Atoine Archie ARET-222 April 8, 2010
The Contemporary Pit House
How to incorporate traditional first-nation pit house design and structure into a contemporary single-family dwelling unit that is both cost efficient and has minimal environmental impact?
The Contemporary Pit House designation will be on the land of Kamloops Indian Band of Shuswap First Nations in BC, Canada. The Pit House of the Thompsons Region found and recorded by James Teit will be researched and be the model for the traditional Pit House. The Traditional Pit House is a semi-sub terrainean dwelling found in the late 1800’s at the BC Interior Plateau created by the Shuswap First Nations to escape the extreme Winter conditions. The significance of the Traditional Pit House is how advanced the First Nations building technology was before contact with non-first nations. The Post and Beam structure used in the Pit House is still widely used today, and the Green Roof has a growing reputation around the world. More key features are that all the materials were natural and gathered from near surroundings, and the whole community took part in construction which took less than 2 days. The Traditional Pit House has an opening at the centre of the roof to allow smoke to escape from the open fire directly below, and the floor was left as original ground. The First Nations had a very strong connection with Mother Earth spiritually and physically. The First Nations have the up most respect for the Mother Earth, anything taken from the earth something else was returned, and waste was kept to a minimum.
The major design aspects incorporated from the Traditional Pit House will be the Green Roof, semi-subterranean/underground construction, interior exposure of post and beam construction. Due to Building Code Issues the centre of the roof will have to be modified with a closed roofing system, wall and floor assemblies will also be required. The Walls are (ICF) Insulated Concrete Forms using the 45 degree angled forms to replicate the roundness of the traditional pit house. A number of Case Studies of construction details for Green Roofs will be examined to create a unique assembly that will be suitable for the site and adaptable for the post and beam structure. The flooring system is concrete slab-on-grade, which is most common and readily available, additional layering beneath consists of rigid insulation. To reduce the environmental impact of processing the cement for the concrete, “fly ash” will be used as a substitute for the cement.
The research will be critical to creating the unique and innovative contemporary design. Investigation of all the construction methods and several case studies will be used to determine the most cost effective and which methods and materials have the least environmental impact.
A conceptual drawing has been created and will be used as a reference to give an idea of what the building will look like on the inside.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Academic References
-Roy, Robert. (2006).Earth-sheltered houses : How to build an affordable underground home.
Gabriola Island, B.C. : New Society Publishers.
-Boyer, Lester L. Grondzik, Walter T. (1981) 1st ed. Earth sheltered community design : energy-efficient residential development.
New York : Van Nostrand Reinhold,
-Boas, Franz, (1858-1942) Traditions of the Thompson River Indians of British Columbia
-Dawson, George M. (1849-1901). Notes on the Shuswap people of British Columbia. Royal Society of Canada.
-Nabokov, Peter. Easton, Robert. (1989). Native American Architecture. Oxford University Press.
-Morgan, William N. (2008). Earth Architecture : from ancient to modern. Gainesville : University Press of Florida.
-Cantor, Steven L. (2008) . Green Roof in Sustainable in Landscape Design. New York : W. W. Norton & Co.
-L. Goldberg, C. Lane, (1981). The Potential of Earth Sheltered and Underground Space. Pergamon Press, Oxford.
-Al-Sanea (2002). Thermal performance of building roof elements. Building and Environment.
-Luckett, Kelly (2009). Green Roof Construction and Maintenance. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Gabriola Island, B.C. : New Society Publishers.
-Boyer, Lester L. Grondzik, Walter T. (1981) 1st ed. Earth sheltered community design : energy-efficient residential development.
New York : Van Nostrand Reinhold,
-Boas, Franz, (1858-1942) Traditions of the Thompson River Indians of British Columbia
-Dawson, George M. (1849-1901). Notes on the Shuswap people of British Columbia. Royal Society of Canada.
-Nabokov, Peter. Easton, Robert. (1989). Native American Architecture. Oxford University Press.
-Morgan, William N. (2008). Earth Architecture : from ancient to modern. Gainesville : University Press of Florida.
-Cantor, Steven L. (2008) . Green Roof in Sustainable in Landscape Design. New York : W. W. Norton & Co.
-L. Goldberg, C. Lane, (1981). The Potential of Earth Sheltered and Underground Space. Pergamon Press, Oxford.
-Al-Sanea (2002). Thermal performance of building roof elements. Building and Environment.
