There are several constraints and ‘desired’ systems in the project brief. Rather than waste time all researching everything individually, you will volunteer to investigate, and report back on one area, working in a group.

In your group produce ‘resources’ (summaries of information, diagrams from specification documents, links to interesting examples) to share with the studio. These resources will be pooled in a shared folder.

Task One:

Is the schematic viable according to the (draft) unitary plan?

To access the Unitary Plan e-version visit here. Conduct an address search for 47 Sainsbury Road. Note the zoning conditions which apply to the property, then check what these mean in the text of the Unitary Plan.

In the new Draft Unitary Plan the zoning for 47 Sainsbury Road includes the following:

Pre-1944 Building Historic Notification

Aquifer zone

A permeable water-bearing geological formation capable of yielding, storing, receiving or transmitting water at a sufficient rate to be a practical water supply. (The property sits on volcanic scoria which is free draining into the Manukau Haorbour)

Terrace Housing and Apartment Buildings

These have a height of buildings management requirement to provide for terrace housing and apartments of between four and six storeys.

However, multi-house buildings need to have a site of 1200m2 – we only have 840m2. So you need to find out:

* how high can we go?

* what sorts of set backs & light angles are set on the property.

* how many car park spaces are required for 3 town houses?

Task 2: Tilt-up Slab Construction

The schematic proposes to use Tilt-up slab (an industrial construction method) to make the basic frame of the development. Following the precedent of the Mitchell-Stout House in Narrow Neck [Mitchell/Stout House, Narrow Neck] the proposal is to flesh out the living qualities of the house using contrasting (eg some recycled) materials and details.

What we need to know:

* what are the requirements and limitations of tilt slab? (look here)

* what are size and proportion patterns suitable for the schematic? (as above)

* what ways can you detail connecting to tilt slab? (you might like to start with Detail edition on concrete)

Task 3:

The client is interested in rainwater & grey-water collection for use, of the former, in toilets, and in the latter, the garden. However she is also interested in ‘living roof’ (plant) options.

Investigate the requirements for each of these things, including the viability of a grey-water ‘treatment’ garden (essentially a swamp).

* Start with the Roof Water Research Centre, Massey University, link to publication list here

* An American living roof supplier provides information here

Task 4:

The schematic works on the idea of making some facilities ‘communal’. Obviously car parking and storage space has been generated in the basement, the entry ramp is a shared space & there is a possibility of sharing things like laundries.

Research is needed into alternative models of townhouse/urban living. Some examples might be found in:

* Riken Yamamoto’s Shinonome Canal Court Block1 here

* Housing Models: Experimentation and Everyday Life

* Bjarke Ingels founder of BIG Bjarke Ingels Group has an entertaining TED Talk here

* The Co-Housing Handbook might be a bit over the top (e-book link).