Dwelling

Abstract

A terrestrial dwelling (1) including a floor (2) with at least one floor section (3) orientated substantially horizontally in use. The dwelling includes at least one wall (4), including at least one wall section (5) projecting substantially upwardly from the floor section (3). A dwelling support (6) is configured to at least partially elevate the floor section (3) above a terrain surface (15). A roof (7) with at least one roof section (8) is attached to an upper portion of said wall (4) wherein the dwelling (1) is configured to provide at least partial atmospheric transparency to at least partially allow atmospheric elements including light incident on the dwelling (1) above the floor (2) to reach the terrain surface (15) under the dwelling (1).

Claims

1. A terrestrial dwelling including: a floor including at least one floor section, oriented substantially horizontally in use; at least one wall including at least one wall section, projecting substantially upwardly from said floor section; a dwelling support, to at least partially elevate the floor section above a terrain surface; a roof with at least one roof section attached to an upper portion of said wall; an irrigation distribution system; wherein; said dwelling provides at least partial atmospheric transparency for atmospheric elements including light, rain and any other forms of airborne moisture incident on the dwelling above the floor to reach the terrain surface under the dwelling, the at least one floor section, the at least one wall section and the at least one roof section being transparent, the transparent floor section and transparent roof section being mutually positioned for light incident on the transparent roof section to reach the terrain surface under the floor by passing through said transparent floor section, said rain and moisture incident on said dwelling is diverted under the floor via at least one of: said roof and said at least one wall, and re-dispersed onto the terrain surface below by said irrigation distribution system attached to an underside of said floor.

2. The dwelling as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dwelling support includes at least one floor section support.

3. The dwelling as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dwelling support includes at least one suspension element.

4. The dwelling as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dwelling is at least partially atmospherically transparent to wind.

5. The dwelling as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one transparent floor section and the at least one transparent wall section are mutually positioned for light incident on the transparent wall section to reach the terrain surface under the floor by passing through said transparent floor section.

6. The dwelling as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rain and moisture incident on at least one of the: at least one roof section; at least one wall section; uncovered floor section forming a walkway or deck area exterior to the at least one wall section, is directly diverted by the dwelling under the floor and re-dispersed onto the terrain surface below.

7. The dwelling as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rain and moisture is diverted via at least one of: at least one roof periphery gutter; the at least one wall section; collectors located substantially level with the floor; a water storage or detention tank.

8. The dwelling as claimed in claim 6, wherein water collected from the rain and moisture is channelled along a network of irrigation tubing with a plurality of spaced outlets.

9. The dwelling as claimed in claim 8, wherein said irrigation tubing is attached to support joists located underneath the at least one floor section.

10. The dwelling as claimed in claim 6, wherein said rain is diverted via a temporary storage in a detention tank.

11. The dwelling as claimed in claim 10, wherein the detention tank fills to a predetermined level, whereupon any excess collected fluid bypasses, or overspills from the detention tank straight to fluid irrigation outlets beneath the dwelling.

12. The dwelling as claimed in claim 2, securable to said terrain surface by one or more terrain mounts formed as at least one of: separate, discrete elements, to which the floor section supports are attached, and continuous elements whereby the terrain mounts are incorporated as part of the floor section supports and formed as a single element.

13. The dwelling as claimed in claim 1, formed as a substantially rigid skeletal frame to which said at least one floor section, said at least one wall section and said at least one roof section are attached.

14. The dwelling as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one floor section is elevated between 0.3-1.5 m above the terrain surface.

15. The dwelling as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least part of the at least one floor section is elevated between 0.5-1.1 m above the terrain surface.

16. The dwelling as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least 50% of said floor is transparent.

17. The dwelling as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least 50% of said roof is transparent.

18. The dwelling as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least 50% of said at least one wall is transparent.

19. The dwelling as claimed in claim 1, wherein said irrigation distribution system includes one or more apertured conduits, drippers, sprinklers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of the present invention in the form of a dwelling shown from a first front perspective;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the dwelling of FIG. 1, shown from a first rear perspective;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the dwelling of FIG. 1, shown from a second rear perspective;

(5) FIG. 4 shows the dwelling of FIG. 1, shown from a second rear perspective;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a front elevation of the dwelling of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a first side elevation of the dwelling of FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a second side elevation of the dwelling of FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a schematic side elevation of the interaction of light on the dwelling of FIG. 1;

(10) FIG. 9a shows a schematic side elevation of the interaction of rain water on the dwelling of FIG. 1;

(11) FIG. 9b shows a schematic side elevation of the interaction of rain water on a dwelling according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(12) FIG. 10 shows a further preferred embodiment of the present invention in the form of a dwelling shown from a first front perspective;

(13) FIG. 11 shows the dwelling of FIG. 10, shown with a sliding divider in an extended position.

