OUR APPROACH
The R I S ☰ home is a sustainable, net-zero house designed specifically for the densely populated areas of Richmond, CA. Our design aligns with UC Berkeley and University of Denver’s commitments to public service and innovative social impact by creating a home that aims to combat the overcrowding and environmental challenges facing many Bay Area residents. Our goal is to build a modular, reproducible solution that will leave a lasting and sustainable impact.
Our approach emerges from an emphasis on practical, logical thought in design instead of elaborate technological systems. The R I S ☰ home will be available for middle- to low income families struggling with the Bay Area housing crisis. Our team has thoroughly researched the target location of our building, Richmond, CA and have found that an affordable, and sustainable housing solution is absolutely necessary. In Richmond, the overall cost of living is 20 percent greater than the national average, housing prices are on the rise (over 10% this past year), and air quality and water quality scores by the EPA are ranked significantly lower than the rest of the nation. Therefore, we have tailored our design to increase energy efficiency, improve air quality, and encourage community engagement.
The R I S ☰ home is a simple product that can create residential solutions that are inviting, stackable, and efficient.
Residential
Designed for the densely-populated areas of nearby Richmond, our house will facilitate collaboration and communication within the community.
Inviting
With a flexible design and customizable features, our home can adapt to meet the needs of a wide range of occupants.
Stackable
As part of our innovative attitudes at UC Berkeley and DU, we are going beyond traditional entries into the competition to present a housing solution that can provide for not one, but multiple families.
Efficient
Solar energy is central to the competition - yet it is also all about creative solutions to energy usage in homes. Our home will incorporate extensive passive systems that use no energy to create a comfortable living environment.
In a world of rampant population growth, and in a city of growing numbers, our team believes sustainability needs to be considered beyond the single-family home. Able to survive as a standalone unit, The R I S ☰ home meets all of the requirements specified by the Solar Decathlon competition. However, the design allows for multiplication and integration into larger combinations of units that are designed to fit into long and narrow infill lots in the urbanizing areas of Richmond, CA. Our design team has ensured that this singular piece is able to fit into a larger puzzle, that is far more environmentally friendly and community oriented than an individual unit.
To demonstrate this idea at the competition site on the single competition unit, the east and west facades are designed as party walls to simulate the home's use as an urban infill building. In addition, the entire structural system is designed to represent the bottom unit of the stacked configuration and the lateral force resisting system is sized for a three-story model experiencing wind and seismic forces. In short, the competition unit can be stacked and placed in an infill lot with no structural modifications.
To further promote social interaction, our home contains a movable wall system. Inner bedroom walls are completely independent from the structure and are supported on a track system. Therefore, if one or more bedrooms are not needed, walls are easily packaged and rolled to the sides. This transforms over 75% of the floor space into an open plan for interaction. In addition, if more bedroom space is needed, walls are just as easily moved outwards to create two large bedrooms with plenty of personal space. This innovative passive solution allows for versatility of the space, daylighting adjustment, and thermal control within the building.