HOUSING SUBDIVISION - IRIAN JAYA, INDONESIA

Project Background

The Brief

• Low cost - high quality housing with minimum maintenance (approx $Aus400/m2 completed)
• Develop a high sense of community combining opportunities for social interaction with the provision of privacy and security for the family
• Maximum preservation of the virgin rainforest with minimum environmental impact - physically and aesthetically
• Design for climate by shading, insulation, natural ventilation, minimal heat gain through thermal mass of building
• Earthquake resistant structure and termite resistant strategies
• Maximise opportunities for use of local resources including man-power, incubator industries and include skill training, demonstration and quality control in the housing supply program
• Provide "best practice" in project management to complete project in minimum time with high quality
• Construct a model of the proposed house

The Design

This project is an example of the flexibility of the Fairweather Homes housing system and demonstrates that it can respond to specific cultural, economic and envirionmental needs with intelligence and sensitivity.

Internal planning is simple, efficient and functional with provision provided for community interaction and building extension.

Proposed construction is of kiln dried stress graded timber-framed "dry-wall" method to Australian standards, with maintenance free zincalume roofing and long life external wall cladding. All timbers are to be on-site "Protim" treated.

Insulation is provided by an aluminium foil sarking and reflective sheeting to the external walls and roofing. Natural ventilation is enhanced by louvred windows and ceiling level external vents including raised roof vents.

Earthquake resistance has been subject to engineering analysis and incorporated into the structure by provision of the necessary bracing, shear-walling, tie down and component connection.

Termite protection includes adequate crawl space below for routine inspection against infestation and use of local termite resistant sub-floor framing (Ironwood) timbers. Chemical spraying of sub-floor site area would not be necessary.

The character of the buildings is simple, robust and well finished with a low site impact and a sensitive relationship to the rainforest environment. The aesthetic form with its Peake vented roof ridge, porch and wide sheltering eaves, expresses concern for the climate and respect for Indonesian culture.

Fifty year life-spans for Fairweather Homes would be a reasonable expectation given the quality of the design and construction and the external roof and wall cladding materials.

Site Planning - Minimum Impact

The building is elevated to road level, a metre above the rainforest floor and is supported by stumps and pads at ground level.

"Seen as a butterfly landing - which may need to take off"

The building is accessed by a bridge from the road to increase the sense of security from the hostile forest and to secure the floor level above possible flood level.

The natural rainforest landscape would be encouraged under careful management.

House Planning

The entry verandah provides the communal space for the traditional Indonesian neighbourhood sitting and meeting area - without compromising the privacy of the main house.

Both verandahs provide spaces for children to play in safety and the rear verandah is a clothes drying area in the wet equatorial rainforest.

Internal planning is simple and direct, concentrating plumbing services and providing privacy, but maintaining convection paths to the roof ventilation with most walls to door head height only.

All reticulated services are suspended under the house without the need for excavation and to facilitate the demounting and relocation of the building if required in the future.

Technology Transfer Program

The following housing components and services are to be supplied by local incubator industries:

Goods
• Sub-floor framing
• Decking
• Porch screen and posts
• Pre-made eaves brackets and fascias

Assembly
• Pre-cut components supplied by Fairweather Homes
  • Pre-made timber roof trusses
  • Pre-made wall frames
  • Verandahs and decking

Training
• Erection procedures
• Completion trades and skills

Allocation of Resources

Goods
• Zincalume roofing, wall cladding, flashings, accessories, fasteners, sealants - complete
• Aluminium foil insulation and fasteners
• Pre-cut timber framing - external and internal walls, roof framing and trusses, rafters, battens and trimmers. All timbers stress graded, kiln dried and accurately sized as required for prefabrication
• Metal connectors - knuckle plates, ties, straps, connectors, screws, nails and fasteners

Services
• Design, adaptation, costing, engineering, computer documentation, shop drawings, manufacturing schedules, erection drawings and procedures
• Kit component coordination
• Containerisation and transport arrangements to site
• Site supervision for quality control, erection and completion procedures
• Training including visits to Australia - factory layout and assembly procedures, skills in assembly of components, on site erection, safety and maintenance procedures.