Future House(s):Genealogy: Maison tropicale

Maison tropical was to be prototyped and mass produced at a low cost for tropical colonial Africa. It has become a key demonstration house for its environmental adaptable qualities.

The development of this house combines research from the post war manufacturing process and studies aimed for French colonies. From military huts of late 1930’s to post war lightweight constructions.

Standadization and prefabrication seems the goal of this attempt. Beginning with its translation intot a proven construction form a catalogues of parts based on the modularity principle.

This house solves the problems of protection from the sun, lowering the temperature within it. The results being the sun-breaker and the ventilated roof.

Characteristics and principles coming from previous studies and projects are reused in the Maison tropical with minor adjustments. Those include Interior porticos, natural roof ventilation and aeration (circulation between the ceiling and roof), sun breaker with movable slats, Façade panels fitted with insulating materials, light weight construction. Load bearing façade elements. The water tightness of the roof achieved by unity of roof elements. (Beam and purlins were connected by the gussets), perforations to reduce the weight, use of aluminium for roof and sun-breakers. The use of light alloy.

Illustrative buildings?

The prefabricated house sits on reinforced concrete piles. The side verandahs were cantilevered on floor beams. Railings were installed for passageways. Pivoting slats were installed above the railings. The ceiling was replaced by panels.

Part nomenclature and cataloguing was required due to modularity. Due to this modularity of elements the house seemingly offers internal spatial flexibility to not only suit the size but the orientation.

The construction of the house comprises siting, earth works, foundations, floors and assembly of prefab parts. The primary components of the house skeleton included ridge beam, ventilation system, porticos. Installation of façade panels creates the. The cladding included sun shields and movable walls on the periphery of the inhabitable volume. Which also creates a gallery around them.

The blue glass porthole (protection from UV rays), façade panels further encourage the cross ventilation on top and bottom .

Quick assembly. Extendable. All the panels (regular, window, door) are constructed using the same principle. The exterior panels are made of Aluminium plates while the interior panels can be made to the client’s needs and preference i.e wooden battens, aluminium or plywood. Between these two panels is a sandwiched aluminium fibre blanket for isolation to prevent air movement.

26mx10m. The assembly is not specialized hence, can be done without technical supervision?

Large one?18mx10m?

Considered a political ? imposition of the European building in a nonwestern setting.

Economy of Design. “flat pack” house. Flat light and can be packed into a cargo plane.

Aluminium is pointed out as a non-local material.

Portability.