coir - noun \ˈkȯi(-ə)r\
a stiff coarse fiber from the outer husk of a coconut+ + + + + + + + + + +
COIR Course Description
This design build course explores the coconut and its versatility as locus for sustainable use and reuse. The project will be deployed as a permanent addition to the community of Kadeejeen in Bangkok, Thailand. Over six weeks, we will use all parts of the coconut to create:
+ A TRANSFORMATIVE FOOD CART/MOBILE PUBLIC SPACE (Coconut Meat / Milk)
... that transports coconut ice cream, and can extend and transform into a small-scale pavilion/public space to serve the ice cream and act as a local gathering hub.
+ NEW BUILDING MATERIAL: COCONUT COMPOSITE BOARDS (Coconut Husk / Shell)
... made from the remaining coconut husk and shell will be used as cladding for parts of the mobile space.
Who's involved?
Instructors:
Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong and Devan Harlan Simunovich
T.A. - Ekkrit Suwanwong
@ INDA (International Program in Design & Architecture), Faculty of Architecture at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand
Students:
Santawat Chienpradit, Thinnapoph Chongchiravisan, Rawisara Chulerk, Channat Karnkorkul, Nichakul Kulvanich, Natchai Lelatawornpanya, Jakkaphan Luengvattanavut, Panitnaat Phuphatana, Trai Praditpong, Chayaphon Ruenruedeepanya, Thanapat Sriprasert, Alliya Suthikorncompee, Pimpika Teravaninthorn, Phanthep Thiengthamcharoen, Napat Wongthanasophon
Collaborative Parties:
+ Ruen Samut Community Enterprise
This coconut oil factory and coconut plantation located in Samut Songkhram has provided us with insight on their coconut processing procedures as well as raw material for our cocoboard prototyping.
+ Songklod Jarusombuti, Faculty of Forestry at Kasetsart University
Songklod is a professor in the Department of Forestry at Kasetsart University, specializing in composite boards. His research and expertise focuses on making new composite products from natural materials, such as rice straw, water hyacinth and coconut fiber. COIR material experiments are taking place with the machinery at Kasetsart University's facilities.
Link here.
+ UDDC (Urban Design and Development Center) and the Community of Kadeejeen
UDDC, headed by Niramon Kulsrisombat and Pornsan Vichienpradit, is a research-based institution working on various urban-scale projects in Bangkok. UDDC has worked extensively with the community of Kadeejeen and has established the COIR project site there.
Link here.
Objectives:
Who's involved?
Instructors:
Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong and Devan Harlan Simunovich
T.A. - Ekkrit Suwanwong
@ INDA (International Program in Design & Architecture), Faculty of Architecture at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand
Students:
Santawat Chienpradit, Thinnapoph Chongchiravisan, Rawisara Chulerk, Channat Karnkorkul, Nichakul Kulvanich, Natchai Lelatawornpanya, Jakkaphan Luengvattanavut, Panitnaat Phuphatana, Trai Praditpong, Chayaphon Ruenruedeepanya, Thanapat Sriprasert, Alliya Suthikorncompee, Pimpika Teravaninthorn, Phanthep Thiengthamcharoen, Napat Wongthanasophon
Collaborative Parties:
+ Ruen Samut Community Enterprise
This coconut oil factory and coconut plantation located in Samut Songkhram has provided us with insight on their coconut processing procedures as well as raw material for our cocoboard prototyping.
+ Songklod Jarusombuti, Faculty of Forestry at Kasetsart University
Songklod is a professor in the Department of Forestry at Kasetsart University, specializing in composite boards. His research and expertise focuses on making new composite products from natural materials, such as rice straw, water hyacinth and coconut fiber. COIR material experiments are taking place with the machinery at Kasetsart University's facilities.
Link here.
+ UDDC (Urban Design and Development Center) and the Community of Kadeejeen
UDDC, headed by Niramon Kulsrisombat and Pornsan Vichienpradit, is a research-based institution working on various urban-scale projects in Bangkok. UDDC has worked extensively with the community of Kadeejeen and has established the COIR project site there.
Link here.
Objectives:
The primary objective is to explore a potential closed-loop sustainable cycle for the coconut, with a zero waste goal. Using all parts of the coconut, we will create a coconut-centric mobile food cart and gathering space. The mobile food stall should, in its compressed state, be able to easily keep cool and transport the coconut ice cream through Bangkok's streets. Here, we will take the dimensions of the standard food cart as reference. We will gather research from local coconut ice cream vendors and potentially collaborate with a local coconut ice cream producer to understand the challenges of transport. The design of our mobile food stall will accommodate also for moments of "pause", when the cart can extend out as a social space.
In its extended space, the cart will consider flexible surfaces that use folding and rotating capabilities to function as counters to prepare, sell and serve the ice cream, as well as seating and dining. Options to provide selected areas with shade or cover from rain will be designed. Alongside the cart design, we will explore prototyping various aggregates of coconut husk, shell, rubber and such to form panels that can be used to detail surfaces of the cart. Currently, there are few existing coconut building material products. It is still an open area of research and development and as a studio group, we will conduct experiments to test out ways to create our own material.