(14) FIG. 12 shows a further preferred embodiment of the present invention in the form of a dwelling suspended over a precipice;

(15) FIG. 13 shows a front elevation of the dwelling of FIG. 12 suspended between two trees over a river;

(16) FIG. 14 shows a first front perspective of the dwelling of FIG. 12;

(17) FIG. 15 shows a first lower rear perspective of the dwelling of FIG. 12;

(18) FIG. 16 shows a second front elevation of the dwelling of FIG. 12;

(19) FIG. 17 shows a first plan view of the dwelling of FIG. 12;

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(20) Reference numerals for FIGS. 1-11.

(21) TABLE-US-00001 (1) dwelling (2) floor (3) floor section (4) wall (5) wall section (6) floor section support (7) roof (8) roof section (9) bathroom (10) outside bath (11) double bed (12) indoor lighting (13) stove (14) deck (15) terrain surface (16) terrain mount (17) water detention tank (18) gas storage bottle (19) gas cooker (20) sunlight (21) rain water (22) roof gutter (23) downpipe (24) irrigation distribution system (25) irrigation tubing (26) joists (27) floor gutter (28) common service wall (29) sliding divider (30) suspension element (31) anchor point (32) support pole (33) tree (34) water feature (35) solar panel (36) heater (37) flue (38) partition wall (39) toilet (40) shower cubical (41) wall/door (100) dwelling

(22) FIGS. 1-9 show a first embodiment of the present invention of a structure in the form of a recreational dwelling (1) configured to provide at least partial atmospheric transparency, and including: a floor (2), comprised of a plurality of individual floor sections (3); four walls (4), comprised of a plurality of individual wall sections (5), a dwelling support in the form of four floor section supports (6), a roof (7) including a plurality of individual roof sections (8)

(23) The dwelling (1) shown in FIGS. 1-9 is shown by way of illustration only and the invention is not necessarily limited to same. Although configured as a minimalistic cabin for a couple, many alternative configurations may be utilised within the scope of the present invention. Intended as relatively short-stay holiday usage accommodation for individuals who wish to be highly immersed in their environment, the dwelling (1) is specifically intended to be sited in areas of high natural beauty, preferably private and isolated at least by line of sight from any other human habitations of activities.

(24) The dwelling (1) includes a bathroom (9), an outside bath (10), a double bed (11), indoor pendant lighting (12) and a small stove (13).

(25) The dwelling walls (4) define a substantially cuboid volume with a mono-pitch roof (7) with a deck (14) area projecting along one of the long and short sides. The roof (7) slopes upwards from a lower edge at the rearward edge along the long side of the cuboid towards the deck area (14) on the opposing side.

(26) The wall sections (5) facing the deck area (14) are formed from sliding glass doors (either stacking or bi-fold) allowing the interior of the dwelling (1) to be almost completely opened to the environment.

(27) Although in alternative embodiments (shown in FIGS. 12-13 and described further below) the dwelling (1) may be suspended above the terrain surface (15) by appropriate dwelling supports, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-9 is sited directly on the terrain surface by dwelling supports in the form of four floor section supports (6). The individual floor section support (6) attach to a corresponding terrain mount (16) which are inserted into the terrain surface (15). The terrain mounts (16) (shown in FIG. 5 only) may take any convenient form including micro piles, spikes or similar ground-piercing fittings. Whilst FIG. 5 shows the terrain mounts (16) as separate elements, bolted to the floor section supports (6), they may be formed together as integral elements.

(28) The floor (2), walls (4), and roof (7) are constructed from a steel framework predominately forming rectangular sections (forming the floor section, wall sections and roof sections (3, 5, 8) respectively) which are clad, in-filled, or overlaid with a transparent or opaque panel according to their role and location.

(29) According to the first preferred embodiment illustrated, all the floor sections (3) and roof sections (8) apart from those bounding the bathroom (9) are transparent glazed panels. The wall sections (5) forming the bathroom (9) are also opaque as well as the adjacent side wall (4) which contains the services for the dwelling (1) including: a water detention tank (17), and gas supply lines from an exterior gas storage bottle (18) to a gas cooker (19) and heater (not shown).

