Size 5: A look at the Physical & Operational Characteristics for Intentional Living
In a short Intro to social scale or size we found that units (single/family) can function well at a size 5: N x (N-1)/2 or a total of ten unique direct interactions, This article looks at a physical design that would achieve this while allowing for as much flexibility of social interaction as possible. The photo above is the subject for this description of how and why it more or less works.
Note: The physical is only as good as its overall contribution to the metaphysical — -form follows function.
(But first, who has got your six? History is rather clear on this matter but to be honest, it is only a side issue — -we hope for the best.}
Site Plan:
Mundito Habitat(One Small Habitat) is the official platted subdivision name of a 36,000 sq ft development that is called One Mundito aka One Small World. Two gates control access to this world. The area that fronts the carport is a TrueGrid mesh paving, allowing for water permeability. There is also a separate drainage system installed. Each unit has 2 parking spaces with additional spaces available. On-site is a 16 x 24 screened gazebo and cooking area as well as two outside storage/workshop buildings. The use of the open area will be determined by consensus.
The Primary Structure:
There are five independent townhomes-like units — all identical in size and layout with each townhome having about 1900 sq ft. From the picture above, each unit has two doors and eight windows. The external exposure is about 45 percent smaller than a standard 40 x 48’ single-family dwelling of similar size or almost twice as efficient. In Houston, Tx, the number of degree days over 90F can be more than 100 — ouch! The bldg outline is below. The second level core of about 425 sq ft is the common area — more on the current uses of the common area later.
The building is roughly a hacked cross-section of the last of the five regular solids, a pentagonal dodecahedron,
Building Design:
The goal is complex but purely from a design point, it is all about efficiency and control of operational expenses, those small-scale economies. The exterior walls are 2×6 with added foiled rigged insulation, an R25 wall. All units have double-insulated adjacent walls with a 1.5-inch dead space for sound attenuation. There are 8 windows and two doors. All units are totally independent with a core common area of 425 sq ft on the second level. This area provides for a communication center, security, and other needs or decisions for property improvement/management. One Mundito obtained occupancy in Dec 2021. The building permit was issued at about the same time as Covid was finally announced by Trump who also played the leading role in the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (i think?) This caused delays and supply issues and too, I came down with a rather bad case that lasted about 3 weeks with some after-effects. Not to mention the almost infinite number of problems from city bureaucrats and planners! Don’t go there — we are talking about suicide issues. We are the government and we are here to help — NOT.
Townhome Description:
Each of the five townhomes is 1900+ sq ft and has 2 and 1/2 baths, two bedrooms, a utility room, and open living space on the lower level with an island-based kitchen. The design minimizes external surface exposure by more than 40 percent compared to a single-family dwelling yet has eight large egress windows spanning 100 ft of exposed area: 50 feet on each level. The THs are thermostatically controlled independently on each level. Interestingly, I find that rarely do we use the lower-level thermostat. (More later on unit efficiency and small-scale economies — for a more macro perspective read Small is Beautiful by E.F, Schumacher. Note: there were some minor modifications and compromises to the first-floor layout below:
There are two bedrooms and two baths on the second level. At the top of the starts, you can gain access to the pentagonal core, the common area of about 425’ — all members have access to this core, and each unit independently controls access or restriction to access of the individual units. (For Blockchain enthusiasts, this is akin to Dfinity’s Network Nervous System — gotta like those titles) Indeed, we are currently running some passive income systems in this arena — more later. So, as you can see, a very simple but efficient design that allows for flexibility and independence as well as interdependency. Now dear reader, understand completely — -I know not where I go but the great good is at heart — -for a good read: Soul in the Game — The Art of a Meaningful Life by Vitaliy Katsenelson. As Meatloaf would have said, “I Could Not have said it Better Myself.”
All this talk about form, yet the meat of the matter is more intangible — metaphysical — emotional which is the tougher problem to describe but, I hope, worthwhile.
Next — functionality — until then, wb