"Hillcrown" Residence For Lawrence Petersen And Linda Fox

Carrboro, North Carolina USA

The owners are both photographers who envisioned a home that would also act as a photographic studio, exhibition gallery and gathering center for artists throughout their local area. One of their requirements was that the design be highly resistant to hurricanes and be simple to construct because the owners would act as contractors for their home. The design consists of a central ¾ sphere 50 foot diameter dome interconnected with a smaller ¾ sphere 30 foot diameter dome with a third 16 foot diameter cylinder structure integral with the main sphere. The domes are constructed using an inflatable balloon that is custom-made to replicate the entire shape of the home. When this balloon is positioned and inflated, steel rebar is set in place, wire mesh is tied to it and spray-on concrete is applied to the exterior surface. The entire structure can be completed in a day. This process is patented by Monolithic Dome Company in Texas and is tested to resist a minimum of 300 mph winds. Specially selected mica chips are applied to the gold metallic and tan/orange colored outer surface of the house to create a shimmering, crystalline quality not unlike natural mineral crystals native to the area.

The light colored interior also features this reflective mica chip texture. The house contains a sub-level basement photographic development studio and exhibition gallery with an outdoor path that leads to a loading/unloading area. Upper levels contain two large bedrooms with two adjoining bathrooms, a large kitchen, "green" room, living and dining spaces that open onto a south and west facing patio terrace on the ground floor. Two stairways access the second studio level which contains a bathroom, library and multi-purpose room. An outdoor "look-out" tower is accessed from the second floor library and allows one to view the forest at tree top level. The house has several ecological technology features such as a rain catch roof gutter system that drains to a sunken water basin which is the source of all grey water usage in the house. A constructed wetlands pond, at the east side of the house, filters and cleans black water coming through the house and is recycled for grey water use. Three large photovoltaic panels at the north side of the house supply electricity and are protected from high winds by a semi-circular soil/grass berm which also protects a large vegetable garden with an underground irrigation system feeding off the roof rain catch gutter system.. This house is a self-sufficient living system that directly utilizes and enhances its natural surroundings as well as provides a functional and exciting artistic environment for its owners. An ecological and spiritual setting for all who experience it!

Dave Bayer Residence

Dave Bayer.

"The Insect House"

This house is known as a "Reyes House", a remodel & addition whose owners are Remy and Vince Reyes. It's location is in Oakland, California.

Project Managers: Mr. Scott Looney and Ms. Tze Yan Szeto
Contractor: Mr. James Corrie, Man Made Construction and Tsui Design & Research Inc.
Date: 1991 to 1993 (Design and Construction)
Cost: $44,000.00
Square Footage: Approximetly 700 square feet

Construction Materials: Douglas Fir, plywood, acrylic panels, marine fiberglass, galvanized metal pipe, steel cable, "Structolite" plaster, concrete and schedule 40 steel pipe.

Special Features: Spiral viewing window, frameless acrylic openable windows, earthquake resistent tension cable shelves and tables, hand-sculpted structural plaster, radiant recycled water floor heating, hinged "dragonfly" roof ventilation "wings" operated by hand ratchet cranks, earthquake resistent truncated cone structural design, "Polygal" thermal/transluscent skylights, outdoor tension cable bracing system.

Owner Requirements: Convert the ground floor to accommodate a single bedroom, a bathroom, office/study, photo gallery, storage areas and an exterior solarium recreation room. Include a stairway up to the second level (main entrance level).

Ecological Requirements: None

General background of the Project: Vince and Remy Reyes live in a house in Oakland, California with their three children and grandfather. They needed more room in their home and wished to remodel an existing ground floor/basement as well as build an exterior recreation room to their house. The Reyes' wanted something innovative with the feeling of softness and continuity. The overall design was developed jointly between architect and owners with both parties sketching out their ideas and the architect bringing the ideas together in a cohesive whole. Working drawings and the issuance of a permit to build went smoothly. The building department personnel were excited about the project. In fact, when the building inspector arrived to issue the certificate of completion, he brought his camera to take photographs. Similarly, the neighbors seem very supportive of the project during its construction and enthusiastic individuals freely volunteered their time to see the project to completion.




