Attached Housing 2021

 
 
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The Attached Housing (AH) division in 2021 took up the challenge of designing a domestic violence refuge. This refuge would provide women and children, escaping domestic violence, temporary housing for 4-6 weeks while longer-term accommodation is found. The team worked closely with Kara House, a domestic violence organisation who helped them understand the needs of the occupants and staff.

3rd place for the Attached Housing division in the 2020-2021 US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Design ChallengeAwarded the Team Spirit Award

3rd place for the Attached Housing division in the 2020-2021 US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Design Challenge

Awarded the Team Spirit Award

The refuge was designed to house 8 women and up to 24 kids

The refuge was designed to house 8 women and up to 24 kids

The team created a flexible layout to maximise occupancy by allowing access to one upstairs bedroom to be given to the neighbouring apartment in the case of a single woman who only needs the downstairs bedroom

The team created a flexible layout to maximise occupancy by allowing access to one upstairs bedroom to be given to the neighbouring apartment in the case of a single woman who only needs the downstairs bedroom

The solar system was oversized for the site to help offset the reliance on non renewable energy for other properties nearby.

The solar system was oversized for the site to help offset the reliance on non renewable energy for other properties nearby.

The upstairs space is meant to help the users relax and enjoy their time while at the refuge.

The upstairs space is meant to help the users relax and enjoy their time while at the refuge.

One of the apartments is specially designed to be platinum disability certified to allow women or kids with a disability to still be allowed to stay at the refuge. As part of that, there is a lot more space around furniture for wheelchairs to turn.

One of the apartments is specially designed to be platinum disability certified to allow women or kids with a disability to still be allowed to stay at the refuge. As part of that, there is a lot more space around furniture for wheelchairs to turn.

The apartments were designed to maximise natural (or "passive") lighting by the sun regardless of which direction they are facing (facing north provides the most lighting for buildings in Australia) this minimises how long lights are turned on for.

The apartments were designed to maximise natural (or "passive") lighting by the sun regardless of which direction they are facing (facing north provides the most lighting for buildings in Australia) this minimises how long lights are turned on for.

Each apartment also has a couple seats around the communal area

Each apartment also has a couple seats around the communal area

Each apartment has a private backyard so that if anyone wants to get fresh air but have some more privacy than can have that option.

Each apartment has a private backyard so that if anyone wants to get fresh air but have some more privacy than can have that option.

The downstairs spaces of each apartment apartment have all essential spaces (kitchen, laundry, bathroom, toilet) to allow upstairs to be just an extra living spacesandbedroom.

The downstairs spaces of each apartment apartment have all essential spaces (kitchen, laundry, bathroom, toilet) to allow upstairs to be just an extra living spacesandbedroom.

Especially for bigger kids it was important to give them an opportunity to exercise so the team combined a basketball ring and soccer goal.

Especially for bigger kids it was important to give them an opportunity to exercise so the team combined a basketball ring and soccer goal.

Project RRE produced more than enough energy to be net zero. Using solar batteries the property can interact with the grid to save the refuge on maintenance costs by offset the energy usage of other refuges

Project RRE produced more than enough energy to be net zero. Using solar batteries the property can interact with the grid to save the refuge on maintenance costs by offset the energy usage of other refuges

For little kids a "natural playground" was designed. This encourages the kids to move around and use their imagination.

For little kids a "natural playground" was designed. This encourages the kids to move around and use their imagination.

The "natural playground" has a slide, sandpit, balancing beams, tunnel and hopscotch stones.

The "natural playground" has a slide, sandpit, balancing beams, tunnel and hopscotch stones.

The team also focused on using low carbon and recyclable materials.

The team also focused on using low carbon and recyclable materials.

The staff space at the refuge included a lift to allow people to work there regardless of physical disabilities. The specific lift installed actually only uses the same energy as a kettle.

The staff space at the refuge included a lift to allow people to work there regardless of physical disabilities. The specific lift installed actually only uses the same energy as a kettle.

The balconies offer the women a place where they can supervise their kids while staying in their own space.

The balconies offer the women a place where they can supervise their kids while staying in their own space.

To improve the therapeutic benefit to the women the team designed a sensory garden which was a big feature of their design.

To improve the therapeutic benefit to the women the team designed a sensory garden which was a big feature of their design.

The sensory garden provides the women and children several different space both private and for groups where they can clear their head and are surrounded by nature.

The sensory garden provides the women and children several different space both private and for groups where they can clear their head and are surrounded by nature.

There is also an inside shared area, where kids can play together and along with the women can have access to computers and the internet.

There is also an inside shared area, where kids can play together and along with the women can have access to computers and the internet.

Due to the smart decisions made by the team, project RRE uses a fraction of the energy a normal building of it's size would.

Due to the smart decisions made by the team, project RRE uses a fraction of the energy a normal building of it's size would.

The multipurpose space can be arranged for the women to take part in many different activities such as group therapy, support groups or recreational activities.

The multipurpose space can be arranged for the women to take part in many different activities such as group therapy, support groups or recreational activities.

Further Resources

If you want to know more about the 2021 Attached Housing Division, have a look at these links, or email us.

Project Report

Read the full project report the team submitted to the Solar Decathlon

Project Summary

Read a 2 page summary of the project for a quick look at the final design

Article by the Fifth Estate

The Fifth Estate is Australia's leading business newspaper for the sustainable built environment and the people and issues that surround it. They wrote an article about this project and MSDT’s future plans.

3D Model

Explore the full 3D Model of the refuge. (Does require a good internet connection and might not work on all mobile phones)

 

Brief Overview

Take a quick tower around project RRE

Project Presentation

Watch the full project presentation video

Interview With Team Lead

Tanzia the team leader was interviewed by one of the Solar Decathlon staff

Special Thanks

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Kara House is Domestic Violence organisation in Victoria. Kara House became the first design partner to act as a client for an MSDT project. Their help was absolutely invaluable to the team, especially their insight into the needs of the women, children and staff at a refuge. Kara House would routinely meet with the team and provide feedback and answer questions.