VIdeo Presentation

Outcome

Figure 1 : Floor plans for Zone.Zone House with Vegetation Detailing

These are the finalized floor plans: from the left is the ground floor plan, middle being the first floor plan and to the right is the second floor plan. All of these floor plans underwent a series of consideration based on our concept - Core and Barrier. After a countless sequence of refining plan layouts, the above floor plans is the final outcome that achieved our concept and strategies.

Figure 2 : Elevations

The above figure shows the elevations of Zone.Zone House. As shown in the elevations above, the facade of  Zone.Zone House is designed to encourage permeability. The relationship between street and internal spaces are clearly showed in the elevations. Our design team feels that this kind of interaction is important to improve the field of relationships which are lacking from the current urban housing typology.

Figure 3 : Perspective View with Site Context

Renderings

Internal spaces rendering

Possibilities

Figure 4 : Different Formation for Varies Typologies

Housing Typology in Malaysia - Bungalow, Semi-Detach, and Terrace House. These housing typologies is commonly found in urban or suburban area, hence our design team came up with a series of arrangements for the Zone.Zone House prototype to fit into the context. The altering of 3rd layer barrier (green facade) is flexible and doesn't affect the original concept of Core and Barrier. By altering the flexible layer, this prototype can fit into most of Malaysia housing typologies.

Thermal Comfort Analysis

Figure 1 : Ecotect Simulated Diagram

The diagram above shows the effectiveness of our proposed concept – Core and Barrier. The core area is located at the middle (the blue area), which indicated that the core area achieved thermal comfort level. On the other hand, at the second level of barrier, which is located at the red – orange colour area, indicated that the second level of barrier had a temperature ranging from 28-30 °C. While, for the 3^rd layer of barrier, which is the planting box façade, it aids in reducing heat from outside. Hence, the home users can have a social space that possesses thermal comfort.

Proposed Roof System

Roof is the building component that receives most of the solar radiation and collects most of the rain water during sunny or rainy day.  Hence, our team came out with this proposed roof system to maximize the potential of self sustaining for Zone.Zone house.

Proposed Roof System

Figure 1: Proposed Green Roof System Diagram

(Source: Author)

Solar Water Heating

Figure 1a: Diagram showing the main components for the proposed SWH system

(Source: Author)

Figure 1b: Photo showing SWH system installed on the roof

(Source: http://www.24heatingcooling.com/files/images/swh_roof.jpg)

Water heating is one of the highest energy consuming electrical appliance in a house, due to the process of turning electrical energy into heat which requires huge amount of energy during transformation. Hence, we came out with a proposed SWH system on the roof top, so that we can use the solar heat to heat up the water and store in an insulated storage tank. With this system, we are using renewable energy and reduces the usage of carbon-generated power from the main grid. 

Solar Energy

Figure 1c: Diagram showing the Isolated Solar Power System main components

(Source: Author)

Figure 1c: Photo showing PV panels installed on the roof.

(Source:http://www.sustainableguernsey.info/)

Solar energy is free and clean, and it is supplied all year long in Malaysia. Based on this, our team decided to design an isolated solar power system for this project. The isolated solar power system include PV panels, Solar storage batteries and Inverter. 

Rainwater Harvesting

Figure 1e: Diagram showing the setup of non mechanical rainwater filtration system

(Source: Author)

Unlike conventional rainwater harvesting system in the market, our team decided to design a system that reduce the needs on mechanical components like pump. The proposed rainwater harvesting system is installed using natural elements like gravels, bio fabric filter and recycle plastic for waterproofing, the whole system relies on gravitational force for flowing of the water. The filtered rain water will be stored for irrigation of vegetation on heat barrier, flushing WC or car washing purposes. 

Home Aquaponics - Sustainable Food Production

As food prices are ever increasing, self-sufficiency in terms of food will help the urban poor save daily costs yet not lack in nutrition.

Aquaponics is a sustainable food production method where traditional aquaculture (fish cultivation) meets hydroponics (growing plants with mineral nutrient solutions). Compared to hydroponics and aeroponics, this method is the most energy and water efficient method to grow vegetables and fruits while also raising fish for human consumption. Aquaponics uses 90% less water than soil-based growing.

Figure 1: Picture depicts an example of an aquaponics farm. (Source: http://www.proaqua.com/aquaponics)

This method mainly relies on the symbiotic relationship between the plant and the fish. The principle of aquaponics is that the effluents accumulated in the water from the fish tank is lead to a hydroponics system where the waste is broken down by nitrogen-fixing bacteria at the root of the plants. It is then absorbed by the plants as vital nutrients. The water which is now filtered and cleansed is repumped to the fish tank and the closed-loop cycle continues.

Figure 2: The cycling of the water from the fish tank to the growing tray.
(Source: http://www.cityscapefarms.com/soillessfarming/)

As this method relies on natural processes, any addition of chemicals will endanger either the plant or the fish. For example, chemical fertilizers, if added, will be toxic to the fish and cause them to die. In this sense, it will require the home owners to practice healthy, organic growing.
(Source: http://www.aquaponic.com.au/aquaponics.htm)

In this system, a balance is required between the number of fishes in the tank, the size of the tank and the amount of plants grown. If a large tank is used with insufficient fishes reared in it, the plants will not receive enough nutrients to grow healthily. If too many fishes are reared, the plants will not be able to filter the water quickly enough and it might be too concentrated with effluent, thus becoming too toxic for the fishes. A good balance will ensure healthy growth of both the plants and the fishes.
(Source: http://aquaponics4you.com/articles/aquaponics-stocking-densities/)



The proposed aquaponics farm will be located next to the kitchen for the convenient retrieval of fresh produce. A variety of vegetables can be planted at the same time  (it doesn't matter since they do not compete for nutrients in this system) to encourage consumption of different types of vegetables which provide different phytonutrients beneficial to the human body.

