UNDERGRADUATE
Kelvin Hoang—Craig Race Passive Sustainability Design Award

About the Award

For students who best demonstrate creativity and passive design strategies in a project to improve its sustainability



Building Blocks

Building Blocks is a project in response to the need for temporary, emergency city dwelling shelters. Dwelling units can be assembled according to user needs by configuring any number of the three blocks (modular components) together.

A typical unit will consist of 3 blocks, as noted below. Each unit is equipped with an abundance of self-sustaining elements in order to promote healthy living and reduce embodied carbon, including on-site solar electricity, dedicated heat pumps, continuous ample insulation, a water harvesting system, compostable toilets, and recycled or sustainably sourced building materials. The interior of the unit is finished with OSB sheathing on the walls and floors, while the exterior

is clad in recycled PVC plastic panels, customizable to user preference.

Occupant Comfort

In a project of this scale, space is a luxury. Within the interior of the units, transformative furniture and millwork is used to encapsulate all daily needs of the occupant(s) within. In support of a modular and adaptable solution, a continuous band of millwork rests along the north wall, encompassing all storage needs and allows for panels to be lifted as desks. As exemplified, many components (beds, doors, etc.) can be slid, rotated, and transformed to maximize space.

The orientation of the unit also had a significant impact during the design phase. Units were oriented south for maximum PV panel solar exposure, while glazing was placed on the north side for soft, diffused daylight. A series of linear skylights line the ceiling for dynamic lighting.

Acknowledgements

Thank you for awarding me with the Craig Race Passive Sustainability Design Award. It is an honour to be a recipient of this award in my pursuit of sustainable architectural design.







Toronto Metropolitan Department of  Architectural Science Toronto, CA.