One Design

The theme of the EP Exhibit 2016 is It Takes a Community. Selected projects showcase the best work from young designers highlighting community impact and engagement.

One Design is a futuristic school of thought for housing that leads to a new model for future residential communities starting from a simplistic unit (a shelter) and expanding that idea to a single family and finally a community.  

The shelter

The concept emulates performance sailing design and technologies in both its structural and non-structural components. Materiality, ergonomics, and environmental conditions add rigor to the critical thinking that shapes the space of the program, the parameters of the structure, and the geographical adaptability and service of the envelope over short and long periods of time. When deployed, the shelter diagram reads as a layered envelope in tension between two structural frames on either side of it.

The structural frames are light weight and made of composite materials—carbon reinforced plastic. Their geometry follows strict rules of mast, engineered-design. High performance sail design is about maximizing the minimum; strength vs weight vs performance speed.  

Single/family house

The concept extends the life of the design rules and critical thinking that have shaped the shelter. Sail boats are not grounded, they float. A natural condition and sustainable resource enables its existence and performance. The single family house of tomorrow (sfhot) may float as well.

A group of trees may enable its existence and performance equally efficient. In principle, trees—also a sustainable resource—will replace the need for foundation and foundation works which are highly invasive to the strata—above and underground.

With the help of rigging technologies the sfhot will be grounded at the same time remain mobile. Mobility is essential to the family cell and its members. We must acknowledge that a family, changes its needs for products and services over time. The industries of consumer products and services know that.

In the interest of profit, they are always finding ways of improving "the recipe"; mainly through mass-production and customization. The output is always highly focused on the individual, his/her way of living, understanding, and usage of the product.  Just like the shelter concept, it is efficient in the use of resources, materials, production time, and it is highly adaptable. The sfhot is suited to different climates and personal needs for comfort and space and can be easily serviced, transported, assembled and can even be sold in the same way a consumer product is.  

Multiple Family Housing/Community

The multifamily concept relies on a grid of trees, Canary Island Pine, planted 7- 10 years ahead, which is both structure and master plan. Given the grids, the future residents are open to choose where they desire to "rig" their living spaces. The result will be a community in constant change and highly optimized. Different sfhot arrangements will develop a diver’s master plan, where privacy and public can constantly adapt to suit individual and community preferences and needs.