Cherish in Flawed House

The increase in the incidents of weather related catastrophes makes it necessary to design houses that are not only sustainable, but also adaptable. Like most areas affected by Hurricane Sandy, the solution is not abandonment, but a design that makes the areas livable and allows communities to return. Therefore, the main objective of this project is to reestablish and reintegrate Sea Bright into the fabric of the surrounding communities. This project was designed to limit the amount of structural walls and columns on the ground floor. This not only allows for an open floor area that is adaptable to various uses, but also limits building surfaces that could be impacted by natural forces. Structural supporting cores were pushed towards the center of the building, creating column-less building edges. These reinforced concrete cores also serve as shafts for building services and vertical transportation. The cores are watertight to protect all vital services in the building in the event of an emergency. The entire building perimeter is wrapped in a watertight panelized façade that closes during storms and other emergency weather conditions, establishing an environmental envelope that protects the occupants' lives and property. The courtyard is employed to aid cross ventilation and lighting in the building bulk. The building can be constructed in modules to allow for fast-paced construction. Modules could be subtracted or adjusted to create interesting interior shared spaces for the occupants. The building is raised above the flood plain on reinforced concrete cores to create a ground condition that is not only adaptable, but also flexible. This also allows all vital building services to be located out of the flood plain. As the water level rises, the programs in the building also change.

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