The Y-Box from Tongji University

Tongji University, Shanghai, China

Using recycled metallic shipping containers, the team from Tongji University is creating a uniquely shaped three-pronged house called the Y-Box.

Tongji University's latest Jan 2011 model. Photo credit: U.S. Dept. of Energy Solar Decathlon

A shared, main living area is located in the middle of the building where the three shapes converge.

This type of a living arrangement would adhere to the ideal patterns of living as I recall reading out of ‘A Patterned Language’, where it is recommended that the private living areas are linked together by a shared living area.

Solar Decathlon 2011 Model from Tongji University, solar panels can be seen on the top of the house

The early 2010 model from Tongji University

The team is basing this design off of traditional Chinese design philosophy that seeks consistency and coherency in design.

Photovoltaic panels and thin-film PV will top the shipping containers to help supply the building’s electricity needs.   The outer sides of the first model appear to have some type of vertical shade attached to it.

Will these shades appear on the final building?  A question arises as to how these shades will function.  I’m interested to find out if the shades will be used to somehow light and/or heat the building in conjunction with the sun’s movement.  It will also be interesting to see how both heat and light will work within this house.

While the inner shared space has a skylight, I’m curious as to how this type of dwelling will feel without a door into the shared living space.  There doesn’t seem to be one, but it may be tucked into the back of the model.

Tongji University's Y-Box, built from recycled shipping containers

The early Y-Box model seems claustrophobic. Is it becasue of the dark colors?

I’m curious about the traffic flow in this house.  Will the kitchen and bathroom be housed in one of the shipping containers, with the other two containers being bedrooms?

I’ve been assuming that three shipping containers are used, however, it could be that perhaps 6 or more are used.

While looking at the various models for the Solar Decathlon, I realize that all these models are fairly small, but the early one in particular strikes me as slightly claustrophobic.  The latest model seen at the top of the post does not have the same claustrophobic feel. Could it be the frosted windows or the dark hues of the house?  Will the team be able to highlight their overall theme for consistency, comfort and ease in usability?



Solar decathlon teams can frequently surprise and awe in the transition from theory within the small scale model to the actual building with all its systems intact.   All the Solar Decathlon teams are working with cutting edge technology. It is exciting to anticipate what could be built.

 

Back to the 20 teams in the 2011 Solar Decathlon.

Tongji University’s Website:  solardecathlon.tongji.edu.cn

The 2011 Solar Decathlon Main Website: solardecathlon.gov

This is one of 20 models of a competition home entered in the 2011 Solar Decathlon. The Solar Decathlon challenges university teams from around the world to create efficient, useful, attractive, zero-energy, solar powered homes. The 20 teams in the competition have created models and will construct their houses on the National Mall in the fall of 2011. The models were on display at NREL (National Renewable Energy Lab) in Golden, Colorado, for a couple of weeks in April of 2010, when I first went to have a sneak peek.

Keya Lea

Keya Lea likes to spend time outside, enjoying the sun.

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.