"The 4 Dimensional Cube"

Authors: Beth Dobson, Philip Mead, Jeff Guggenheim, Dan Goldstein

Objectives:

To go beyond the childhood notion of "living in a box"...

Process:

1) Construct a 4' x 4' x 4' cube (this is flexible -- change size if required)

2) made out of found / reused / recyclable materials (not new... so minimize expense and have students think creatively about sustainable materials)

3) Experience the space by inhabiting it for intervals at different times of the day and in different environments (hot, cold, day, night, etc.) ie. Students sit in cube for 15 minute increments @ 4 to 5 different times of the day

4) Students keep a diary noting experience and environmental changes.

4) Photo documented at these different times

5) Students create possible representation / instructions for assembly (no text) usable by other students.

6) Student must be able to see out of the box.

7) Student must be able to be seen from the outside.

8) Cube is able to be completely disassembled and recycled.

9) Cube is oriented NSEW axis and different treatment of the walls is encouraged.

This is meant to be a basic activity that is completely expandable and adaptable to the inclination of a professor. Some professors may stress daylighting, others the materiality, moods, views, comfort, adaptability, variety of experiences, composition, acoustics, etc. What doesn't change is the diea of the structure as interface with the environment, and human experience in a place. ECS principles may be snuck in as desired.

The project is left open and loose to encourage real thinking and innovation by the students.

Added Environmental Learning Potential:

This can be used as a springboard to address "other issues".

Vernacular Architecture:

The majority of what we would now consider "third world housing" is made using found materials. Most of these structures respond well to climate considerations and can be used to inform our modern sustainable architecture. Talk about the 4 major climate types, Cold, Hot-Arid, Hot-Humid, Temperate, and discuss the impact each might have on the constructed shelters. How do we make them weatherproof and how would we change them to adapt to such criteria. What material changes would be involved? Would the openings be different? Etc.

Reality Check:

Use the project to increase student awareness of shelter issues on a global as well as vernacular scale. How many people in the world live in "homes" that are made of found objects and recycled materials (or rather, other people's garbage). The Favelas in Brazil, Shanty Towns, Tent Cities for either the homeless or in Disaster Relief.