Starting With ROOFED HOME

 STARTING WITH ROOFED HOME
(all these are available examples in various medias , used as reference only)

 What We See

Kindly look at the 3 photos above, and evaluate what you see. Assume layman role in this one.
All are different design approaches, or differently unique look some might say. My interest is on how such looks are achieved.
However, some may miss the fact that all 3 are coordinated by 1 common element that is the ROOF.
Those could have been : A tent, a cave, and a deck roofs.

I believe that roof could have been easily taken for granted underutilized or undetermined by the end users  during all design approaches, even though they were invited to be involved.
This fact is a natural mindset ability, '...we want things, we long for what we see, our reference is from what we have seen...'.

Structure

A roof is pragmatically the strongest structure that form a space, not only to support its own weight, but also unforeseen elements. It withstands the lateral load of the wind, the heavy load of snow, and the beating of heavy rain.
Earlier shelters could have been caves. Earlier designed space might as well be a roof.


Wall

A strong structured roof, if positioned in a measured, coordinated position, could be an automatic wall for a room within the resulted space. You will understand later.
Conventional roof is supported, one of them is by the roof beam, or columns. If the rafters or the trusses member of the roof were extended beyond the building and step on ground, the need for column is eliminated.
And since the slanting part of the roof  starts from ground, the need for conventional wall also could have been eliminated.

Window / Door Shaper

A well positioned roof may not only form the shape of the space, but it also form the shape of doors and windows as well, as those are the only opening available in the element. 


Originally Sustainable Element

The above photo (turfed pitched roof) portrays that roof was / is (given the above qualities) actually the first or one of the original SUSTAINABLE elements that is currently marketed as Green name brand.

Solar paneled roof:
Notice that there is no other element that gives distinctive design identity to both photos except for the roof.

Roofed House

Allowing a roof to determine design of the spaces, I believe, is a potential approach, or a very important one at it. A roof, I believe,  represents MAN’s evolution in design as I see it.

It stands by itself. (Structure)

It represent safety, security, dryness, and cleanliness. (Protection)

It also portrays the cultures of certain climates. (Identity)

It provide shelter, shade, shape, safety, security, and not to mention it also holds skylight features. (and those only in ‘S’ alone!).

And do recall what we have lost...

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A Case Study
Orchid House by NCTU Unicode

A roof does represent "Local Condition"

Within the landscape of geographically  Hot and Wet seasons, an approach through roof design is a way to start.

We are restricted by our ability/inability to design houses/buildings that function in dry and humid condition.

Orchid House by NCTU Unicode team applied design that adopts:

1.      1. Maximum sunlight.

2.      2. Rainwater Harvesting system (the whole livingroom roof is rainwater harvesting tank)

3.      3. Rainwater cooling effect. (Rainwater drips within the house).

4.      4. Solar energy harvesting.

5.      5. Goes beyond by using greenhouse evaporative cooling and drip irrigation system.

  

(Note: What I personally understand may not be an accurate interpretation of what NCTU Unicode intended for.)

Result:

Maximized resources usage, minimized wastage, efficient construction (light weight structure)

That is EFFICIENT enough.