Figure 3: A variety of plants can be grown at the same time (here, water from the tank flows through the gravel).
(Source: http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2012/08/new-aquaponics-project-could-be-solution-for-pacific-food-shortage/)

Material & Construction Method

Figure 1: Exploded axonometric showing prefabricated steel construction and Bio-based materials

(Source: Author)

Steel

The superstructure for Zone.Zone House is mainly formed by Steel I-beam. The frame of the building is designed with consideration based on prefabricated building systems. Steel I-beams are prominently used in prefabricated building; this is because steel I-beam is easy to configure and install during the construction progress. Steel have been recognized for its strength, durability, and functionality, hence it can last throughout the whole lifespan of Zone.Zone House. Steel is relatively easier to be recycled due to its unique magnetic properties, hence at the end of the building’s lifespan, these steel I-beams can be reused or recycled.

Wood – Polylactic Acid Composite

Wood – polylactic acid composite is a combination of wood fiber and bio-plastic. Wood fiber can be harvested from recycled wood or industry timber residue, while the bio-plastic or known as polylactic acid is extracted from biomass, such as oil palm tree trunk and rice husk. Both sources of material for this composite timber are from  natural resources, which fits the concept of sustainable material. Composite timber have good workability and advantages in water resistance and is low maintenance. Similar to plastic, composite timber can be molded into desired shapes, which can reduce the possibilities of material wastage. This composite timber will be used for Zone.Zone House’s floor decking and wall panel, where all of these panels are prefabricated into modular units for the ease of transportation, installation, alteration, and material management.

Fly Ash Concrete

Fly ash concrete wall is used for the internal partition wall in Zone.Zone House, due to the high thermal mass properties of concrete. The high thermal mass helps in slowing down the heat gain process, and keep the internal spaces remain in its thermal comfort level. Concrete is commonly used in most of local construction due to its availability and is abundant in the local material industry. Fly ash concrete is a combination of fly ash, cement, aggregate and water. Fly ash is a residue from burning industry. Previously it was not used but released to the environment instead. Fly ash is now used as a replacement of cement in a certain percentage, and by doing this, indirectly the amount of fly ash that is released into the environment can be reduced.

Tempered Glass

It is the main element for double glazing glass window. The glass pane is separated by a gap of air in between, where this gap acts as a filter to reduce heat transfer across the building envelop. This allows natural light to penetrate but as for the heat it isn’t transmitted into the internal spaces. Glass is a highly recyclable material, and by the end of the building lifespan, the glass panes from the windows can be reused or recycled into various glass product. By doing this, it helps to conserve raw materials, reduce energy needed to produce new glassware and minimize the use of landfill.

Polylactic Acid Plastic

Polylactic Acid Plastic or known as PLA, is a type of plastic created by using bio based resources, such as corn starch. It is a sustainable material which has the advantages of normal plastic, such as durability, waterproof characteristics and can be molded in any shapes and desired forms. The suggested PLA in our Zone.Zone House is based on local found biomass such as oil palm tree trunk and rice husk, where both raw material is abundant in Malaysia. PLA will be the main material for our planter box modular unit. This is because of its light weight and weather-resistant properties which is advantages. PLA is very clean to recycle as well, as it turns back to its original monomer after recycling without producing any harmful byproducts.

Vegetation on Heat Barrier

A research was done to search for multiple species of plant to be incorporated into the heat barrier.

In the Core & Barrier concept, these plants reduce heat gained and act as heat barrier. They also perform different functions, such as reducing noise, purifying air, aesthetic purpose etc.

Studies have shown that plants can reduce the reverberation time by absorbing, reflecting or diffracting background noise and thus creating a more comfortable environment for the occupants.

Different plants are located at specific parts of the façade to respond to the site and sun. The plants chosen were also chosen for their low maintenance requirements such as infrequent watering required and size, where the plant does not grow too quickly where it will not burden the house owners to perform regular trimmings or re-rooting.

 

 

 

 

Chinese evergreen plant: Located at façade facing the road to reduce noise and filter toxic gases such as carbon monoxide from vehicles, ammonia, benzene and formaldehyde.

 

It can grow in filtered light and light shade and only requires moderate watering.

 

Dwarf snake plant: Located at the façade near to the bedroom as it has a unique characteristic where it releases oxygen at night instead of during the day and thus aids in sleeping.

It also filters the air from chemicals such as formaldehyde, xylene and ammonia. Snake plant is known as one of the NASA top ten best indoor air-cleaning plants. It can take a wide range of conditions and is very low maintenance as light watering is required.

 

 

Peace lily: Placed at the façade near the work place as it is able to filter benzene in cigarette smoke- it also filters out formaldehyde found in paint. Also known as one of the NASA top ten best indoor air-cleaning plants. Low maintenance, require watering once a week. Noise reducing properties makes it an excellent plant for the barrier.

 

 

 

 

 

Lemonbalm and peppermint: Chosen to be planted at the heat barrier near the kitchen as it is edible.

Both have fragrances that repel mosquitoes, and are easy to grow and maintain. Lemonbalm is especially tolerant of bad conditions and it is not affected much by pests and disease.