclosed, CoveredLockers and wash 81 SF Enclosed, CoveredMusic studio / Recording room 315 SF Enclosed, CoveredOffice 161 SF Enclosed, CoveredOffice 114 SF Enclosed, CoveredStore / Shop 114 SF Enclosed, CoveredStudio 1 173 SF Enclosed, CoveredStudio 2 355 SF Enclosed, CoveredStudio 3 351 SF Enclosed, Covered18 3220 SFCovered Stage / Dining 638 SF Open, coveredEntrance 88 SF Open, coveredOutdoor Gallery 194 SF Open, coveredSeating / Leisure 238 SF Open, covered4 1159 SFArts courtyard 687 SF Open, open to skyBuilding Construction workshop 1932 SF Open, open to skyDance Court 1156 SF Open, open to skyOpen to air stage 409 SF Open, open to skyResidential courtyard 1033 SF Open, open to sky5 5217 SF

Studio 3

Dormitory2

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First floor plan

GH001

2011 Open ARchiTecture Challenge:Ghana

12/11/2010

vt

vt

A102

1/16" = 1'-0"1 Level 2

Design Program - Phase 2Name Area Space type

Dormitory 1 328 SF Enclosed, CoveredDormitory 2 325 SF Enclosed, CoveredStore 160 SF Enclosed, CoveredTool store 161 SF Enclosed, Covered4 973 SFDining / waiting area 355 SF Open, coveredLeisure/ porch/sleep out / CommunityMeeting space

552 SF Open, covered

Play room 520 SF Open, covered3 1428 SF

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Roof Plan

GH001

2011 Open ARchiTecture Challenge:Ghana

12/11/2010

Author

Checker

A103 1/16" = 1'-0"1 Site

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Sections

GH001

2011 Open ARchiTecture Challenge:Ghana

12/11/2010

Author

Checker

A104

1/16" = 1'-0"1 Section 1

1/16" = 1'-0"2 Section 2

1/16" = 1'-0"3 Section 3

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Sections

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2011 Open ARchiTecture Challenge:Ghana

12/11/2010

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Checker

A105

1/16" = 1'-0"1 Section 4

1/16" = 1'-0"2 Section 5

1/16" = 1'-0"3 Section 6

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Cross sectional view 1

GH001

2011 Open ARchiTecture Challenge:Ghana

12/11/2010

Author

Checker

A106

1 3D View 1

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Project Financials

GH001

2011 Open ARchiTecture Challenge:Ghana

12/11/2010

Author

Checker

A107

Design Program - Phase 1Name Area Space type

Bed Room 1 173 SF Enclosed, CoveredBed Room 2 173 SF Enclosed, CoveredBed Room 3 173 SF Enclosed, CoveredBed Room 4 154 SF Enclosed, CoveredBed Room 5 148 SF Enclosed, CoveredBed Room 6 148 SF Enclosed, CoveredBed Room 7 148 SF Enclosed, CoveredCommunity Kitchen 132 SF Enclosed, CoveredComputer Lab 169 SF Enclosed, CoveredGallery / Studio 140 SF Enclosed, CoveredLockers and wash 81 SF Enclosed, CoveredMusic studio / Recording room 315 SF Enclosed, CoveredOffice 161 SF Enclosed, CoveredOffice 114 SF Enclosed, CoveredStore / Shop 114 SF Enclosed, CoveredStudio 1 173 SF Enclosed, CoveredStudio 2 355 SF Enclosed, CoveredStudio 3 351 SF Enclosed, Covered18 3220 SFCovered Stage / Dining 638 SF Open, coveredEntrance 88 SF Open, coveredOutdoor Gallery 194 SF Open, coveredSeating / Leisure 238 SF Open, covered4 1159 SFArts courtyard 687 SF Open, open to skyBuilding Construction workshop 1932 SF Open, open to skyDance Court 1156 SF Open, open to skyOpen to air stage 409 SF Open, open to skyResidential courtyard 1033 SF Open, open to sky5 5217 SF

Broad Project Specifications:

Walls: Rammed earth, cob, Wattle and daub, adobeRoofs: Bamboo truss, lattice and thatch, Adobe/fired brick vaults and domes.Floor: Rammed earth Floor, Stone slabs on VaultsDoors: Wooden DoorsWindows: "Jali" fenestration wherever possible. Else, wooden windows.Lintels: Wooden split lintel or Arched openingsElectrical: PVC conduits in situPlumbing: PVC/SS pipingElectrical, plumbing and sanitation fittings: Regional standards or betterFurniture, Interior works: Regional standards or better

Broad based Project cost breakup

Typically for a labor intensive construction built with rammed earth such as the ones I haveexecuted in Bangalore and AurovilleThe project cost breakup is as follows-

1. Material cost: 40%2. Labor (specialized):25%3. Infrastructure and Landscaping and Land development costs: 25%4. Financing, profits and overheads: 5-10%

One doesn’t account for Sweat Equity about 8-15% for such a project where there isvolunteer/inexpensive labor.However a part of these costs are offset by training costs.

Looking at the Project program - Phase 1, we have a Floor area of 3220 sft and a semi built uparea of 1159 sft. The total net built up area works out to be about 4200 sft.

Built up area (enclosed and Semi open): 4200 sft @ 10$ per sft = 42,000$Other open areas (stage, courtyards, open air theatre etc): 5200 sft @ 1$ per sft = 5200$Infrastructure (Roads, plumbing, sanitation, windmill, landscaping) 25% of project cost = 15,000$Contingency funds: Electrical and Sanitation fittings? Furniture and Interiors? = XXXX $Total = 62,200$

Seems like one has to reduce built up area by at least 300 sft so that funds can be set aside forContingencies, Electrical and Sanitation fittings as well as furniture and interiors.

It is recommended that the requirements for stage 1 be relaxed by about 300 sft. A courtyard tosleep 15 people can be proposed instead of 21.

The Cost of construction roughly works out to be 10$ per sft (110$ per sqm) that is areasonable.It is hard to estimate construction costs beforehand with little information available online onlabor rates and building material costs. The use of BIM for developing this project facilitateseasy costing and estimation of data is available.

Design Program - Phase 2Name Area Space type

Dormitory 1 328 SF Enclosed, CoveredDormitory 2 325 SF Enclosed, CoveredStore 160 SF Enclosed, CoveredTool store 161 SF Enclosed, Covered4 973 SFDining / waiting area 355 SF Open, coveredLeisure/ porch/sleep out / CommunityMeeting space

552 SF Open, covered

Play room 520 SF Open, covered3 1428 SF