The East Austin housing science center : towards a more environmentally accountable design approach

Abstract

This thesis project focuses on the community design implications for a less resource intensive way of life in the US context. The quantifying of the input, output and cycling of resource flows (energy, materials, water, biomass) at the site scale should provide a better understanding of the underlying support metabolism that an architect impacts with design decisions. This thesis attempts to identify opportunities and limitations for form generation by exploring the process of encouraging the sustainable utilization of on-site resources (primarily sun, wind, rain, plants and soil). To structure the understanding of these flows and tradeoffs involved, the development of simulation models and matrices is outlined. Over the life of a community, society's understanding of these flows will change, as will other aspects such as economically viable technologies, resource availability, behavioral patterns, and perhaps even climate. This thesis will explore an architectural framework that will be more resilient to future opportunities. To provide a design context for these decisions, I explored the phased growth of an affordable mixed-use, experimental community for the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems on a 50 acre tract on the eastern city limits of Austin, Texas.