User Flexibility

in

Adaptable Dwelling Units

Dr. Eyal Karni

‘User Flexibility’

Providing potential dwellers with a

flexible dwelling space in which they can

create their preferred dwelling solution

and modify it according to their dwelling

needs as they change over time.

Flexibility in Housing Background

Design• 1820 – William Alexander designed flexible public housing in

Australia• 1931 – Otto Schimdt suggested a wooden modular partition

Research• 1928 - Alexander Klein

Geometrical potential of dwelling units concerning floor use and movement possibilities

• Alfred MamlExamples of user flexibility in the dwelling space

• N. J. HabrakenTheory of dynamic housing

Supports, An Alternative to Mass Housing, 1961, 1972. Variations: The Systematic Design of Supports, 1976.

• 1970 – G. Herbert, A Keren and Y. KalayHistorical Survey of the Theory of the Dynamic Dwelling

• 1977 – R. OxmanFlexibility in Supports – an Analysis of the Effect of Selected Physical Design Variables upon the Flexibility of Support Type Housing Systems

• Open Building (CIB - W104: Open Building Implementation)• S. Kendall and J. Teicher, Residential Open Building, 2000:

131 projects, 26 documented in more detail as case studies.

Conferences

‘Open Building’

Design for stability and change while increasing the variety, flexibility and quality of the product (building systems and sub-systems).

Five Environmental levels of open building:

City structure level Tissue level (100-300 years) Support level (100 years) House allocation level (25 years) Infill level (10-20 years)

Possible reasons for need to change floor area

Children (bedrooms, family room)Work from homeStudyHobbyOther

t

Dwelling

Space

1 child

2 child

Work from home/hobby

Frequency of Change

Low (once every 5-10 years)

If:

a building life time is 70-100 years,

and if:

a change is made in the interior arrangement of a dwelling

space once every 5-10 years,

then:

7-20 changes

might take place in a dwelling unit

during its life time.

Options

Move to another dwelling unit

Add space to present dwelling unit

Change given space

Strategies for achieving user flexibility (I)

Adding space

Strategies for achieving user flexibility (II)

Changing the interior layout of a given space

What are

Adaptable Dwelling Units ?

Adaptable Dwelling Units are designed to:

address specific dwelling (user) needs

and

be able to transform according to altering

dwelling needs

Moveable Partitions

Modular

Lightweight

Easy to assemble/dismantle

Enable recycling

Allow passage of sub-systems (electricity, communication lines,…)

Eye-pleasing

The Design Grid

Modular co-ordination:

Orthogonal design grid (m=30c.m.(

Other grids (if needed)

Grid-Partition

60

90

120

Combinations

6090

120

0 60 12030 90 150

180210

240270

300330

360

Design Issues (concerning flexibility)

Floor geometry• Square• Rectangular• L-shaped)

Number of ‘open facades’• 1,2,3,4

Location of entrance to the dwelling unit• Corner• Middle• Other

Location and number of ‘Wet Zones’• Corner• Middle• Other• 1,2 or 3 zones

Classification of Dwelling Units(Floor Geometry)

Types of dwelling units (floor geometry):

A.

B.

C.

Square-shape Dwelling Units

Building TypeFloor PlanNo. of'open facades'

4

3

>2

2

Open facade

Blocked

Rectangular-shape Dwelling Units

Building TypeFloor PlanNo. of 'open facades'

4

>3

>2

2

Open facade

Blocked

3

L-shape Dwelling Units

Building TypeFloor PlanNo. of'open facades'

4

3

>2

Open facade

Blocked

Location of Entrance

B.

A.

C.

Number and Location of ‘Wet Zones’

C.

B.

A.

2 'Wet Zones'1 'Wet Zone'

Design Objectives

Clear open façade(s) along which the desired dwelling spaces can be easily located

Modularity (modular co-ordination and design grid)

Adequate free span Openings (windows) Connection to services (electricity,

communication lines,…) Recycling of partitions Details – enabling simple

assembling/dismantling of partitioning elements

Window-Partition

Openings (I)

Alternative A: 3 Bedrooms + Family Room

34 * M = 1020

40 * M = 1200

MBR

BR BR

F

LR

BR

Openings (II)

Alternative B: 2 Bedrooms + Study + Family Room

34 * M = 1020

40 * M = 1200

BR St

F

LR

MBR

Openings (III)

Alternative C: 2 Bedrooms + Family Room

34 * M = 1020

40 * M = 1200

MBR

BR

F

LR

Openings (IV)

Alternative D: 1 Bedroom + 2 Studies

34 * M = 1020

40 * M = 1200

MBR

St. St.

LR

Openings (V)

Alternative E: 2 Bedrooms + Family Room

34 * M = 1020

40 * M = 1200

MBR

BR F

LR

Openings – Super-position

Alt. A

Alt. E

Alt. D

Alt. B

1 2

Alt. C

Window Zone: 3

Partition Zone:

34 * M = 1020

Partitions (Geometry-Plan):

Configurations:(Plan)

Partitions (Geometry-Section)

Sections:

3-D Partitions

Offering space for storage, work, sleepSaving floor area

The End

Thank you!