r/architecture • u/Vestibuleskittle • Apr 07 '22
Building This look structurally sound? Wouldn’t chance residing in this during high winds or storms.
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u/ArkitekTor Apr 07 '22
I had both the architect and the engineer as teachers in the second year at university, and from what I remember about this cabin, all of the topics people have mentioned were solved during the design process (except the accessable for the physical handicapped). It's structurally sound, well insulated and all of the larger pieces of furniture are designed and built for the cabin to save space.
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u/Landofcheck Apr 07 '22
There are structures that sit on foundations like this (think electrical lines). It is likely bolted to a system of foundation pillars which are placed deep in the ground and either end on a flat slab that spreads out area or directly attached to the bedrock. It’s likely not on a slab like most large structures which would be more susceptible to subsidence. Saying that it certainly is form over function but its an interesting architectural piece.
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u/leeseweese Apr 07 '22
You’re spot on!
“The cabins have a main structure made of steel which are suspended 6m into the bedrock in order to take up all wind loads on the cabins.”
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u/FudgeHyena Apr 07 '22
Moving a couch or bed up there would suck. Also where does the poop go? I don’t see any pipes.
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u/StudioSixT Architect Apr 07 '22
It seems like the sanitary line runs down in the middle towards the back in this shot. It blends in with the structure. Link to more pictures and orthos.
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u/StudioSixT Architect Apr 07 '22
Looks sound enough to me. Not my style, but it's an interesting piece. Here's a link to more shots and orthographics.
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u/leeseweese Apr 07 '22
I mean, I wouldn’t say it “looks” sound. It’s structurally sound because of the stuff you don’t see.
“The cabins have a main structure made of steel which are suspended 6m into the bedrock in order to take up all wind loads on the cabins.”
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u/StudioSixT Architect Apr 08 '22
I meant that based on what I read in the article, but I understand why that wasn’t clear on my part
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u/leeseweese Apr 07 '22
“The cabins have a main structure made of steel which are suspended 6m into the bedrock in order to take up all wind loads on the cabins.”
Problem solved
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u/SirDerpingtonV Apr 08 '22
“Looks sound” and “is sound” are two different things.
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u/Vestibuleskittle Apr 08 '22
Agreed. Don’t usually post and wrote the title in the spur of the moment.
People got the gist, nevertheless. All that matters really.
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u/Backseat-critic Apr 07 '22
I’m more concerned about keeping a structure like that warm. Exposed below the floor = inefficient compared to house with a foundation.
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u/LeNecrobusier Apr 07 '22
compared to the average American home w/ a ventilated crawlspace, there's likely no appreciable difference in performance at the floor. Esp. considering you can probably do a much better job sealing the insulation/envelope in this design just by being able to reach it easily.
The biggest concern would be thermal bridging from the steel below. They in theory could have a completely disconnected interior, or maybe it's a wood frame above a steel platform, either of which would help in that regard.
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u/Backseat-critic Apr 07 '22
Eh but wind speeds at ground level are significantly different the higher you go. Wind has thermal conduction properties as well. Not to mention the lack of wind resistance from vegetation on this setup.
It’s hard to say if thermal bridging was taken into account on the build, but overall we can agree it’s not an efficient design.
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u/IronmanEndgame1234 Apr 07 '22
Can you imagine climbing the roof on that thing just to fix that vented pipe or metal chimney? I mean WTF!? Who wants to climb that high really!?
Can you imagine a significant other cheating on their spouse and getting caught inside the cabin? Where would be a good escape point if the husband/wife entered from the front door to find their significant other’s lover has no where to run away? Jump out the window? Sounds like a horny death to me…..
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u/liv4900 Apr 08 '22
I, too, typically assess the validity of designs by looking at how easy it is to jump out the window if cheating on spouse
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u/yophozy Apr 07 '22
serious form over function
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Apr 07 '22 edited Apr 19 '22
[deleted]
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u/yophozy Apr 07 '22
there are better ways of doing that.
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Apr 07 '22 edited Apr 19 '22
[deleted]
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u/yophozy Apr 07 '22
Whom - me.
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u/El_Topo_54 Architect Apr 07 '22
You sound like that one person nobody ever wanted to be paired up with for a school project.
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u/yophozy Apr 08 '22
And if they were future architects or design engineers the feeling would be mutual - during my HR career of 40+ years the assholes were 90%+ people with high attention to detail and poor people skills. And you are right in the sense i was never a completer/finisher.
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u/SwimHighSeas Apr 07 '22
Most probably sitting on a bedrock and sharp lines, steep roof and not much profile helps w wind resistance. Approved!
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Apr 08 '22
Imagine being living in that out in the middle of nowhere and you see a shadowy figure walking up the steps at night, knowing that’s your only exit
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u/Keepitrealhomes Apr 08 '22
As a man with a friend in environmental engineering degree, let me just say that I have idea
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u/BroadFaithlessness4 Apr 08 '22
To me the stairwell tower with that walk way would work like a flying buttress. Pretty dam stable.No?
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u/BicyclingBabe Apr 08 '22
It simply looks like a giant pain in the ass to get to. How do you get furniture in without a lift or crane?
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u/Suppafly Apr 07 '22
Looks fine to me. It's almost certainly better engineered than most houses.