modular2house by Studio 804
by TreeHugger on 04.12.05
In the Studio 804 program at the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Urban Design, architecture graduate students get the chance to design a house and build it in five months—often a house aimed at affordability. This year, they’re building modular2, a prefab sequel to last spring’s modular1 (Architecture Magazine’s Home of the Year). Sustainability, accessibility, and efficiency are some of the stated goals, and we like the design direction they’ve taken. You can follow the progress of the build on a week-by-week basis at the website (the modules were moved to the site in Kansas City last week). Via fabprefab ::Studio 804 [by KK]
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I've noted that most of the pre-fab designs seem to have flat roofs. So much the better for putting planter boxes on top. Also good because, in a small footprint home, about 30% of the material costs of a pitched roof are eliminated (trusses, struts, and roofing materials. But there are major issues that are easily overlooked in an irrational exhuberance for a "new" look.
A larger home will need more structural shoring in the middle to cover the span.
Ice- and snow-melt ponding, leading to weight stress, can cause serious problems if design is not well done.
Need to shift to a much heavier commercial roof covering approach that uses a geo-textile underlayment with asphalt and white gravel on top.
Recurring problems with leaf and litter build-up.
Here's a much better solution than a flat roof. Make the north side of the building taller than the south side. This solves the drainage problem and puts all the water on one side of the house, making it easier to capture for reuse and limits the amount of gutters needed for drainage. And it allows solar panels (PV or water heating) to be a lower profile and less susceptible to wind damage.