Park Springs Ranch StudioMichael GuilianoPark Springs Ranch, New Mexico2011 (Conceptual Project _J. Brittingham)

This project is locatedin the northeast corner of

New Mexico on Park Spings Ranch. Its primary

focus is to incorporate prefabricated construc-

tion while instilling regional characteristics of

environment and place. Although the project

wasn’t conceptualized nor designed for a

specific client, it is intended for short stays for

a particular individual or couple. Two projects

were picked as precedents to guide in the

design and construction process. Convent Stu-

dios by Rick Joy Architects, located in Tuscon,

Arizona guided the design in its use of mate-

rial choice. Rammed earth, being its primary

material and structure, was chosen for its site

specific quality as well as its aesthetic appear-

ance on site. The Cantiliver House by Anderson

and Anderson was also chosen as a precedent

due to its prefabricated construction methods.

It uses a basic box truss as its core structure

while adding SIPS wall, floor, and roof panels as

its insulated membrane. The two projects gave

way to a design in which prefabricated compo-

nents and the on-site construction of rammed

earth could be used to efficiently design and

construct a personal short-stay studio house.

01Site Plan

02Exterior perspective of west-facing porch and bathing tower

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The Park Springs Studio House is situated on an

east-west axis, allowing for southern exposure

during the winter months. The plan remains

open with the exception of a stationary kitchen-

ette-closet which separates the bedroom from

the public space of the house. It attempts to

protect the occupant(s) from extreme weather

conditions while still incoroporating communica-

tion between interior and exterior. The western

end of the house opens up to the setting sun

of the desert. Water was considered to be a

sacred component to the design and is cele-

brated in a small trough that runs along side the

house in an exterior corridor on the south side.

It is fed by a series of gabian structures which

align themselves with water drainage patterns.

The water continues to run along the side of the

exterior corridor until it reaches the removed

bathing tower. With the use of solar-powered

water pumps, the water is contained at the top

of the tower where it is heated by the thermal

mass of the massive rammed earth walls. Its

function is transformed from its aesthetic qual-

ity to a functioning usage for showering and

plumbing.

01Floor Plan02opposite page - interior dining and hearth03opposite page - bedroom04opposite page - south-facing exterior view

Design

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1 ENTRY

2 LIVING/HEARTH

3 DINING/KITCHEN

4 BEDROOM

5 BATHROOM

6 EXTERIOR PORCH

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The on-site construction process entails a

poured concrete foundation in which the re-

moved earth is then used to form the rammed-

earth. The rammed earth is formed in layers

which are compressed to 8-10 inches and

taper with increasing height. C-shaped steel

channels are cast into the concerte/rammed

earth structure in which the prefabricated steel

box truss is attached. SIPS panels are used to

clad the box truss, as well as flloor-to-ceiling

glass panes. Local wood is milled and used for

exterior decking as well as the finished interior

floor. Stone found on-site is gathered to form

the gabian water catchment system that guides

the resident(s) to the house from the road. The

gabian system, over time, will create its own

micro-ecosystem, giving way for vegetation

growth, and essentially providing additional

shade/shelter from the harsh desert climate.

Construction

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01Wall Section02opposite page - Section Diagram03opposite page - exploded axono-metric1

exterior porch w/ fire pitinterior living/dining room w/ hearth

kitchen/storage bedroomgabian water catch-ment and collection resevoir

water flow on ex-terior perimeter of house

SIPS Roof Panels

SIPS Walls and Win-dow Panels

SIPS Floor Panels and Decking

Steel Box Frame16’ o.c.

Rammed-earth walls assembled and built on site with soil

Concrete foundation

Exterior West-facing deck

Wash tower w/ shower above porch and toilet below grade, fed by gabian water collection

Water trough running parallel with house, ritual-izing water in this envi-ronment. Gabian water collection east of house feeds this trough which supplies bathing tower and kitchen

Gabian-catchment, feeds trough

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