-Luckett, Kelly (2009). Green Roof Construction and Maintenance. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
The Pit House
ATOINE ARCHIE ARET-222 Applied Research Project Feb. 1/10
Summary Statement of Proposed Project
Case Study of different styles and types of earth homes from around the world, of different time periods. Starting with the earliest forms of semi-sub terrain dwellings, the “Pit House,” found in western Canada, this model was created by the Shuswap’s of the Interior Region of British Columbia. Comparing the “pit house” with other modern earth-homes around the world that have different building uses and occupancies, and also researching the Green Technologies used in all buildings. Using what was learned in the research, a contemporary Pit House will be created and designed for a site found on the land of the Kamloops Indian Band of British Columbia, Canada.
Purpose
Conduct a study of the original “pit house” design to achieve a greater understanding of the design concepts and building technique’s the First Nations used. Look at the advancement the First Nations building technology compared to current building standards. Design a set of preliminary drawings for the potential of construction drawings in the future.
Goals and Objectives of the Project
Create a 3D CAD BIM (3D Computer Aided Drafted Building Information Model) of a unique modern pit house incorporating new and old building techniques and technologies. The Model will be used to acquire the Building's Performance in Energy Modelling. The ultimate goal will having the building constructed as single family dwelling unit. The design of the Model will not only follow, but exceed, the guidelines of current building regulations set out in the BC Building Code.
Methodology and Analytical Approach
Researching the sustainability and the performance of building materials used in the original design of the “Pit House” and other modern day earth-homes to create a unique building. The design of the building will incorporate Green Technologies and be combined with the new found information from all related building types. The Building footprint and the Carbon footprint will be monitored during the design process to achieve a high Building Performance.
Plans for Dissemination of Work
An online blog will be created and updated continuously with the research found and progress made throughout the project. The research will then be interperated into a formal report.
Previous Studies
There are two buildings currently under construction that Thompson Rivers University have undertaken, one in Williams Lake and the other on Kamloops Campus. Certin aspects of the Pit House designs are included in both buildings, but they are very different and unique from one another. For example, Williams Lake building is mainly used as office space and designed for a harsher climate. The Kamloops building will be an ampitheatre and have a capacity of holding more than a 100 people.
At the Kamloops Indian Band, in Kamloops, BC, onsite of the museum are a group of reconstructed "Pit Houses" at an original camping ground from Shuswap's years ago.
Summary Statement of Proposed Project
Case Study of different styles and types of earth homes from around the world, of different time periods. Starting with the earliest forms of semi-sub terrain dwellings, the “Pit House,” found in western Canada, this model was created by the Shuswap’s of the Interior Region of British Columbia. Comparing the “pit house” with other modern earth-homes around the world that have different building uses and occupancies, and also researching the Green Technologies used in all buildings. Using what was learned in the research, a contemporary Pit House will be created and designed for a site found on the land of the Kamloops Indian Band of British Columbia, Canada.
Purpose
Conduct a study of the original “pit house” design to achieve a greater understanding of the design concepts and building technique’s the First Nations used. Look at the advancement the First Nations building technology compared to current building standards. Design a set of preliminary drawings for the potential of construction drawings in the future.
Goals and Objectives of the Project
Create a 3D CAD BIM (3D Computer Aided Drafted Building Information Model) of a unique modern pit house incorporating new and old building techniques and technologies. The Model will be used to acquire the Building's Performance in Energy Modelling. The ultimate goal will having the building constructed as single family dwelling unit. The design of the Model will not only follow, but exceed, the guidelines of current building regulations set out in the BC Building Code.
Methodology and Analytical Approach
Researching the sustainability and the performance of building materials used in the original design of the “Pit House” and other modern day earth-homes to create a unique building. The design of the building will incorporate Green Technologies and be combined with the new found information from all related building types. The Building footprint and the Carbon footprint will be monitored during the design process to achieve a high Building Performance.
Plans for Dissemination of Work
An online blog will be created and updated continuously with the research found and progress made throughout the project. The research will then be interperated into a formal report.
Previous Studies
There are two buildings currently under construction that Thompson Rivers University have undertaken, one in Williams Lake and the other on Kamloops Campus. Certin aspects of the Pit House designs are included in both buildings, but they are very different and unique from one another. For example, Williams Lake building is mainly used as office space and designed for a harsher climate. The Kamloops building will be an ampitheatre and have a capacity of holding more than a 100 people.
At the Kamloops Indian Band, in Kamloops, BC, onsite of the museum are a group of reconstructed "Pit Houses" at an original camping ground from Shuswap's years ago.
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