(30) The remaining wall sections (5) are configured as glass sliding doors. Thus, when the weather permits, both the glass panels of the three non-opaque walls (4) may be retracted towards the opaque wall (4), completely opening the dwelling (1) up to the atmosphere. In one embodiment, the transparent roof sections (8) may be configured to also retract towards the bathroom (9) to provide further immersion with the environment.

(31) A key feature of the dwelling is its ability to minimise the impact on the environment. Although constructed from durable materials, the dwelling (1) is configured to be effectively ‘invisible’ or ‘transparent’ from the perspective of the existing biota adjacent and underneath the dwelling (1). The terrain surface (15) under the dwelling (1) is able to receive substantially the same light and atmospheric moisture as it would have received without the presence of the dwelling (1). This atmospheric transparency is achieved by a number of techniques.

(32) In any environment, the salient atmospheric elements affecting the biota are the wind, light and moisture incident on the terrain surface.

(33) As the dwelling (1) is elevated above the terrain surface (15) solely by the four elongate floor section supports (6), wind is able to pass freely under the elevated floor (2).

(34) Light incident on the dwelling is also able to reach the terrain surface (15) by virtue of the transparent wall sections (5) and the transparent floor sections (3). FIG. 8 illustrates schematically how sunlight (20) striking deck (14) directly is able to penetrate the transparent glass of the deck (14) and reach the terrain surface (15) below. Sunlight (20) striking the glass wall sections (5) passes in a direct line through into the dwelling interior before passing through the glass floor sections (3) until reaching the terrain surface (15) below. It will also be readily appreciated that even through the trajectory and solar elevation angle of the sun varies annually and throughout the day, light is still able to reach the terrain surface (15). Considering the situation at the extremities of the sun's elevation; at very shallow incident (low) angles, sunlight (20) will still pass through the dwelling (1) as described above and may also pass directly under the floor (7) to the terrain surface (15) without striking the dwelling (1); at high incident angles, sunlight (20) may strike, and pass through, the transparent roof sections (8) before passing through either a transparent floor section (3) or a wall section (5) and then reaching the terrain surface (15).

(35) The flora in the potential shadow of the dwelling (1) is thus actually still illuminated with light and able to photosynthesise.

(36) The interaction of airborne moisture in the form of rain (coming into contact with the dwelling (1) is shown schematically in FIGS. 9a and 9b. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9a, rain (21) falling on the roof (7) runs downwards and falls from the lower roof perimeter into a roof gutter (22) positioned at the top of the adjacent wall (4). The rain water (21) then flows through a downpipe (23) down the outside of the wall (4) until reaching an irrigation distribution system (24) located below the level of floor (2). The irrigation distribution system (24) is a network of irrigation tubing (25) attached to a plurality of joists (26) spanning the underside of the floor (2).

(37) In embodiments such as that shown in FIGS. 1-9a, where the deck (14) surface formed from transparent floor sections (3) of solid panels of glass, the deck (14) surface is inclined slightly to allow the incident rain (21) to run off towards a floor gutter (27) at the edge of the deck (14) before feeding into the irrigation distribution system (23). Numerous alternative methods may be employed to re-distribute the rainwater (from the upper surfaces of the dwelling to the terrain surface (15) under the dwelling (1). In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 9b, the roof gutter (22) is replaced with a further floor gutter (27) positioned at the bottom of the wall section (5) beneath the low-side of the roof (7), allowing the occupants to watch rainwater passing down the walls (4) and/or the deck (14) before being redistributed to the terrain surface (15) by the irrigation distribution system (23).

(38) While FIG. 9 shows a simplified diagrammatic representation of the rainwater flow (21), FIGS. 1-7 show the incorporation of the water detention tank (17) into the exterior of the opaque wall (4) adjacent the bathroom (9).

(39) In order to provide the occupants with an environmentally friendly water supply for domestic use, the rain (21) collected from the roof gutter (22) is temporarily stored in a detention tank (17). When the detention tank (17) is filled to a predetermined level, any excess rain water (21) collected bypasses, or overspills from the tank (17) straight to the irrigation distribution system (24).

(40) Water consumption by the occupants is then replenished by subsequent rainfalls. The detention tank (17) refills to said predetermined level before being diverted to the irrigation distribution system (24). It will be appreciated that some dwellings (1) may, according to the occupants water requirements and the frequency and volume of rain fall, incorporate a separate or supplementary water supply and storage system to the rain-filled detention tank (17).

(41) The present invention thus substantially provides a dwelling (1) with effective atmospheric transparency to the elements of wind, light (20) and moisture (21).

