Format of Proceedings Guopeng Li 20121010

A DESIGN APPROACH TO INTEGRATE ADAPTABILITY INTO MASS HOUISING 1

A Design Approach to Integrate Adaptability into Mass Housing

GUOPENG LI

The University of Nottingham

INTRODUCTION

Adaptability and its related terminologies, such as flexibility, variability, and polyvalence, have been given a numbers of definitions by architects and researchers. The definitions are often similar and overlapping, but sometimes they are of distinct differences. In this research, adaptability is defined as the potential of housing with major physical fabric unchanged to accommodate or respond to a variety of different conditions or requirements by utilising designed forms or means.

Adaptability can be regarded as one of the necessary qualities for individuation in mass housing domain. And since the emergence of sustainability, designing for adaptability has had renewed significance. As have discussed by Schneider and Till (2007), Broome (2007), and Friedman (2002, 2011), adaptability is constantly needed with the change of living mode, technology, work pattern, and family dynamics, thus, mass housing with adaptability is of great importance and has potential sustainability in three aspects: socially, financially, and environmentally.

Researches and practices on mass housing adaptability have been kept on for nearly a century since Le Corbusier’s Maison Dom-Ino developed in 1914. However, the fact is adaptability remaining marginal to most of the

home designers and the housing market. It is essential to understand that mass housing adaptability is not a static concept but one that needs to be incorporated on many levels of a project to form an organised system. The methodology and technologies have been developed well enough to cope with the needs of adaptability, but the issue of how to design adaptability poses a considerable challenge all the time.

Hence, a new design approach, as a practical solution to design adaptability and integrate adaptability into mass housing, is needed to respect the culture of current mass housing market, and to provide essential design criteria for home designers and legislators.

METHODOLOGY

A case studies based methodology has been adopted to develop a method for designing adaptability, and establish a system of design criteria for integrating adaptability into mass housing.

The whole process includes three primary steps:

identify the characteristics of adaptability; and identify the design factors that have the most influence on

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adaptability in accordance with the characteristics of adaptability;

evaluate the design factors employed in the case studies integrated with adaptability, in terms of their success and failure in achieving the characteristics of adaptability, and collect and analyse the data of design factors;

establish a system of design criteria using the data, with which the design factors achieve the characteristics of adaptability.

These three steps are discussed in the following sections: Programming, Analysis, and Criteria.

PROGRAMMING

Characteristics of Adaptability

A good example to identify the characteristics of adaptability is the UK housing stock. Not only more than 40% UK dwellings had been adapted at least once since they were originally built, but also the adaptations had been recorded completely. (English Housing Survey - Housing stock report 2008, 2010)

Figure 1: Types of major alterations carried out since original construction, 2008 (‘other’ includes, over-cladding, structure replaced, over-roofing, conversion to HMO use)

From analysing the aspects of these adaptations, these adaptations can be categorised into four major characteristics: Extension, Internal space rearrangement, External appearance alteration, and Services reconfiguration. Each major characteristic consists of several sub-characteristics. Table 1 shows the categorisation of characteristics of adaptability.

Extension Vertical

extension

Living spaces

Horizontal

extension

Living spaces

Amenities

Internal space

rearrangement

Dwelling

conversion

One

dwelling

subdivide

d into

two or

more

Self-

contai

ned

Non

self-

contai

ned

Two or more

dwellings

combined

Room

conversion

Multi-functional

space, functional

rearrangement

Dividing and

Jointing

Linkage created

and disconnected

External

appearance

alteration

Roof Over roofing

Roof light

External

wall

Window

replacement

Over cladding

Insulation added

onto external wall

Accessary Porches, bays

added or removed

Services

reconfiguration

Services upgraded, added,

removed

Table 1: Categorisation of characteristics of adaptability

Design Factors for Adaptability

In accordance with the concepts of Hierarchy and Levels of Control from Open Building (Habraken, 1976; Lin and Wang, 1998), Stuart Brand’s six layers (Brand, 1995), and Luis

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Kahn's distinction between Served and Servant spaces (Gast, 2001; Khan, 1987), a housing system can be generated to show the design factors.

Figure 2: Housing System showing the design factors

This housing system can be regarded as a system of design factors. The system of design factors consists of four parts: material components, spatial components, services, and circulation. Material components are support structure, skin, partition, and mechanisms; and spatial components are site, building, dwelling, floor and room. The services and circulation are different from both material and spatial components: they have both material and spatial features. And there is another common ground between services and circulation: they also have layers connected through the housing system: services has main service, distributive service, and service terminal (such as kitchen and bathroom); circulation has entry, main hall, vertical circulation, and circulation on each floor.

