Open Architecture Network

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Communication, interaction and exposure to information are the key elements in creating an educated community. The proposed building has the capability of interacting with the community through its envelope and adapts itself based on people’s actions exerted upon it. The building itself responds to the greatest need of the community of Sanfe Bangar.

In response to the issues acknowledged by the community of Sanfe Bangar, Nyaya Health, AMD and other environment concerns, the proposed building accomplishes the following:

For the community of Sanfe Bangar:
- education through an interactive panel playground for the children of the community where they can learn to read as they play
- a billboard which can be seen from a great distance displays either text or images with patterns and colors influenced by the local culture
- the building opens up to the exterior to accommodate larger community events (flexible space)

For Nyaya Health:
- comfortable private residences with outdoor environments to attract potential medical staff
- income – in addition to the internet access, the telemedicine center becomes an internet advertising agency for the local market. A member of the community can create and regularly update a website for the market. The sellers who want their product listed on the Sanfe Bangar Market website will pay a periodic fee. This way the market itself could in turn receive more buyers and sellers.

For AMD:
- the metal panels offer additional security to the building and the equipment contained within.
- all of the computer equipment is located on the northern side of the building for minimal cooling necessity
- the building itself is an icon reflecting communication and interaction
- the use of natural ambient light reduces glare

For the environmental concerns:

- building design integrated with the existing topography
- natural ventilation through windows provided at the roof level and through a series of doors provided at the lowest level of the building
- solar panels and roof top water tank
- corrugated metal screen panels which shade the building
- a portion of the metal panels also double their purpose as wind powered turbines to generate electricity
- vegetated trellises to screen and cool the building

Following are the construction materials and community involvement:
- corrugated metal available in the area is used to create the formwork for the poured in place concrete.
- concrete is considered as a building material based on the building’s adjacency to the engineering building which could provide professional expertise and workforce. Local crushed stone is used as aggregate.
- bamboo framework is insulated with straw obtained from the local crops
- the wall finish on the inside consists of bamboo mats woven by the women of the community
- existing walkway passing through the site to be engaged as part of the building and reconstructed with local stone.
- the corrugated metal which was used as formwork is cleaned and cut to form the exterior north and south panel screens.
- panels painted by the members of the community
- bamboo trellis covered in local vegetation is framing the west side (existing walkway) and east side (courtyards) of the building