Pictures
Starting to draw concept ideas and designs in regards to the appearance and architecture of the house.
After going through multiple concepts this is the floor plan layout for the first finished design. Below the plan is a front elevation that depicts how the front exterior would look like.
In the process of turning the first floor plan into a card stock model. The model serves as a flexible prototype a guideline for the physical design and construction.
After measuring and cutting the flashcards the first part of the model completed and scaled in regards to the dawn floor plan.
Redesigning the layout of the house multiple times to accommodate a style that would be more adaptable and efficient in its use of space. The problem with the first design was that there was wasted space in the entrance and hallways.
Building the roof to place on top of the card stock model. The original idea was to include a flat roof.
Turning to a drafting software called Auto-CAD to start on the digital floor plan. The program also had the advantage of manipulating walls and dimensions, making the redesigning process easier.
The finalized design of the sustainable house with a detached carport and all dimensions disclosed.
Continuing with the Auto-CAD software to copy the dimensions and the layout from my sketchbook to the computer.
Left: Starting the process of turning the second design into a card stock model like the earlier design. The first step was cutting the walls to match the dimensions and the scales of the drawings.
Right: Building and placing the roof, along with the roof monitors, and the carport onto the card stock model.
Finalizing the digital floor plan by placing dimensions and inserting symbols for fixtures and furniture, including the bathrooms, kitchen, and the utilities. The dimensions are placed at a standardized 3 ft from the drawing. Each of the fixtures are pre-loaded digital blocks that can be added to the drawing.
The completed card stock model along with a topographic representation of the landscape. This picture was created by positioning an overhead lamp at a certain angle till it blacked out the background.
Left: The second stage of the physical project was to start constructing the final model. The firs step was to cut exterior and interior walls out of balsa wood with a razor blade. Balsa wood is both light and easy to cut through.
Right: Adding outer aesthetics to the exterior walls including windows and doorways. The frames are constructed out of thin strips of balsa wood.
Glued the exterior and interior walls together on a foam board foundation.
Cutting shapes out of felt grass to use for the landscaping of the model.
In order to display the slope and topography of the land, layers of cardboard were cut out to represent the contour lines . Each line represents elevations of equal height.
The next challenge was construct the roof. The frame was cut out and carefully measured to ensure the accuracy of different slopes needed for the roof.
After building the frame, modeling materials were used to represent a metallic roof. In addition a green roof was painted and glued on, and the roof monitors were painstakingly assembled to match the incline of the metal.
Small mirrors were taken and colored to create the iridescent shine of solar panels. These were then placed onto the carport.
Here is the near finished model. Additions include the carport, the sidewalk, the driveway, and multiple representations of vegetation.