These design factors are the basic knowledge of architectural design. For material components, the design factors are about material, structure, and construction; for spatial components, the design factors are about mathematics, geometry, and proportion. And for services and circulation, the design factors of both material and spatial components are needed to be taken into account.

However, not every design factor in the housing system is design factor for adaptability. Considering the characteristics of adaptability, the design factors for adaptability are Dwelling, Floor, Room, Services, Circulation, Structure, and Internal walls (such as partitions and mechanisms).

Each of the design factors for adaptability is measured and examined in the analysis process.

ANALYSIS

Case studies are employed as a vehicle to collect data of design factors. The case study selected has to be proved as project that achieves at least one characteristic of adaptability.

Rietveld Schroder house, the Next Home, and the Expandable/adaptable House are examples for studying the characteristic of Internal Space Rearrangement. The data of design factors are gethered.

Case Study 1: Rietveld Schroder House

Figure 3: Rietveld Schroder house

Background: Utrecht architect and designer Gerrit Rietveld designed the house, commissioned by Truus Schröder, in 1924 on the edge of city Utrecht.

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The Design: The design of Rietveld Schroder House is characterized by both the aesthetic of compulsions and the functional and mechnical consideration.

The most fundamental and salient deisgn part is the aesthetic of the work: the organisation of geometric elements; visual independence established by the means of overlapping seperation and colour; mathematical module as an aid in spatial composition; and spatial continuity and material discontinuity from outside to inside.

Despite the fact that the functional and mechnical design is not of paramount importance, the architect aimed the design for not only Mrs. Schröder’s familiy with three children but also a possible prototype for future urban dewllings, which could be adapted to the needs of any inhabitant. The ground floor is divided into a variety of reletively small, tight columes, which are linked to each other

directly or associated through glass strips at the top of their walls. They are used principally for various activities such as studying, working and cooking. But each room, equiped with a sink , can be used also as a bedroom. The living sleeping and dining activities are organised on the first floor, which is a single open enclosure, and contrasts sharply with the reletively restricted volumes of the ground floor. The stairwell, bathroom, and toilet are the only fixed areas in the central real section on the first floor, and the rest of the areas may be divide into smaller volumes, depanding on the disposition of the sliding panels. Although the space of first floor is reletively unrestricted, it is not simply a large, undifferentiated space. When it is fully open, even though there is no partitions and the hallway does not exist, it is differentiated, to some extent, by the the furniture and the steel ranners of the sliding panels attached to the ceiling painted different colours.

Figure 4: Plan of Rietveld Schroder House

The construction:

After conceived the desire forms and visual effects, Rietveld attempted to use the simplest and least expansive material to create the design as a matter of principle. For the economic, practical, and aesthetic reasons, the architect used a combination of materials. The foundation is made up of eight piles carrying beams which support the superstructure. Foundation beams, piles, subterranean walls,

horizontal and vertical balcony slads are made of concrete; but all other vertical, structural slabs are of brick. Horizontal planes, floor and roof, are built up pf wooden joists. Lintels are steel “I” members painted black. Indside, the sliding panels and doors, all of which go from floor to ceiling, are made of cork and asphalt sandwiched between beaverboard. Recessed grooves guide the panels at the floor, and L-section steel members guide the at the ceiling.

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The characteristics of adaptability: Internal Space Rearrangement, Room Conversion, Multi-functional space, functional rearrangement, Dividing and Jointing

The design factors and the data measurement:

House Typology Dwelling

size

Number

of floors

Schroder

House

End of

Terraced

(semi-

detached)

single unit

133sqm 2

Floors Size Shape Proportio

n

Ground

floor

66.5sqm Rectangle 1.36

First floor 66.5sqm Rectangle 1.36

Rooms Size proportio

n

Ground

floor

Reading

room

8.75sqm 0.71

Studio 11.76sqm 1.5

Working

room

6.44sqm 0.82

Kitchen-

dining

room

12.9sqm 0.7

Bedroom 6.9sqm 1.3

First floor Bedroom 16sqm 1

Bedroom 12.15sqm 1.67

Bedroom 5.75sqm 0.92

Living

room

18.9sqm 1.16

Circulation Placement Dimension

Ground floor Middle right 1m*4m

Vertical

circulation

Middle 1m*2m

First floor Middle 1m*3m

Services Placement Dimension

Main services

Distributive service Along the

perimeter

wall

Ground floor

service

terminals

and spaces

Toilet Middle right 1m*1m

Kitchen

-dining

Top right 3m*4.3m

First floor

service

terminals

and spaces

Bathroo

m

Middle left 2m*0.9m

(2m*1.8m)

Toilet Middle left 1m*1m

Structure Form Material

Foundation Concrete

Vertical support Cross-wall and

longitudinal

system

Brick, steel

Floor Timber

Roof Flat Timber

Balcony slabs concrete

Internal walls Percentage Material

/form

Ground

floor

Structure

wall

67% Brick

Partition wall 33% Brick,

timber

Mechanisms 0%

First

floor

Structure

wall

0%

Partition wall 20% Brick

Mechanisms 80% Timber /

sliding

panel,

foldable

panel

Case study 2: The Next Home

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Figure 5: The Next Home (Picture from www.afewthoughts.co.uk)

Background: The Next Home was a research project of the McGill School of Architecture Affordable Homes Program. The demonstration unit was built on the university campus in the summer of 1996. This research design was in direct response to the contemporary household, with its diversity of interior design needs, as a consideration of optimizing future housing prototypes.

