Stage OneHouse
re-Growth Pod:
The Victoria bush
fires destroyed over 2,029 houses, 3,500 structures in total. On Saturday 7 February 2009, during extreme
bushfire-weather conditions, resulting in Australia’s highest ever loss of life
from a bushfire, 173 people died and 414 were injured.
A robust pre-fabricated
concrete structure has been designed to be build upon, but in the short term
acts as a habitable starting point for the building of a new home. The units
can be prefabricated, delivered and connected to services rapidly allowing
families to begin the re-building process without displacement from their
communities. The House Pod it is a starting block for the re-growth of regional
Victoria. (source: http://web.me.com/raskil1/re-Growth_Pod/Home.html )
Free Fire Floating
Resistant House (F3RH):
The observation of
how the natural world has adapted to survive in this area, lead to the
conclusion that the easier, safest and faster way that local species (plants,
insects and animals) have found to shelter in this kind of harsh environment is
to go underground. During the bushfires Chocolate lilies (Arthropodium
strictum), like many other smaller bush plants have their bulbs protected
underground, then, one or two years after the fires, thrive taking advantage of
the increased sun light. Therefore, the F3RH concept mimics this natural ability
to survive with almost no resources. This way to allow a safety house, F3RH is a
self-defensive project integrated in the natural Australian bush landscape. The
central feature is a prefabricated floating system which main goals are
decrease and minimize the exposed surface and fight the fire. As the Pod
itself, F3RH is a prototype to be mounted on the previously implanted water tank.
Floating System:
The practice of
building structures to allow humans to live on floating buildings already
exists and is a simple system to be applied in this proposal. The first step is
to implant a prefabricated tank with two rubber water storage tanks in it,
fitted with emergency hose-out connected to outside sprinklers. The second step
consists in a hydraulic system similar to the dry docks used in shipyards. This
system composed by water tanks and rubber water storage tanks is the
sustainable house basis. The house basis shape is a simple box structure and
features high stability and security, low manufacturing cost and easy
maintainance and repair. Each module has a box type structure in plastic fibre
concrete reinforced with a longitudinal and transverse hot-dip galvanized mesh.
Frame fitting, electricity and sewerage systems are integrated.
Why Floating?
To provide a
fire-suppression system that is gravity fed.
After the pressure
valves have been opened the water under pressure mixed with fire retardant will
be sprayed by the sprinklers mounted in the surrounding area stopping the fire.
At the same time house begins sliding down taking the space left empty by the
rubber water tanks until being completely protected, functioning as a shelter
for its occupants. Starting point
one: 1site+ 1 F3RH system+ 1pod:
The set is ready,
the re-growth pod is decanted onto the site. The project does not require
special technologies and works by water pressure without any
electrical or mechanical system. The F3RH concept is valid for other areas
conducive to natural disasters as hurricanes. The house is equipped with an
emergency kit (food, water, batteries, air purification filter, located mainly
inside unit two, in the hall, over de bathroom and near the shower. This unit
is the emergency one. Habitants should
remain in it allowing them to survive several days until the rescue team
arrives or disaster has passed.
The proposal aims to protect people lives and their goods as
well a fast and cost effective re-building solution for residents who have lost
their assets in Victoria bushfires.