Ideas Generation : Digital Arts - Farmhouse

I want to design a farmhouse in Sreemangal, Bangladesh. In my design, I am going to emphasize the sustainability of contemporary designs amid mounting environmental concerns. Homes constructed with additional insulation and energy-rated equipment to increase their energy efficiency are typically the easiest solutions. The demand for bamboo flooring, recycled glass counter tops, and other environmentally manufactured products is rising.

Walsh House, Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales, Australia : 2001 - 05

Altitude: 100m above sea level. Temperate climate. Rainfall circa 1,500mm per year. Summer, circa 26˚C. Winter, circa 23˚C with winds off Mt. Kosciusko bringing lows of 5˚C. Decomposed sandstone soils with organic matter and clay.

Artist Following for designing the farmhouse is Glenn Murcutt. This Australian architect has been working on modernist buildings since the mid-70s. He likes to position buildings so that they absorb the most sun and have good airflow.

As at a number of other houses by Murcutt, the roof projects deeply to shield the upper, north-facing windows from direct summer sun, allowing these windows to be unscreened, and to frame the view of the ridge clearly throughout the year. However, unlike Simpson-Lee House, for example, Walsh House is not conceived as a single, fluid, interior space but as a series of connected rooms, each clearly identified from the outside by an individual glazed bay, protected by adjustable louvres, which allows the user to individually adjust the daylighting of their room. Each bay is intended for variable use, as for example a day-bed, writing desk, or small greenhouse.

A house is more likely to be reused if:

- it makes good use of natural light and ventilation

- is well served by infrastructure of various kinds (public transport, utilities etc.)

- does not contain toxic materials

- is well constructed, preferably using 'natural' materials

- has attractive spaces and character

- is culturally valued

- has access to renewable energy resources (solar, wind)

I am planning to use these sustainable materials while designing the house, such as-

- Foundation posts: wood with top

- Garden Partitioning: untreated softwood

- Ground floor: hollow concrete element

- Building waste: clean rubble, low-grade chemical waste, metal and remainder

- Ground floor insulation: mineral wool

- Upper floor: ceramic and hollow concrete with reclaimed aggregate

- Solid internal walls: natural gypsum blocks, cellular concrete

- Pitched roof construction: sustainable plywood, chipboard

- Wall insulation: mineral wool

- Internal stairs: European softwood

- External window frames: preserved softwood

- External doors: softwood with solid borate implant

- Internal woodwork: water-based acrylic paint

- External woodwork: high solids alkyd paint

After seeing the Walsh House, I was really amused by the design of the house as the architect Glenn also uses sustainable materials while designing a house. I wanted to design a low budget house but a sustainable and environment friendly house for my clients. This house will be designed based on the source of sunlight and flow of air so that this natural energy can be used to save energy and also produce electricity with the help of sunlight by using solar panel. The target market will be millennial & Gen X as both of the generation are more engrossed in traditional, natural environment and sustainable things. The concept of this design is supposed to represent a modern sustainable house. While living in this house, the clients will be able to enjoy their time as being surrounded by the beautiful nature.

References

Walsh House (no date) OZ.E.TECTURE. Available at: https://www.ozetecture.org/walsh-house (Accessed: January 28, 2023).

Edwards, B. (2010) Rough guide to sustainability. London: RIBA Enterprises.