Contents taken from:

http://www.tdrinc.com/reyes.html
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"The Alien Water House"

This structure is called the "Aquaterra", a tourist vistation house in Woodacre, California USA. The developer of this unique, out of this world building is Mr. Greg Snowden. The cost of its first prototype is approximately $8,000,000.00 with the area of 12,000 sq.ft.

Here are some of the details of this remarkable design:

Construction Materials: Vegetable-based plastic, ceramic/glass composite, lightweight, high-strength concrete, stainless steel, flagstone, glass laminate, madrone and monterey pine finshing wood.

Special Features: "X" plan bridge structure, earthquake resistant with spring-loaded, neoprene gasket design, roof deck water-filled skylight, aerodynamic design to enhance hillside updraft to power two "eggbeater" windmills, completely self-sufficient, photovoltaic solar cells for electrical power, 60 foot waterfall to recycle and cleanse water and to control temperature and humidity build-up, house walls are water-cooled, see-through acrylic/glass pool structure, house completely leaves the natural ecology undisturbed, two walk-way bridges lead to two separate levels of entrance.

Owner Requirements: The house must be appealing and educative to all ages and generations of people; must be absolutely ecologically sensitive to the site and to its own functions; must be self-sufficient in energy use; wherever possible use materials and methods of construction that are not harmful to the environment.

General Background of the Project: Mr. Greg Snowden saw our work at the Celebration of Innovation Exposition in San Francisco. He has a profound interest in ecology and permaculture and wanted to build a building that would be the ultimate in advanced ecological design. The house also had to be something striking, timeless and mysterious so that people would want to come back to see more. Mr. Snowden had an option to purchase a five acre hillside property which faced west. The property had consistent presence of wind which made the use of windmills a probability; it also had a 30 to 45 degree incline. Since Mr. Snowden was strongly in favor of not disturbing the land a concept emerged where the building might soar over the site rather than try to excavate into the hillside. Excavating would be both costly and harmful to the site's ecology.

The functions of the house, given the programmatic requirements, become an educative experience to the public. The house contains the following functions not normally understood by the general public:
1) Sewage water cleaning system using sunlight and water plants recycled throughout

2) "Eggbeater" windmills for electrical power

3) Cold water recycled throughout the walls of the house for summer cooling

4) Integrated photovoltaic solar cells for electrical power

5) Specially designed earthquake mitigating shock absorber foundation plugs

6) "X" configuration arch structure for unilateral stability

7) Aerodynamic design that acts as an airfoil to accelerate wind uplift to windmills

8) Suspension design that allows downward vistas through the floor

9) Waterfall cleaning system for general use water

10) Roof garden terrace with see-through stone and glass composite floor

11) Non-mechanical air conditioning and heating system

12) Prefabricated, post-tensioned structural system for ease and efficiency of construction

In plan the "X" configuration can be likened to a person stabilizing themselves facing downward with their hands and feet spread evenly apart on the floor and body off the floor. During an earthquake this low, four point position is extremely stable for it minimizes contact surface area, affords a very low center of gravity and makes the possibility of overturn very difficult. The "X" form also provides lateral stability so important to aerodynamic efficiency.

The living areas of the house are suspended from the "X" bridge giving the structure flexibility in the event of an earthquake. The symmetry of the egg-like shape also provides an energy efficient design minimizing the surface area and maximizing structural strength. Aerodynamics plays a key role in the design because the climatic conditions of the site dictate a design that must respond to heat year round. Therefore a form that disipates heat and is aerodynamic must be chosen. One of the most effcient forms for air flow is the saucer shape but its streamlined proportions make it difficult to accommodate an effective use of volume. The next progression, then, is an inflated saucer shape which then approaches the egg shape.

Contents taken from www.tdrinc.com

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"The Watsu"

This structure is the Watsu school at Harbrin Hot Springs in Middletown California, USA. This building is still part of Tsui's design and Research Inc. The owner of this remarkable unique building is Mr. Harold Dull, in which the cost of this project is $4,500,000.

