Pod House Apartment

​Melbourne  has the tradition of racing to build the tallest building . Expanding vertically is a solution of reducing use of land and water consumption. Therefore, the project proposed is developed vertically. This also promotes smaller units which reduce energy and water usage. 
Australia generates 5.5Mt of metal waste in 2016-2017 according to the National Waste Report by Blue Environment Pty Ltd (Pickin et al, pp.31). To reduce the cost of living and recycle metal waste, the government will build the “frame” (units bought will attach to the frame.)with recycled steel and 3D printed concrete. 3D printing technology reduces the transportation of materials, labors, and time through printing on-site. They can also provide accurate and creative masses, so affordable housing can become a landmark which the inhabitants can be proud of. 
There are 2 type of frames: free standing and add-on. When space is allowed, a free-standing new affordable housing building will be erected. However, there is limited land in the city. Therefore, another concept is possible - to add additional structure to the existing buildings. 
The units are 3D printed structures. Prefabricated toilet, roof, windows, and doors will be installed on-site. A metal frame supports the unit structure will be connected to the public frame when the affordable home is purchased. These homes feature the front and backyards with the algae tank  at the bottom. The yards fulfilling the dream of having a home with gardens but living in the sky. The yard also helps to retain and collect rainwater. Rainwater and household wastewater will be filtered in the septic tank beneath the yard. The filtered water will be used for irrigation and flushing the toilet. Excess water will be transported to the municipal water recycling facility. The algae tank at the lower level provides food and reduces living expenses. We currently are using 1.6% of earths worth of resources as per Global Footprint Network. Peta Prime advocates us to go veganism to end world hunger. With today’s 3D printing technologies, we can print different kind of food: cookies, vegan steak, pizza etc. If we can reduce the algae into nutrition blocks and print them as food, we can reduce living cost and feed everyone. So, the units can be self-sustaining.
There are 4 type of units. Bowerbird Nest and Progressive are family-based units whist Reminiscent and Huts are shared studio units with shared bath and will utilize the communal kitchen on the public frame structure public areas. 
“Bowerbird Nest” is inspired from the Australian Bowerbird and the “egg” dome structure is inspired by Buckminster Fuller’s Geodesic dome for energy efficiency (BFI). “Progressive” symbolizes the development of Melbourne. “Reminiscent” and “Huts” pay homage to the Aboriginal architecture.