Design Studio 2023
BEN SIMMONS
The Tanzanian brick design features standard-sized bricks with central holes for bamboo structures and semi-circular indentations for continuous bonding. During construction, bamboo enables brick rotation, creating perforations for airflow and sunlight penetration, empowering builders to shape the facade and optimize thermal comfort. This approach stems from the rotational axis between brick and bamboo, demonstrating a symbiotic relationship between materials. Applied in a secondary school design, a bamboo centric axis curves along a riverside, where rotated massing blocks define classroom spaces. Courtyards, strategically positioned along the axis, offer scenic views of the river and surroundings. This innovative construction method not only enhances functionality but also integrates sustainability and aesthetic appeal into the building design.
AMIR HEYDARPOUR
The initial phase of the project involved a comprehensive analysis of the innovative use of plastic bottles to create bricks designed for a variety of purposes. The accessibility of plastic bottles makes this approach particularly promising for addressing various challenges in low-resource areas, such as using them for lighting or farming tools to ensure food security. The objective of this primary school is to construct a space that not only serves the fundamental requirements of the community but also enriches the lives of the younger generation. In the same way that the brick is cast around different bottle types, the school is formed around different activity hubs that also bring light and air into the space. The building aims to be a bustling hub throughout the day, benefiting the community as a whole.
ERIC JACKSON
This project addresses the need for improved airflow in interior spaces, especially vital in Ifakara, Tanzania’s hot and humid climate, where outdoor activities are prevalent. He notes the challenge of overheated interiors due to inadequate ventilation caused by window obstructions or safety measures. The solution utilizes standard Tanzanian brick sizes, seamlessly integrating his design into existing brick walls. By incorporating voids in the bricks and strategically positioning them, it promotes airflow while maintaining privacy and safety. This design fosters cross ventilation, enhancing interior comfort without relying on window openings, and effectively mitigates direct sunlight exposure. By facilitating natural airflow, this innovative approach aims to create more comfortable living environments in Tanzanian homes and buildings.
MICHAEL SERRANO
Mosquitoes’ vulnerability to strong wind conditions and erratic flight patterns led to the development of the vortex brick. Inducing wind becomes crucial in non-windy areas like Ifakara, where harnessing vortex shedding phenomenon can disrupt mosquitoes’ trajectory away from potential bite victims. The vortex brick system, when strategically placed as the primary facade, effectively prevents mosquito entry into interior areas. Constructing double wythe walls with an air gap enhances protection, and incorporating a mosquito chimney further improves trapping and elimination efficiency. This system, especially vital for vulnerable groups like pregnant women and neonatal infants in Sub-Saharan Africa, holds promise in reducing malaria transmission by providing effective protection and healthcare access in rural areas, such as within a maternal care center program.
KEENAN MADDEN
The Solar Brick design integrates passive cooling and maximizes solar gain through its angled surface, informed by the buoyancy effect. Heat absorption and storage within the brick material are followed by venting through its aperture, creating a solar chimney effect in wall configurations. This chimney promotes upward airflow due to a pressure differential, enhancing thermal comfort. In THE secondary school design, a large wall acts as a solar chimney, facilitating air circulation throughout the building. Spaces for socializing, playing, and gathering are interspersed between classrooms, with roof overhangs creating wrap-around porches. Courtyards provide areas for various activities, including food growing and outdoor kitchen usage. The Solar Brick’s multifunctional design offers sustainable solutions for comfortable and versatile building environments.
