Hanwha Solar CHIP by SCI-Arc/CalTech

What were the circumstances of receiving the commission for this project?

There were two proposal rounds in the Solar Decathlon 2011 competition until the 20 final competitors were chosen. The rules are based on International Residential Code, with some requirements tailored to suit the National Park location, and the short duration of the event. For the 2011 competition we are asked to produce a design with a final construction cost as close to 250K as possible. The program is a residence between 600 and 1000 square feet aimed at a broad market in our region.

Can you describe your design process for the building?

Due to the number of individuals involved in this project, it took a lot of exploration to settle on the direction and the details throughout the course of the design, but especially in the conceptual phase. Competing schemes were developed and the resulting final concept incorporated different ideas from each of those schemes. The resulting concept was then developed all the way through to construction documents, including building a full size mock-up to evaluate design decisions. The construction process involved some design changes enabled and sometimes necessitated by our choice to build the house ourselves.

How does the completed building compare to the project as designed? Were there any dramatic changes between the two and/or lessons learned during construction?

The greatest challenge for the SCI-Arc/Caltech team was to materialize the experimental concept into reality. Through intense research, planning, and testing both digitally and physically at model scale or on our full-scale mockup in the SCI-Arc parking lot, we were able to persevere and bring forth a house without sacrificing the conceptual intent that we deemed important. Despite having a detailed BIM, we anticipated the technical difficulties that would arise with the fabric exterior that could only be resolved during construction. For example, determining how much insulation would be required at certain locations of the house in order to produce the desired puffiness appearance.

How does the building compare to other projects in your office, be it the same or other building types?

As an educational experience, this project is unique in the SCI-Arc curriculum in terms of the pace and organization of the studio, and the tangible nature of the final product. We are able to apply the critical design skills we were taught on an actual building at full scale, and not merely on some speculative concept.

How does the building relate to contemporary architectural trends, be it sustainability, technology, etc.?

CHIP challenges any preconception of what a net-zero house is architecturally and technologically. Unhindered by obligations to the common shed or modern box design theme, CHIP’s design team looked to re-invent, reorganize, and reimagining the role of technology, engineering and social priorities of the house, uninterested in that which was already solved and resolved. CHIP brings forth a new idea to disrupt the status quo imagery of the standard American home offering a refreshing new take on alternative future housing for the American homebuyer.

Are there any new/upcoming projects in your office that this building’s design and construction has influenced?

SCI-Arc directors are in discussion whether the institution will enter future Solar Decathlons. The competition is a great forum to express the architectural values of the school and any future entries will aspire to be as revolutionary as CHIP is to this year’s competition.

E-Mail Interview conducted by John Hill