![]() Similarly, the concrete that keeps the occupants safe in an emergency also acts as thermal mass, storing heat from the sun for long winter nights. ![]() Nonetheless it serves a dual purpose as a washroom for the home – where most people store their medications. The reinforced concrete masonry unit (CMU) wall construction is largely projectile-resistant and contains a tornado-safe door and no windows. Designed to FEMA standards, the room rests on its own foundation and is unconnected to the surrounding structure. While much of the construction outlined above would address some aspects of tornado-aware design, it is the safe-room at the core of the house that provides the strongest response. Similar perforated panels may be attached seasonally onto the clerestory at the top of the house the southern roof contains small lengthwise ridges for safety while this installation occurs. In the winter (or when desired) they can be adjusted to improve daylight and solar heat gain. Adjustable perforated metal shutters, mounted on tracks, address security and privacy while blocking sun in the summer to keep the interior cool. The exterior is clad in corrugated Galvalume, which is extremely durable, reflects heat, and is resistant to damage from hail. The structure consists of a simple frame, easily constructed using conventional construction methods or, if finances allow, structural insulated panels (SIPs), which could expedite the construction process as well as being significantly thermally efficient. Inside the home, the generously lit open living space occupies the southern side of the building, while the private spaces lie along the northern side. These outdoor rooms are not connected to the main house structure and are designed to be ‘tear-away’. Two large covered porches constructed of wood sit at the front and rear of the house, serving as the “outdoor rooms” familiar to the district, while also shading the front and rear from direct sunlight. Sustainable’s Joplin House takes its shape from the archetypal street-front profile often seen in older parts of the city. Killing 158 people and destroying nearly 7,000 homes, it was the deadliest American tornado in over 60 years, and it is believed to be the most expensive tornado in history.ĭesigning for a tornado-prone region is a unique challenge, but one that is nonetheless important to the many residents who find themselves facing these circumstances. In May of 2011, Joplin, Missouri was hit by a catastrophic EF-5 tornado.
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