SAUNA DESIGN
2016, Sudbury, Ontario.
After an assignment to design and create a free-standing, mobile sauna as a group, we took a class on architectural communications which taught us how to manipulate our built models using photoshop, rhino, etc. to create a story-like scene that expresses the atmosphere that I envisioned for the sauna. The ideas I worked with were those of natural serenity and possibilities for the green roof encouraging more bee activity and livelihood. Taking a collage approach with photoshop and photography, I hoped to express a slightly exaggerated idea of the concepts involved in relation to our saunas representation.
We spent some time as a team learning how to translate that design and concept into a built structure which we made out of as many sustainable and reused materials as possible. I had the opportunity to learn about energy systems and the disparity between the design and building process.
I've included this project despite the fact that the second phase (building) was not completed. We discovered that although we has worked on design build projects in the past, we had never tried to manually integrate energy systems. The inclusion of energy systems as well as restructuring used materials for a sustainable design made the process take longer than the fixed amount of time allotted to us. I learned a lot about more of the practical applications of project management, energy systems, building envelope, and hands-on construction including metal work.
Elevation Concepts
Sketched in Procreate
Interior concepts
The sketch of the interior informed by the impression of two bodies in a snow bank that a member of our team mapped on Rhino using Grasshopper extension. The seats could be laid on but also give an organic option for including more people in the space while sitting up.
Hand-cut wooden model at 1:50 scale
Build
Concept stage. Hand-cut model at 1:50, collage in photoshop
The construction process of framing the structure with team mates
The extent of the building process within the constraints of time for the project. The insulation, moisture barrier and framing completed. The exterior cladding was created with recycled and stained 2"x2" pieces of wood. Although not shown here, ht roof had been completed with space for modular plant boxes and the pollinator friendly plants had been purchased. Required layout had been set and prepared to lay the tiles for the proper and safe function of the saunas stove. Leftover materials to be reused again for future design-build projects at the school.