(42) It is possible to allow the terrain surface (15) beneath a building to receive all these atmospheric elements without interference by simply raising a conventional dwelling sufficiently high above the terrain surface (15). However, raising the dwelling height excessively poses significant drawbacks, namely; the difficulty and inconvenience in access to and from a dwelling that is high above the terrain surface; minimizing the feeling of immersion in, and connection between, the occupants and their environment which is replaced instead with an artificial or surreal ‘bird's eye’ viewpoint, and the risk of injury from a fall, and/or the hindrance (both visually and physically) of safety barriers, guards rails and the like to the user's experience of the surrounding environment.

(43) However, to bring a dwelling to within a sufficient height from the terrain surface to overcome these drawbacks would adversely affect the biota under the dwelling without the atmospheric transparency of the present invention.

(44) In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1-9, the floor/deck (2, 14) is elevated less than 1 m from the terrain surface, which complies with New Zealand building regulations for decks and walkways to avoid need for a railing/barrier. The modular nature of the dwelling (1) not only simplifies construction of the sub-components such as the walls (4), floor (2), roof (7), deck (14) and bathroom (9), it facilitates design modification whereby individual floor/wall/roof sections (3, 5, 8) may be added/subtracted to alter shapes, sizes and ratios. On a larger scale, the entire dwelling (1) from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-9 may be combined together to create larger dwellings (100) as shown in FIGS. 10-11.

(45) The dwelling (100) in FIGS. 10 and 11 essentially comprises two dwellings (1), joined together. One of the dwellings (1) is configured as a mirror image of the other to enable the two dwellings (1) to utilise an opaque service wall (28) to act as a common dividing wall. This enables, for example, a family with children, or two couples to share the same environment whilst still maintaining some privacy from each other. FIG. 11 shows an optional retractable sliding divider (29), in an extended position, subdividing the decks (14) on both halves of the dwelling (100).

(46) FIGS. 12 and 13 show a further embodiment of the dwelling (1), suspended above the terrain surface (15) by one of more suspension elements (30), attached to anchor points (31) affixed to the terrain surface (15). The anchor points (31) may be any appropriate natural features such as trees (32) (shown in FIG. 13), rock features or outcrops and/or purpose-made ground anchors, rock bolts, support poles (33) (as shown in FIG. 12) or the like. FIG. 12 shows the dwelling (1) located on a terrain surface (15) with a rearward portion of the dwelling (1) at the edge of a precipice, whilst the remainder of the dwelling (1) projects into free space, suspended by suspension elements (30). At one end, the suspension elements (30) are attached to an outer perimeter of the joists (26) at the apex of the deck (14), whilst the other end is shown attached to an anchor point (31) in the form of a support pole (33). The occupants of the dwelling (1) are thus able to see the view downwards through the transparent floor sections (3) as well as the wall sections (5) and roof sections (8).

(47) FIG. 13 shows the dwelling (1) suspended between two anchor points (31) in the form of two trees (32) spanning a natural water feature (34), e.g. a river, stream, brook or the like. The dwelling (1) is suspended by suspension elements (30) attached at each apex of the floor (2) and roof (7). It will be readily understood however that numerous alternative means of suspension are possible as a matter of design choice. The dwelling (1) is accessed by a ladder (42) extending from the terrain surface (15) to a platform (43) extending from the deck (14).

(48) FIGS. 14-16 show greater detail of the embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13 in the form of a dwelling (1) substantially similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-9. The embodiment shown differs in layout configuration, whereby the side deck (14) and external bath (10) have been omitted and the floor space of internal living area correspondingly increased. A series of solar panels (35) are mounted above the wall (4) adjacent the deck (14). The solar panels (35) provide not only electrical power, but a degree of sun shading without obscuring the view. A heater (36) of some appropriate configuration and output (e.g. wood burner, gas, multi-fuel, bio-ethanol or the like) provides warmth during inclement weather and vents through a roof flue (37).

(49) The bathroom (9) is separated from the living/sleep area by a transverse partition wall (38). The bathroom (9) contains a toilet (39) and shower cubical (40) mutually separate by an inner bathroom wall and door (41). The shower cubical (40) is constructed with a transparent floor (3) and (optionally) with at least one transparent wall section (5).

(50) Forming the shower cubical (40) floor and wall sections from a solid transparent material such as glass advantageously provides a waterproof surface suitable for wet-room use without further treatment or additional layers/structures.

(51) Similarly, the toilet (39) may be formed with a transparent floor section (3), while the wall sections (5) may be transparent or opaque according to user/owner preference.

(52) Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.