Design: The dimensions of the unit have been chosen by adhering to modular sizes (610mm) and by balancing the advantages and critical limitations of various unit widths. A 6.lm×12.2m module produces spaces of comfortable dimensions, while liberates the interior from load bearing partitions, allowing for a strong element of adaptability with regard to a variety of building configuration.

The positioning of the stairs, along the side longitudinal wall in the middle of the unit and adjacent to the front entrance, allows the easy transformation from one housing type to another (single-family house, a duplex, or a triplex) within a three-story structure. By positioning the stairs lengthwise against the side wall, the available floor space is more efficiently increased. A secondary stair is necessary from a triplex to a duplex, so that specific floor joists are designed to be doubled up accordingly during construction to facilitate the installation of the new stairs.

Figure 6: Plan of the Next Home

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Confining the mechanical and services systems to a vertical shaft and horizontal chaser would facilitate future relocating, adding or removing of rooms and services.

A catalogue of interior components, including kitchen unit, bathroom unit, storage unit and demountable wall, is delivered for prospective occupants to choose from. Choice of skin design (façade and roof type) is also available.

The construction: The dimentions of the structure made panelisation the most suitable and adaptable method for manufacturing. Prefabricated structural components (prefabricated panels, floors, and roof sturcture) were built first, followed by windows, foors, insulations and outer skin of the structural panel. Once the structure was completed, construction of the interior began. This process of fitting inclulded installation of prefabricated interior partitions, plumbing

fixtures and the finishings.

The characteristics of adaptability: Internal space rearrangement, Dwelling conversion; Room conversion, Dividing and Jointing

Services reconfiguration

The design factors and the data measurement

House Typology Dwelling

size

Number

of floors

Next Home Terraced,

triplex

house

249sqm 3/4

Floors Size Shape Proportio

n

Ground

floor

72sqm Rectangle 2

First floor 72sqm Rectangle 2

Second

floor

72sqm Rectangle 2

Mezzanine

(top floor)

33sqm Rectangle 1.56

Rooms Size proportio

n

Ground

floor

Home

office

12sqm 0.75

Living-

sleeping

21sqm 0.59

First floor Living-

dining

26.25sqm 2.14

Sleeping 14sqm 1.14

Studying 5sqm 1.25

Second

floor

Bedroom 12.6sqm 1.6

Bedroom 12.6sqm 1.6

Living-

dining

18sqm 0.5

Mezzanine

(top floor)

Living 12.25sqm 1

Sleeping 9sqm 1

Circulation Placement Dimension

Vertical

circulation

Middle right 4m*2.5m

Ground floor Middle/ middle 2.4m*1m/

2.4m*2m

First floor Middle/ middle

bottom

8.5m*1.2m

Second floor Middle/ middle

left

4.5m*1m/

1m*2.5m

Mezzanine (top

floor)

Middle/ middle 1.25m*1.25m

Services Placement Dimension

Main services Vertical shaft next to the vertical circulation

0.5m*2.5m

Distributive service Horizontal

floor chase

along the

perimeter

wall or main

circulation

artery

Ground floor

service

terminals

and spaces

Bathroo

m

Middle left 1.8m*2.2m

Kitchen Middle left 1.8m*2.2m

First floor

service

terminals

Bathroo

m

Top right 2.1m*2m

Kitchen Bottom right 3m*2.5m

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and spaces

Second floor

service

terminals

and spaces

Bathroo

m

Middle left 1.8m*2.4m

(2m*1.8m)

Kitchen Middle left 2.5m*3m

Mezzanine

(top floor)

service

terminals

and spaces

Bathroo

m

Top right 2.7m*1.4m

Structure Form Material

Foundation

Vertical support Wood-frame Timber

Floor Open-metal-

web trusses

Timber/metal

component,

plywood board

Roof Pitched Timber

Internal walls Percen

tage

Material

/form

Floors Structure

wall

0%

Partition wall 0%

Mechanisms 100% Mobile system/

demountable

system/

Portable

partition

system

Case Study 3: Expandable/ Adaptable House

Figure 7: The Expandable/ Adaptable House (Picture from www.afewthoughts.co.uk)

Background: The Expandable/adaptable House, was produced by the John Bartlett, under Oliver Cox at British Ministry of Housing and Local Government (MHLG) to illustrate the recommendation of Parker Morris Committee Report published in 1961. The house was shown at the Ideal Home Exhibition in 1962.

