On the 26th of March, the preliminary phase has been presented to the institutions, partners and experts participating in the project. The presentation has been followed by an open discussion on the technical aspects of the project, the organisational concerns as well as on the operational and the after-life periods.
Presentation’s summary
The spatial organisation established in the previous study was maintained in order to allow the possibility of transforming PETITE MAISON into a single continuous space. Therefore, the 2 units are placed to be opened one towards the other on an elevated central patio that becomes public by leaning the walls on the forecourt, before the garden/plant nursery.
The 2 units, one, a minimal ACCOMMODATION UNIT to be inhabited by one person and a MULTIPURPOSE UNIT on double height, are assembled on the same structure and under the same roof. The aim is to test the living conditions of a design as such, while showcasing, for the visitors, the technologies and the materials meant for reuse.
The structure will be assembled with reusable steel frames that will be linked, when necessary, with the REDUCE connections. The walls with a diagonal beam are in wood while the other heavy partitions are to be made in reusable and/or reused bricks.
The multipurpose unit is a double height empty shell intended to be transformed into a house suitable for a four-members-family.
Covering the double height multipurpose unit and the patio, the roof stops at the terrace placed on the top of the accommodation unit.
Plant Nursery - Planting a removable garden
A light wooden structure, set on a 1,35-meter grid, is planned to be a reusable skeleton for the removable garden/plant nursery. The arrangement of the baby trees amongst the existing vegetation is intended to generate protected meeting spots, hidden pathways, and other different landscaped situations.
OPEN DISCUSSION – EXTENDED TEAM
The 1st topic was related to be possibility of using a different grid dimension than x1,35m. The argument is based on the fact that wood construction elements are configured for grids dimensioned at 1,25m or 1.20 m.
The possibility of switching the grid module is feasible as the REDUCE connections are suitable for smaller grids too. But it was commonly agreed that 1,35m dimension is common module for the larger buildings build on steel frames. Consequently, by maintaining the proposed dimension, the project would facilitate the reusability of its larger elements.
It was discussed whether the roof height should be accommodated to a more appropriate dimension, in order to avoid any excess of material use. But also, to fit the need for flexible reuse and offering the possibility to stack the structural elements on top of each other.
LIVING IN PETITE MAISON
Petite Maison is a project about constructing and living in spaces built by assembling reusable components. Therefore, during the summer of 2022, Petite Maison will become the HOME of one team-member that will test the project, document the key moments and act as host for events.
By doing so, adequate systems for a house and supplies of water and energy are to be set in place. One possibility for both the water and electricity is to link the house to the already existing network of the campus. These sources will be doubled and eventually replaced by systems based on green energy and recycling.
The movable fixtures of the kitchen, the installations needed to collect, store and provide the water for the house and/or the plant nursery, as well as the possibility of using solar panels are subjects that have been brought up. A series of discussions on these subjects with the specific partners/experts of Petite Maison will follow as we advance in the next phase.
LUGA PROGRAMME – Reusing PETITE MAISON
The team of PETITE MAISON attempts to set as common the act of reusing building materials and components in Luxembourg. After 2022, the project, either as an integral structure or in pieces, is to be transformed or reused with a different purpose.
One of the possible after-lives is LUGA 2023 (Luxembourg Urban Garden 2023) a 6-months exhibition of activities related to urban gardening.
Adapting the PETITE MAISON’s building kit to a next use will be a meaningful continuation of the story.
The team is preparing now to pass in FINAL DESIGN phase,
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All the best, Carole, Sophie and Dragos