ISEAMI concept eradicates in the education and awareness
of its occupants and its community, that will be capable to learn about
sustainable living thru its spatial living. The house promises a responsible
approach to the nature of its location, Peninsula de Osa, a place where the 5%
of the world biodiversity is embodied.
The
house is the first stage of the ISEAMI institute (Institute of sustainability,
ecology, art, mind and investigation). The house is the main area of the
institute, therefore, it’s design will serve as a multifunctional place in
order to host activities as Investigation, meditation, training, Yoga and joy
at the terrace located in the first level. At the same time, the Institute
director will habit the house on the second level. This way, possible functions
are maximized on the smallest possible area.
RoblesArq has followed their design process named: SDRA
(Dynamic system Robles Arquitectos) which, during the investigation stage, evaluates
10 important elements as: Site, Climate, Energy, Water, Materials, environment,
atmosphere, cost, innovation with the use of passive strategies and the
implemented processes. These elements will be analyzed to develop a design plan
and a management plan during the building lifecycle in order to reduce the
negative impact this house could bring to the natural environment and then, to
minimize the negative impact that nature could create in the building, this
because our main concept is to create a very low maintenance house.
The secluded project site is located at 30 km from
the closest town, Puerto Jimenez, therefore, the house doesn’t have any public service
supply as electricity or water, and this condition obligates the institute to
invest on a 100% self-sufficient house. During the design process, decisions
were taken in order to bring the water and energy supply. The existence of a
water concession on the protected forest inside the property, allows the
project to consider a natural potable water source for its use, then the water
volume is utilized in order to produce energy with 2 low impact hydroelectric
generators that generate a total of 800KW/H. Furthermore, Casa Iseami becomes a
solar power plant with a production capability of 10.800KW/H, this because the
roof has been designed in order to have the orientation and position to maximize
its production. The roof material has great structural capacities, so the
access to the roof for maintenance is possible (The use of a solar hot water
tank provides comfort to the users). The hybrid energy system provides with
success enough energy to the project, the caretaker’s and maintenace housing
and the existing lodge for the participants of the institute.
The materials for the house were selected following
the results given by an investigation process done to the existing project near
the site. This way we took the results and then decide which were the best
materials to use in order to create a low maintenance project. All the proposed
materials were tested in order to evaluate its behavior on the difficult environment
that the Osa peninsula has because of its humidity, high percentage of rain,
mould, fungi and its flora and fauna.
The structural and electro mechanic design has
been inspired on an exo-skeleton insect, this way the creation of open spaces
between walls and ceilings are eliminated, creating a benefit for the indoor air
quality because we avoid the creation of mould and plagues common in the
projects around.
Within the
chosen materials, the thermal-panels (Versawall and Versapanel by Centria) are chosen
as the main material for walls and roof because of its solar reflectance index,
structural and acoustic properties and ability to give the thermal comfort
without using empty spaces on the walls. This material brings the opportunity
to build the house, piece by piece as a Lego, a great strategy to minimize the
use of transportation in order to lower the carbon footprint of the institute
and the ability to build the house with fast and minimum labor on this secluded
location. Because of the high structural capabilities of the material, the
amount of steel structure was lowered considerably, saving the use of the
natural resources needed for the anti-seismic structure. Furthermore the
thermal-panel is a very light and easy to install, low maintenance and highly
resistant material for humidity.
Passive design strategies
have been successfully implemented to handle the sun exposure, relative
humidity, natural illumination and ventilation inside the bioclimatic
considerations of the project. Relative humidity is managed to create a healthy
and comfortable space. The strategies used are, elevating the house 1 meter
above the ground (water permeability in the ground will be possible), ideal
orientation (Southeast-northwest) for cross ventilation and the installation of
two polycarbonate skylights that provide the control of sunlight exposure in
the interiors of the house, preventing UV to damage the furniture and Indoor
environmental quality for its occupants. Large overhangs create shadows all day
long in order to control the interior temperatures and natural illumination
together with the thermal capacities and white color of the envelope. The use
of recycled plastic louvers (Trex) creates a second envelope that surrounds the
house in order to maximize the temperature control and rain exposure. On the
other hand, the white color in the totality of Iseami has the goal to be able
to visualize any insect or mould creation inside the house, frame and create a
contrast with nature, maximize natural light and solar reflectance index (SRI
100). The roof design allows the occupants to have an integration with the
mountains around with an “open to the sky” concept, this way, cross
ventilation, daylight and views are present in every single space around the
house.
One important goal
of Iseami house was its recyclable potential, therefore, the material selection
needed to be 100% recyclable at the end of its lifecycle, therefore, recycled
plastic, glass and mainly the steel (structure and panels) have been choose for
the project. Plastic materials at the interior are not included to avoid the outgassing
of any toxic compound found in certain plastics, sealants or aditives. Instead,
the Versawall and regional materials as white mosaic floors creates a simple
but well balanced interior.
The
construction system is based on a prefab method planned in order to get the
construction time and low environmental impact on the site. The main benefit
about that is the adaptation and evolution potential with the community inhabitants,
which have a poor economy and will be able to imitate these solutions in
different scales with very simple materials.
The
distribution of the house looks for a new way of living where all the
activities have the possibility to be developed outside, this way the
integration between the interior and the exterior become succesfull and
natural, creating possibilities to enjoy nature on its original state as much
as the occupants desires it.
Iseami House is the result of an investigation during
the design process of a tropical house built on a remote and difficult site in
which the main objective was to promote the benefit of the well being of the
community and its occupants, all thru an emergent tropical architecture concept.