Design: The design emphasises the changeability of the plan as means for providing Adaptability Architecturally, this project is accommodated in a two storey L-shaped house with kitchen, dining room/ playspace WC and one additional room on the ground floor. The additional room is accessible both from the entrance hall as well as via a door to the living room and can be used as a hobbies room, bed sitting or guest room. The large living rooms on ground floor can be used for different functions and activities, and subdivided as necessary. Depending on the number of occupants in the house a large space to one side of the staircase on the first floor can be divided into two rooms.

The characteristics of adaptability: Internal space rearrangement, Room conversion, Multi-functional space, functional rearrangement, Dividing and Jointing

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Figure 8: Plan of the Expandable/ Adaptable House

The design factors and the data measurement:

House Typology Dwelling

size

Number

of floors

Expandable/

adaptable

house

Detached,

semi-

detached,

terraced,

single unit

98sqm 2

Floors Size Shape Proportio

n

Ground

floor

66.5sqm L shape 0.67/ 2.57

First floor 31.5sqm Rectangle 2.57

Rooms Size proportio

n

Ground

floor

garage 12.48sqm 1.85

Kitchen 8.16sqm 0.7

Dining

room

8.16sqm 0.7

Living

room

17.5sqm 1.43

Bed-sitting

room

11sqm

First floor Bedroom 8.75sqm 0.71

Study

room

12.25sqm 1

Circulation Placement Dimension

Ground floor Middle 4.8m*1m

Vertical

circulation

Middle 0.9m*2.5m

First floor Middle right 3m*8m

Services Placement Dimension

Main services

Distributive service

Ground floor

service

terminals

and spaces

Toilet Middle 1.2m*1.5m

Kitchen Middle

bottom

2.4m*3.4m

First floor

service

terminals

and spaces

Bathroo

m

Middle 1.8m*2.5m

Structure Form Material

Foundation

Vertical support

10

Floor

Roof Flat

Internal walls Percentage Material

/form

Ground

floor

Structure

wall

Partition wall

Mechanisms

First

floor

Structure

wall

Partition wall

Mechanisms

CRITERIA

Although the establishment of design criteria need more case studies, on the basis of the Rietveld Schroder House, the Next Home, and the Expandable/ adaptable House, and data analysis, the following summaries of analysis may be drawn:

The total amount of area is not smaller than the space standards in new developments (London Housing Design Guide, 2009):Rietveld Schroder House: 133sqm; space standards in new developments, 2 storey house, 4b5p: 100sqm. The Next Home: 249sqm (72sqm, 72sqm, 105sqm); space standards in new developments, 1b2p:50sqm, 2b3p: 61sqm, 2b4p: 70sqm. Expandable/ adaptable House: 98sqm; space standards in new developments, 2 story house, 3b5p: 96sqm.

The efficient room proportion is around 0.7 (or 1.4), particularly in smaller rooms. And the minimum width of a room is about 2m.

The central positioned entry and circulations minimise the connection distance. The less the circulation interrupts the interior space, the more adaptability this kind of arrangement can offer for the private spaces. However, the horizontal circulation can be designed and blended within an open multi-functional space.

Possible common space on the floor level of a stairwell is the necessary condition for internal rearrangement, dwelling conversion.

Raised floor or open–web trusses are used for the distribution of services along the perimeter wall or main circulation artery.

Mechanisms are widely used in internal space rearrangement of dividing and jointing.

The concept of grouping kitchen and dining room is the means to form an open, multi-functional space.

The concept of grouping services terminal provides a reasonable separation between wet functions” and freed “living zones”.

The concept of grouping necessary fixed structural elements, services and circulation allows the remaining spaces to be freed, particularly for the main services and vertical circulation.

The forms of the structure have more influence on adaptability than the construction method and constructing material.

SUMMARY

Adaptability is of great importance. However, because of the lack of design approaches to integrate adaptability into mass housing, difficulties in implementation of adaptability exist currently.

This case-study based research offers a method to establish a system of design criteria to design adaptability by identifying the characteristics of adaptability and design factors for adaptability, undertaking case studies, and analysing the data of design factors.

Rietveld Schroder House, the Next Home, and the Expandable/ adaptable House, chosen as pilot study of internal space rearrangement, are analysed; some summaries of analysis as design criteria may have been revealed.

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More case studies are needed for building up the design criteria of other characteristics of adaptability.

REFERENCE

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