Constructing a New Model

Gene Corbell, an architect and model-builder with Anvil Prototype & Design, spoke with Team Tidewater about designing and constructing their Unit 6 Unplugged model.

As required for the competition, our team must build a half scale model that (among other things) will be featured at the International Builders Show in Orlando, Florida in January. Team Tidewater's only physical model (and most current) is one that helped get its project accepted into the Department of Energy Solar Decathlon in the first place. The students have since made many changes to their design and need to produce a larger model that will illustrate in more detail the features of their house.

Original Model of Unit 6 Unplugged

Part of the dilemma for Team Tidewater is deciding how much of the house's details will be showcased. Ideally, the team would like for the model to display certain engineering features, such as its greywater system, in addition to the overall architecture of the house.

Corbell suggested making some parts of the walls clear so that viewers may see piping underneath. In addition to this, he recommended that the team be able to remove the roof in order to make the house more displayable.

"People generally don't bend down to look through the windows. They like to stand overhead and look down," said Corbell.

The construction of the model could cost as much as $500 in materials alone, according to Corbell. It is a big, meticulous project that will be prone to things-gone-wrong and may take several weeks to complete.

"Whatever amount of hours you think it'll take," said Corbell, "plan to add about 20%."

Daunting as it is, the model's construction is just another one of the many pieces of the Solar Decathlon project that the team must work through.