A new hawai'i tropical house: Creating a healthy pre-fabricated residential architecture and community

摘要

Residential architecture in Hawai'i has failed its inhabitants on many levels since the indigenous grass covered hale pili structures evolved into a western style of building. The way homes are designed, sited and built creates an architecture with several social, cultural, climatic and environmental issues as well as the potential for physical and mental health problems. This dissertation attempts to understand what these problems are, how they have been addressed in the past and how future architects and builders can progress to a higher standard of a Hawai'i tropical home.;Understanding the most popular residential building styles after Western contact, and analyzing case studies of contemporary, County and State initiated or approved residential developments compared with the presented climatic and environmental data for each of the climate zones in the state, lays the ground work for the standard of the current housing stock.;An investigation of the physical and mental comfort and health effects related to building materials and methods, the climate and their relation to the indoor environment uncovers numerous chemicals, VOCs and toxins such as mold (mycotoxins) which may be present in Hawaiian homes. Research into natural ventilation systems, light and the connection to the outside environment all help to recognize the health issues and the cultural and social importance of the symbiosis of the built environment with the natural environment.;A study of the positive and negative aspects of the typical building materials in Hawai'i opens up the research and promotion of locally sourced building materials. This project finds that there are potential local materials which would be physically healthy, structurally efficient, culturally sensitive and environmentally responsible. These are thermally modified eucalyptus and ironwood timbers made into pre-fabricated cross nailed timber panels and locally sourced pre-cast concrete.;These materials are used to create a new Hawai'i tropical house which would provide inhabitants with a safe, healthy and culturally significant home. The conclusion of this project is a documented design for the new Hawai'i home designed as part of a community, similar to that of Regen Villages which is self-sufficient, regenerative and environmentally sustainable.