4. Midterm — Equatorial Living Lab

Midterm
Research Phase

After finishing the Midterm Assignment, students will consolidate their research findings into viable design concepts that can be applied to the Sierra Leone housing project. This task will emphasize identifying key ideas and approaches that have emerged throughout the earlier assignments, ensuring these elements are thoughtfully considered and incorporated as the project progresses. By examining global architectural techniques, material innovations, and cultural influences, students will refine their vision for the project, ensuring it aligns with both local needs and sustainable development goals.

Insights

A key takeaway from this assignment will be the identification of primary ideas and patterns that are directly relevant to the Sierra Leone project. Students will highlight what resonated with them personally, whether it’s a material choice, a design concept, or a cultural consideration that can improve the project’s impact. These ideas will be organized into categories such as family structures, material usage, traditional inspirations, and environmental considerations, helping to structure the design development process. In addition, students will create a precedent image collection, gathering visuals from the class's collective research to build a rich visual reference that will guide their design proposals.

Through sketches and models, students will illustrate how these key ideas can be implemented in the project, considering aspects such as flexibility in housing modules, roof design, and personalization. For example, they might explore how roof shapes can assist in rainwater capture, how bamboo and rammed earth can be integrated, or how African fractal patterns can inform community layouts.

This midterm assignment will serve as a critical step toward the final design, allowing students to combine creativity with practical solutions, ensuring that the ideas explored so far can be effectively applied to create meaningful, sustainable housing solutions in Sierra Leone.

Highlights

Bamboo and Rammed Earth
Ashanti Hampton

Bamboo and rammed earth, both highly sustainable materials, are used in construction due to their affordability and accessibility in Maintakay, Sierra Leone. Local families can contribute labor, fostering community involvement. Soil insulation helps regulate temperatures, reducing the need for A/C, while promoting climate adaptation and skill-building throughout the project.

Mongolian Yurts, Amazon Tribal

Khushali Jain

Mongolian yurts and Amazon tribal houses share a focus on adaptability to their environments. Yurts, with their circular, insulated structure, offer warmth in harsh climates, while Amazonian homes, typically made from local materials, provide natural ventilation and protection against the humid rainforest, both reflecting deep connections to their landscapes.

Recycling & Upcycling
Simon Salamanca

In Sierra Leone, recycling and upcycling efforts are gradually gaining traction as part of sustainable development initiatives. With limited formal waste management systems, communities are creatively reusing materials like plastics, metals, and textiles, transforming waste into valuable products while addressing environmental challenges and promoting local entrepreneurship.

Earthen furnishing
Yichen Shen

Furniture can be seamlessly integrated into architecture by using the same skeletal structure and materials, particularly earth-based elements like clay, rammed earth, or adobe. This approach creates a harmonious connection between the building and its interior, where the furniture becomes an extension of the architectural body. By using earth in both the construction and furnishings, the design not only promotes sustainability but also ensures a cohesive aesthetic, with each piece naturally blending into its surroundings while maintaining functionality and durability.

Midterm
Research Phase

Insights

Highlights

Library

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Midterm Research Phase

Insights

Highlights

Library

Contact Us

Midterm
Research Phase