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Design 4: Prairie - Shrooms way
The Prairie Dog is a rodent species found in cool temperate climates of the USA, Mexico of the Northern Hemisphere. Living in spacious, windy plains, these subterranean creatures are the keystone species within the habitats they reside in. Often temperatures poses unfavourable climatic extremes - extreme heat in the summer and shivering cold in the winter.
In burrowing underground, these dogs carve their dwellings as deep as 5m. Most burrows have two entrances which has two mounds. Understandbly, natural ventilation does not occur in subterranean spaces and the dogs risk asphyxiation. Hence by making one mound higher than the other, the burrow system capitalises on the Bernoulli’s principle by having its geometry modified.
Prairie Dogs are an adeptive species which utilises the underground to their favour. Burrow Plugging might be used against invasive subterranean species such as burrowing owls and rattlesnakes, that also utilises the network of tunnels for their residence. When encountering surface predators such as coyotes and eagles, watchdogs will warn their kin in united resistance. Yet when the predators are away, competition among kin is at play. Prairie Dogs battle out between cotories - differing family groups of Prairie Dogs - for competition of food, building resources, and mating.
The adeptive qualities of the mushroom, allows for the dispersal of spores in environments where there is limited airflow. In the dense undergrowth of the forst floor, air pressure is limited, thereby the mushrooms are unable to passively rely on wind currents for spore dispersal. As such, these fungi employ a number of adeptations that enables the organism to creative convective airflow to aid in the dispersal of spores. The enlargewd pileus increases the surface area for rapid evaporation which cools the surrounding air. On the underside of the mushroom, the gills not only increase the surface area for more efficient spore dispersal, but also traps air and moisture, creating a humid environment underneath. Coupled with the cool evaporated air, a climatic hierarchy is created whereby the difference in density of the air between the cooler and warmer air creates a convective airflow to assist the efficient dispersal of spores.
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Both of our nature studies deal with the usage of wind, through different methods. The Prairie Dog burrow system utilises existing winds and redirects it through living spaces by the manipulation of geometry to influence air pressure zones. The mushroom relies on an asymmewtrical form that influences the temperature gradient. This helps to further complement the strategy of natural ventilation in Singapore’s context. Airflow in the built environment is often stale air with high temperatures. Wind occurs naturally due to differences in temperature gradient - which inevitably influences the air pressure gradient. While temperature is one way to manipulate the air pressure gradient, geometry is another way.
There was much back and forth in the process in polishing up earlier work, while also researching to proceed the project forward. At the same time, there was a concerted need in merging both of our nature strategies in envisioning a possibility to benefit a space typology. The first interim was largely based on speculation of what we think works. In figuring out the initial design, we had trouble understanding the workings of each others’ strategies. There was also the issue of the usage of operative forms.
We ironed out that funnels was the best way forward in directing wind, speeding up wind, and altering its direction. In the week after the first interim, we had personal logistical challenges that affected our workflow. Nevertheless we continued to speculate on our prototype the week after interim.
With the development of COVID - 19, people attitudes has shifted from “zero - COVID” tolerance and paranoia, to accilimatising to live with both the symptoms presented by the virus, as well as it’s disruptive impacts on society and the way of life. One way to look at this is the development of the Omnicron varient that has been largely widespread, but the least lethal varient, as compared to earlier varients such as Delta. Recognising this, the government has shifted away from constantly changing social gathering rules, to boosting herd immunity against the Omnicron varient. Many Singaporeans in their social circles are steadily reporting the rise of COVID infections and their self - isolation away in their homes.
The home has become the space not only for recovery from the virus, but also a means for the infected to continue working from home with digitalised tools. This has been very different from the early days of the circuit breaker period of the COVID - 19 virus where an infection grants one to immediate stay in dedicated COVID facilities. Until the day comes where COVID is as common as the common flu, perhaps is there a way to better design our residences to support self - isolation, yet allow some degree of distanced social interaction?
The knowledge gained from our nature studies prompt a thought between us. COVID spread can be made worse with cross - ventilation in our homes without any physical protection. Earlier studies on the spread of COVID particles showed that these particles are dispersed air - borne from a person’s respiration, and the direction of travel depended on the inlet and outlet of air. An article by Mckinsey prompted that vertical laminar airflow can effectively prevent the airborne transmission of coronavirus particles. Although understandbly referring to mechanised ventilation sysytems, there is potential to redirect natural ventilation in a vertical one - way direction in reducing spread. Hence the concern remains of whether natural ventilation is capable of inducing one - way airflow, replenishing the room with fresh air, while safely redirecting used, contaminated air away from the residence.
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