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The Living Laboratory
Touch Root Vocation Center
Touch Root Vocation Center
STATUS
Applied Research / Design-Build Prototype
STATUS
Applied Research / Design-Build Prototype
REGION
Southeastern Nigeria
REGION
Southeastern Nigeria
LOCATION
Enugu, Nigeria
LOCATION
Enugu, Nigeria
CLIMATE
High humidity / seasonal heavy rainfall
CLIMATE
High humidity / seasonal heavy rainfall
PARTNER
The Touch Root Foundation
PARTNER
The Touch Root Foundation
THE PROJECT
THE PROJECT
The Touch Root Vocational Center is a contemporary architectural project through which A|WA investigates the translation of material and environmental questions into design and construction.
The Touch Root Vocational Center is a contemporary architectural project through which A|WA investigates the translation of material and environmental questions into design and construction.
Unlike Cases 001 and 002, which focus primarily on historical investigation and environmental analysis, Case File 003 operates at the boundary between research and application.
Unlike Cases 001 and 002, which focus primarily on historical investigation and environmental analysis, Case File 003 operates at the boundary between research and application.
The project does not serve as proof of historical building performance.
The project does not serve as proof of historical building performance.
It serves as a contemporary experiment informed by questions emerging from the broader A|WA research program.
It serves as a contemporary experiment informed by questions emerging from the broader A|WA research program.
THE RESEARCH QUESTION
THE RESEARCH QUESTION
How can earth-based construction be developed, tested, and monitored for use in a humid, high-rainfall environment while remaining responsive to local material conditions, construction practice, maintenance, and environmental performance?
How can earth-based construction be developed, tested, and monitored for use in a humid, high-rainfall environment while remaining responsive to local material conditions, construction practice, maintenance, and environmental performance?
MATERIAL SYSTEM
MATERIAL SYSTEM
The project investigates stabilized earth-block construction using locally available earth materials.
The project investigates stabilized earth-block construction using locally available earth materials.
Material development may include:
Material development may include:
Soil characterization
Soil characterization
Determining the material composition and behavior of locally available soil.
Determining the material composition and behavior of locally available soil.
Mix development
Mix development
Testing aggregate, fines, moisture, and binder relationships.
Testing aggregate, fines, moisture, and binder relationships.
Compression / Block Production
Compression / Block Production
Producing prototype units under controlled and documented conditions.
Producing prototype units under controlled and documented conditions.
Material Testing
Material Testing
Evaluating strength, durability, moisture response, and other properties relevant to the intended assembly.
Evaluating strength, durability, moisture response, and other properties relevant to the intended assembly.
Material formulations will be treated as experimental results rather than assumptions derived automatically from historical construction.
Material formulations will be treated as experimental results rather than assumptions derived automatically from historical construction.
MATERIAL SYSTEM
MATERIAL SYSTEM
The project investigates stabilized earth-block construction using locally available earth materials.
The project investigates stabilized earth-block construction using locally available earth materials.
Material development may include:
Material development may include:
Soil characterization
Soil characterization
Determining the material composition and behavior of locally available soil.
Determining the material composition and behavior of locally available soil.
Mix development
Mix development
Testing aggregate, fines, moisture, and binder relationships.
Testing aggregate, fines, moisture, and binder relationships.
Compression / Block Production
Compression / Block Production
Producing prototype units under controlled and documented conditions.
Producing prototype units under controlled and documented conditions.
THE ENVELOPE
THE ENVELOPE
The building investigates the relationship among:
The building investigates the relationship among:
Roof geometry
Deep overhangs
Wall exposure
Ventilation
Material permeability
Rain protection
Shading
Openings
Drainage
Maintenance
Roof geometry
Deep overhangs
Wall exposure
Ventilation
Material permeability
Rain protection
Shading
Openings
Drainage
Maintenance
The objective is to develop an envelope appropriate to the actual environmental and construction conditions of the site.
The objective is to develop an envelope appropriate to the actual environmental and construction conditions of the site.
DESIGN-BUILD RESEARCH
DESIGN-BUILD RESEARCH
The project provides an opportunity to document not only material performance but the process of construction itself.
The project provides an opportunity to document not only material performance but the process of construction itself.
A|WA intends to record, where appropriate:
A|WA intends to record, where appropriate:
Material sourcing
Labor
Fabrication
Construction sequence
Waste
Cost
Time
Weather conditions
Material performance
Maintenance requirements
Material sourcing
Labor
Fabrication
Construction sequence
Waste
Cost
Time
Weather conditions
Material performance
Maintenance requirements
This creates a research record that connects architectural design with the realities of implementation.
This creates a research record that connects architectural design with the realities of implementation.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
Once an appropriate prototype is complete and instrumented, A|WA may monitor environmental conditions within the building.
Potential measurements include:
Interior temperature
Exterior temperature
Relative humidity
Surface temperature
Air movement
Occupancy conditions
Seasonal variation
Comparisons with reference conditions should be defined before conclusions about performance are made.
RESEARCH DISTINCTION
Case File 003 is explicitly separated into two evidence categories.
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
What can be documented about earlier West African construction systems?
CONTEMPORARY EXPERIMENT
What happens when a contemporary building tests a related architectural or material question?
The relationship between the two is a research hypothesis, not an assumption of direct continuity.
PROJECT PHASES
PROJECT PHASES
PHASE I
PHASE I
Site analysis, material characterization, design development, and prototype testing.
PHASE II
PHASE II
Construction development and field implementation, subject to project readiness and partner coordination.
PHASE III
PHASE III
Environmental monitoring and post-occupancy evaluation, where the completed building and instrumentation permit.
THE LIVING LABORATORY
THE LIVING LABORATORY
The value of the project lies not in declaring a material or building system successful in advance.
The value of the project lies not in declaring a material or building system successful in advance.
Its value lies in documenting what happens when a material, design, climate, labor system, and building occupation meet in the real world.
Its value lies in documenting what happens when a material, design, climate, labor system, and building occupation meet in the real world.
CASE FILE STATUS: ACTIVE / IN DEVELOPMENT
CASE FILE STATUS: ACTIVE / IN DEVELOPMENT
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