SIPs?
As architects we have great control over what products and processes are used in the construction of our environment. It is our responsibility to keep up to date with the latest innovations of the building industry and be receptive to change. It shouldn’t take a disaster like the Chicago fires to realize that a process may not be the best way of doing things. One of these “newer” innovations are structurally insulated panels or “SIPs” which is a more environmentally sound process than that of the stick & batt construction.
What is a SIP? According to the Structural Insulated Panel Association, “SIPs are high-performance building panels for floors, walls and roofs in residential and commercial buildings. Each panel is typically made using expanded polystyrene (EPS), or polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation sandwiched between two structural skins of oriented strand board (OSB), but other surfaces are also available to meet your needs. The result is a building system that is very strong, predictable, energy efficient, and cost effective.” Some advantages of the products used in this process are that EPS will not shrink, decompose, or disintegrate; in addition the R-value will not decrease with age. The result is a solid insulator that is dependable and sustainable over the life of the structure. The process creates a very air tight construction that will not rot, is highly resistant to mildew and allows much less air infiltration than stick & batt structures. The foam core of the system allows for less air leaks, less noise and results in lower energy bills. This is due in part to the fact that unlike fiberglass insulation, the rigid core does not allow air to easily flow through it.
Posted in Sustainable and tagged building material, Discussion, economic, efficiency, environment, environmentally, green, insulation, SIPs, Sustainable, technology, wall system by Studio Render with 12 comments.
Thoughts on the City of Detroit
Detroit today is a city bound by what built it: the car. With advances in technology, commuting to work has become the rule rather than the exception. Commuting is unbearable – to our time, our money, the environment and our childcare. The fact is, people love their cars and the suburbs offer a desirable lifestyle. The result is that Detroit has become a place of decay with a stereotype to match it. The current residents of Detroit have a median household income of $18,742 and 37% are without a high school diploma (census information). On the other hand, one of the suburbs close to Detroit (Redford Township) has a household income of $51,840 with only 21% of residents without a high school diploma. The scale follows this trend the further you travel from Detroit. So, how can Detroit attract these middle to upper class suburbanites to live downtown?
Money needs to be spent within city limits. This increase in affordable technology (computers, cell phones, etc.) has made being your own boss no longer just a dream. Live/work housing combines living and working into one piece of property, making the employees full-time residents of the city and keeping money in the area and local retailers. The book, “Loft’s: Living in space” states loft living began in the United States when artists began occupying entire floors of industrial factories in New York’s SoHo during the 1940’s. It was the fashionable residence of the day; a symbol of millennial cool. The concept adapted over time from the store owner living above his store, the lawyer whose office in front conceals his residence in the rear and the artist who can work at any time of the day. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 million people work from their home.
Cities need people in them to make them a thriving, inviting and exciting area. Detroit has sections of the city where land is abundant and in need of revival. For a live/work development to work, it must be based on the city center. If there are no supporting amenities for the residents, there will be no appeal. The Fox Town/Sports District offers residents access to theatres, sports venues, night clubs, casinos and restaurants. This area would be able to attract young professionals, dot-comers, entrepreneurs, young and empty-nesters to name a few. By offering some of the suburban amenities in the city as a viable alternative to conventional housing, live/work units will help provide the draw needed to bring people back into the city.
Isolation, sense of place and separation. Architect Thomas Dolan, AIA of the live/work institute claims, “The greatest drawback of working at home is isolation”. He suggests that a sense of community will arise with opportunities of spontaneous socializing due to a greater caring for the space and for others who share it because of the 24-7 lifestyle. Conversely, separation of living and working spaces may become the fine line of success or failure. “One Space Living” by Cynthia Inions stresses degrees of separation in the units. Public and private areas must be distinguished to ensure the appeal and mental health of its occupants.
Copyright © 2007 Adam A. Dailide www.studio-render.com
Posted in Editorial and tagged area, automobile, automotive, car, city, community, commuting, decay, detroit, economic, economics, Editorial, exciting, industry, isolation, lifestyle, living, michigan, money, residence, residents, socializing, space, suburbs, technology by Studio Render with 12 comments.