On a majestic hillside overlooking the forested ravine and mountains of northern California sits a most unusual building. It is a special school of massage that is performed in water. Harold Dull, the inventor of this system, has built a school which features five 81/2 meter to 10 meter diameter spheres formed in wood and sheathed in stucco cement and waterproof vinyl composite. A waterfall seemingly connects two outdoor pools, with a cave behind it. The spheres contain classrooms, commercial kitchen, and offices, sleeping quarters, residential quarters and a three-story studio. Fireproofing is created by a series of outdoor sprinklers at the center roof of each sphere. In case of fire the spheres are immediately immersed in water becoming impenetrable to fire. At the base of each sphere is a water trough of moving cold water that naturally cools the air around the sphere. Small tubular openings contain solar-powered fans that draw the water-cooled air in and push hot air out the roof top openings; creating a natural, continuous air exchange system. Recycled paper pulp mixed with water-based glue is sprayed into the open structural cavities of the walls to provide excellent insulation. The spherical shape--minimizing surface area while maximizing volume covered and structural strength--has proven itself to maintain a cool interior temperature even when the outside temperature reaches beyond 42 degrees Celsius and even without the insulation put in. The spherical shapes also activate wind flow to further cool the buildings. They are also extremely durable and stable; easily able to resist earthquake forces acting upon them. In fact, it has been proven that the sphere is the strongest most efficient shape in the universe. Every detail of the building is unique including the stone retaining walls in which the rocks seem to grow straight out of the wall with brilliant glass marbles placed between the stones. The floors too are made of silver quartzite flagstone with flattened glass marbles of iridescent and transparent quality shimmering in the floors. This is a one-of-a-kind building open to public tours and visited by millions of persons from around the world.

Construction Materials: Native boulders and stone, Madrone, Birch, Douglas Fir and Redwood(dome structures), glass, Polygal, spray-on cellulose, spray-on concrete, acrylic waterproofing, galvanized steel pipe, waterproof nylon and ceramic tile.

Special Features: Five 3/4 spheres with two spacious levels in each; spheres are extremely strong and efficient--excellent for use in this earthquake and landslide area. All five spheres can be built in two weeks time and be ready for assembly prior to issuance of the building permit; the building faces predominantly north--away from the sun for insulative purposes in this very hot climate; solar-powered ceiling fans in every sphere create a continuous circulation of fresh air that is drawn in over a series of water-cooled troughs at ground floor level; Spray-on cellulose is used as both inner wall insulation and interior wall finishing providing very good acoustic insulation as well; opening windows provide natural, economical cross-ventilation for temperature control; all stair areas are simultaneously used for equipment storage; vegetation is used to control solar gain adapting to summer and winter climatic changes; an exterior sprinkler system over every sphere can be manually activated in case of fire or extreme heat rendering the building virtually fireproof; passive solar glass tubes provide hot water throughout the building; on-site boulders and rocks are used as barriers to keep large animals away.

Contents taken from www.tdrinc.com
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The "E.T." Building

Tsui Design & Research Inc., Headquarters Emeryville, California USA

This 700 square meter office currently contains two levels of office and laboratory facilities. Completed construction will add another 1250 square meters of space with four storeys. When completed the entranceway features a 7 meter high waterfall through which visitors enter into the "wave wall" reception area. Floor elevations change with a series of ramps leading to work stations, a full circular kitchen, conference area and countertop storage areas. A driveway ramp leads to a loading area and many tension cable shelves line the space for library and reference books. A central 200 square meter open space accommodates exhibitions, structural model experiments, parties and lecture gatherings.

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Content taken from www.tdrinc.com

The "Shell" House

This structure is based upon the world's most indestructible living creature--the Tardigrade, with its oval plan and parabolic top it utilizes the same structural principles nature employs in creating an astoundingly durable design. Internationally touted as the world's safest house it features an oval reinforced concrete foundation over a series of large perforated drain pipes that immediately dispel any water built up and heaving from the soil or sudden flood conditions.

Residence for Florence and William Tsui
Berkeley, California USA




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