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 Alexander Klein Geometrical potential of dwelling units concerning floor use and movement possibilities Alfred Maml Examples of user flexibility in the dwelling space N. J. Habraken Theory of dynamic housing Supports, An Alternative to Mass Housing, 1961, Variations: The Systematic Design of Supports, – G. Herbert, A Keren and Y. Kalay Historical Survey of the Theory of the Dynamic Dwelling 1977 – R. Oxman Flexibility 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 ( 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 home  Study  Hobby  Other

Frequency of Change Low (once every 5-10 years) If: a building life time is 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

Combinations

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):

Square-shape Dwelling Units

Rectangular-shape Dwelling Units

L-shape Dwelling Units

Location of Entrance

Number and Location of ‘Wet Zones’

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)

Openings (II)

Openings (III)

Openings (IV)

Openings (V)

Openings – Super-position

Partitions (Geometry-Plan) : Configurations: (Plan)

Partitions (Geometry-Section) Sections:

3-D Partitions  Offering space for storage, work, sleep  Saving floor area

The End Thank you!