OceanSafe, a maker of Structural Steel Insulated Panels (SSIP), and The ReGen Group recently unveiled the winner of their New Orleans Sustainable Design Competition, which challenged architects to design emergency housing shelters using their panels. The winning design is the SunShower SSIP by Judith Kinnard, professor of architecture at Tulane University, and Tiffany Lin, assistant professor of architecture. The 1,000 sq ft home will be built this October in New Orleans to showcase the potential of using SSIPS in emergency housing.
Structural Steel Insulated Panels are similar to regular wooden SIPs, but are made with steel and are more resistant to fire, wind, and foul weather. The competition required entries to be completely off-grid, withstand Category 5 hurricane winds, protect against damage from fires and floods, be extremely durable, comfortable, healthy and safe. All of the materials for the home also had to be able to fit inside a shipping container.
Kinnard and Lin won the competition, beating out seven other entries with their SunShower SSIP, a 1,000 sq ft home constructed with SSIPs that features two pitched roofs. One is steeply sloped and mounted with solar panels to collect solar energy, while the other is angled towards the center to collect rainwater in a cistern. The rainwater is used for bathing, toilets and irrigation. The back of the house features a large porch and a roof-mounted wind turbine. Sliding panels on the front of the house allow for open windows when more ventilation is needed.
The SunShower SSIP will be built this October in New Orleans on the corner of Julia Street and St. Charles Avenue and is estimated to cost about $100 per square foot.
Via JetsonGreen
