SCHOOL  OF  ARCHITECTURE

Research/Creative Activities Curriculum Vitae

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Research/Creative Activities:

Rocky Brittain performs research and consulting focused on resource conserving desert architecture.  The most energy efficient approach to residential design balances the floor and aperture areas with appropriate orientation, thermal mass, insulation, ventilation, and shading on the east and west orientations.  Water efficiency includes rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, xeriscaping, and low-flow fixtures and appliances.  Rammed earth, adobe, and local stone should be a part of each residence to connect it to the earth, our region, and traditional construction methods.  Sensitively merging a home into the desert with the least disturbance also conserves the site.  Rocky's current research and design projects include EPA-funded research entitled "Demonstration of the Sustainability of Harvested Rainwater in Arid Lands to Meet Water Requirements and to Improve Quality of Runoff"; an historic adobe house remodel to provide natural ventilation and bring daylight from four original dormers through a new, central opening in the second floor down to first floor living area; design of the "essential dwelling" for an owner-builder, to be constructed with dry stacked CMU and outsulation; a straw bale house presently under construction which will also harvest its energy and water; and consultation with owners of a mining ghost town to stabilize and rehabilitate its remaining adobe structures.

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