Concept Summary
The principle design concept for
the proposed senior housing at the Bahia community on the edge of San Francisco
Bay is to disperse small scale clusters of attached houses across the steeply
sloping topography in order to profit fully from the singular landscape
character of the sites. The specific requirements of senior housing, that all
dwellings be on a single level, creates significant opportunities for
innovation in the careful distribution of the dwellings with respect to the
immediate terrain.
The vertical arrangement of the dwellings as a response to
the existing topography gives a distinct character to the different types that
result: sky homes oriented for optimized solar access profit from terraces over
the roofs of the dwellings below, earth homes follow the contours to give
prominence to easterly water views as well as access to private landscaped
spaces. In both cases connections with landscape, both proximate and distant
are balanced with the needs of the senior residential program to provide
privacy and outlook, prospect and refuge.
It is proposed to employ standardized construction elements
creatively throughout the community to ensure maximum economic efficiency
within the framework of modular diversity. Primary structural elements are
envisaged as typical residential timber framing on piled foundations.
Excavation is to be restricted as much as practicable to landscape areas around
the dwellings, rather than for the dwellings themselves. The scale of the
dwellings has deliberately been limited to the width of a single room to ensure
both optimized environmental connections as well as reduced spans for primary
structural elements. Exterior cladding is envisaged as timber siding,
alternating in vertical and horizontal directions for adjoining dwellings.
Roofing is envisaged to be membrane on plywood, and covered with removable
timber decking to create supplementary outdoor living space for residents
above, as well as providing a considerable cooling benefit by shading exposed
roofs. All timber is to be Forest Stewardship Council certified to ensure best
practice sustainability and LEED accreditation.
Sustainability
A passive approach to environmental sustainability ensures
the lowest possible carbon footprint for the community. Energy consumption is
reduced by the use of solar hot water systems and optional roof mounted
photovoltaic solar arrays. The distributed site planning, ensures that at least
one dwelling provides the ideal solar orientation for photovoltaic systems, and
subject to operational efficiency, provides an opportunity for a zero net
energy goal.
The scale of the community generates a critical mass in the
feasibility of ground source heat pump systems for distributed heating and
cooling requirements. The unbuilt upon terraces adjoining Bahia Drive provide
the ideal opportunity for a ground source heat pump system to be installed,
with agricultural plantings above. Proximity to the waters of the lower
Petaluma River provide further opportunities for energy efficiency within the
heat pump system.
Stormwater harvesting and retention play a key role
supporting and enhancing the landscape character of the sites. Significant
quantities of both individual and communal rainwater storage are envisaged to
provide the means of fire suppression within the community as well as meeting
irrigation requirements for dwellings, agricultural uses and communal
landscaping needs. The scale of the community provides excellent opportunities
for grey water re-use in both interior (laundry) and exterior (garden)
operations.
Additional program
Agricultural plots 1-8, along Bahia Drive. Profiting from
the existing terraces to provide flat land for agricultural uses compatible
with a senior demographic.
Agricultural market stall conveniently located at the
midpoint of the Bahia Drive street frontage.
Community center (optional according to budget and project
staging).
Community amphitheatre/moonlight cinema (contours existing,
cost for screen/stage according to budget and project staging).
Community
park & playground, at entry to Misty Court site. Although this is a seniors
housing project the inclusion of a children’s playground is to provide
facilities for visiting family to encourage more frequent intergenerational
contact.