Jared Barnett

Sustainable Aiken Village

Year: 3rd Year 1st Semester

Type: Cultural, Public Space, Housing, Suburban

Program: University Faculty Apartments

Location: Starkville, MS

Scale: 200,000 sq ft

      This collaborative charrette included Architecture, Building Construction Science, and Interior Design. Teams of five were to re-adapt a vacant apartment complex built in the fifties.  Our proposal   was to maintain the presence of the existing buildings while adding prefabricated modules to roof plinth.  These modules would be oriented east/west to allow for sunlight control and enhanced cross-ventilation.  The modules were finished in a pure white to contrast the existing condition while reducing heat gain.  Buildings that were already in the desired east-west orientation were simply made taller.

      Water collection was to be expressed as an experiential element rather than simply a functional element.  Oversized cisterns worked as columns to hold up the modules extending off the existing structure.  These columns provided access to the roof plinth via spiral staircase.  A transparent slit in the cistern column allowed for an awaraness of it's use.