1st place
IBI Group – Gruzen Samton

The design concept allows for flexible space to accommodate the occupants’ changing needs and individual preferences. Lightweight, easy-to-slide partitions can make the space marketable by allowing the occupant to change the space as needed, whether they need the space for a certain need or they would like to have a larger gathering space.

The kitchen is the life of the house. It is the pivot point, between public and private. The renovation provides adequate space for movement and storage at convenient locations and levels for people with varying needs and abilities. It can accommodate a family of various sizes and compositions. If the household becomes an “empty nest”, private spaces of the house can be adapted to become part of the semi-public spaces of the home and provide a large and flexible common space.

The garden can be used by people with diverse abilities and generations. The family has their private garden in the back as an extension of the kitchen, where they have the possibility to incorporate their gardening as a daily and communal social activity.

The project provides the opportunity to enhance daily activities such as bathing, and cooking, eating, and socializing. It can adapt to the needs and desires of family members and visitors. By adding ‘flexible furniture’ the space can adapt easily and provide the user with a variety of compositions that respond to different stages in their lives.

Construction cost is optimized by enhancing the areas of the house that support daily activities, without requiring costly renovations later. The kitchen and main bathroom enhance both public and private aspects to provide a rich experience for common daily activities. Low maintenance exterior materials will make weekly home care easier and long-term replacement costs lower.

To maintain low monthly utility costs, the design incorporates passive strategies to cool down and decrease the amount of energy needed to maintain the house in a comfortable state. The kitchen/dining area can easily be opened to allow for cross ventilation. A shading system is incorporated and designed to reduce direct solar heat gain into the home, as well as to provide the users with a flexibility to maintain a certain level of privacy and security. Cost savings on the electric bill will be enhanced with the photovoltaic panels located along the carport structure.