Concrete Slab

The slab is a 5” thick concrete slab located on top of rammed earth tire walls.

The slab has a total area of 4,300 sq ft (spread on a footprint of 50’ x 100’) on which will lay three adjacent buildings. The outdoor part of the slab is sloped towards its edges in order to evacuate rainwater.

Disclaimer:

Even though the use of concrete is not an ideal solution due to the significant amount of energy and emissions stemming from its production, one could argue that it is the most suitable solution in this very context. Indeed, as the slab is suspended and the buildings above will be crowded spaces, any greener solution within our budget would have led to a very high maintenance cost. Additionally, the use of a timber floor on such a big surface is debatable in the context of a country such as Guatemala which currently experiences a substantial deforestation problem.

Building is in progress, renders and material lists to come soon!