Eco Robotics  _EX_05
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Winter, 2006
http://www.robotecture.com/eco06/
Units: 3.0:  Lecture / Location: MWF 4-7pm, Room IDC
Instructor: Michael Fox (mafox@foxlin.com or michaelfox@csupomona.edu)

Exercise_05: Escape House

Due Friday, March 10th

Each individual student project will be fully functioning scaled model of a small “Escape House” in Palm Desert, California that utilizes a holistic, interactive, "eco-robotic" system. The projects will be aimed at creating a novel space that considers issues of sustainability, adaptability, behaviors, efficiency, economics and aesthetics. Student projects will produce both a scaled working prototypes of the house and a full-scale component of the system that can successfully demonstrate the interactive aspects with respect to sustainable issues and construction systems. Physical models will incorporate and demonstrate robotics, structures and materials. While the design will cover inclusive architectural considerations of program and context, each house will also develop a specific system in their design that will take advantage of simple technologies in order to optimize the performance of passive, low-tech principles of sustainability.   Human behaviors within the house will also be a principal consideration.

There is no access onto the site from the road so the approach design is an important consideration.  The site an possible building area is approximately 5 acres and the house itself can be located anywhere on the site that you choose with considerations of views, privacy, wind, and sunlight. The specific program is to be developed by each student but should include a living, dining, sleeping, bathroom facilities and storage.

Site analysis:

Each student will do comprehensive site analysis that documents all contextual environmental conditions

Design Deliverables

Each student will build a scaled model of their House at 1/4"=1'-0" scale. 

Each student will build a full-scale component of the system that can successfully demonstrate the interactive aspects with respect to sustainable issues, human behaviors and appropriate construction systems.