SRB-Hiyas Site Plan

This is the site plan for our Shade Roof Basecamp (SRB) model campus including the attached Hiyas observatory. The Legend below explains the function of major structures and systems on site. This is a modular site plan that can be adapted to any candidate property. Given the modularity this does not represent any specific campus site and shows only the essential agronomy systems in relation to the main structure (i.e. no livestock facilities are shown) . Construction is pour-in-place ferrocement using slip-forms with most operations conducted out of semi-permanent MMUs (Mobile Modular Units) manufactured off site. Room is allocated for temporary line and station set-ups (i.e. during a large harvest, folding tables and mobile prep-stations can be set up as a line to help the kitchen staff preserve food via canning or pickling). Design notes and resources are available through the Hiyas Observatory Working Group.

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Site Plan Legend:

1 – Integrated Agronomy: We will plant and grow mushrooms everywhere that is feasible (i.e. south faces of buildings may have vertical container gardens, mushroom grow sheds will be placed in areas unsuitable for growing other crops). Excessive cost, labor difficulties due to placement, lack of incident light, danger from overly concealing ground cover (no areas that can easily hide snakes or vermin), and other factors will limit where we produce extra food. These systems are site specific so are generally not shown on this modular site plan.

2 – Overhead Utility Network: Water, electrical and data lines will be sometimes run on overhead pipes connecting cisterns. Smaller local cisterns, the single hexagonal tanks, will service their area with various irrigation networks. These are fed from larger central cisterns (33). The site plan does not show underground pipes and other similar features.

3 – Food Forest Blocks: These blocks of vertically engineered food producing biomes (in layers, like a forest from canopy to the roots) are arranged in blocks. This is a scientific application of permaculture. This avoids a monoculture but allows reasonably efficient harvest since there are blocks of the same biome to work with. These are typically perennials but in the case of some species like Bananas and Papayas the block must be periodically refreshed.  See our First Farm Planting page for a description of the food forest species we will use in the Philippines.

4 – Comfort Room Deposits: These are septic waste deposits for nearby Comfort Rooms (CRs, bathrooms). Note ease of access for cleanout. The exception is in Shop One, this unit is vented to the outside and is located close to its Systems Module so the pipe is short and direct.

5 – Aquaponics Tanks: Various aquaponics setups will be evaluated. Tilapia production will be the baseline for any given campus in the Philippines. Water from these tanks could be used for high feeder crops if not employed in an aquaponics loop.  

6 – Plasticulture Beds: These crop rows use plastic sheet mulch and are irrigated, but grow hardy crops that do not require isolation. These may be fitted with mesh tunnels for shade, trellises, etc. but will not have a full greenhouse. For more information on this topic visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticulture.

7 – Guest Quarters Block: These comfortable accommodations are for guests, including visiting scholars, educators, and resident international students. Note that a larger property allows us to build a larger courtyard, with planters and perhaps two story accommodations. This is desirable as our international study program is a significant revenue stream. The quarters show here are the minimum required.

8 – Open Access Gazebos: Covered outdoor seating for students, guests and Cantina patrons. The octagonal bench around a table format is chosen so these structures cannot be conveniently slept on or under as this is a space open to the public during restaurant hours. The reason for this is the open placement of these particular structures. We want cantina customers to relax in the shade but not sleep in a location where we are potentially liable for any loss they might sustain.

9 – Principal Quarters: This ground floor suite is a staff residence for the campus Principal and is part of the staff block. This suite also adjoins secure storage space and the walk in cooler. This staff block is on the ground floor and so is not shown in detail on the site map. See the appropriate floor plans for more detail.

10 – Hiyas Observatory: “Hiyas” means “treasure” in the Tagalog language. The facility is intended to give students a glimpse of cosmic treasures and do their own astrophotography to share online with friends and family. The second floor of this structure is dedicated to the on campus observatory and its associated facilities. Hiyas and its associated facilities also serve as excellent filming locations for student projects. See 11, 23 and 24.

11 – Observatory Rolling Roof: Allowing multiple telescopes to be set up on a long term basis, even with differing view orientations. The roof rolls over a small systems room and the adjoining roof. The observatory systems room is never exposed to elements and includes secure storage. 

12 – Bench Hall: These benches are covered under the Shade Roof and the adjoining building. Students can use this area to study and film. This also serves as additional bed space for visiting astronomy students to camp in. The two gates on either end can be locked for safety. This also adds emergency bed space in case of storms or other events that prevent local students for returning home.  

13 – The Cantina: The Cantina is a student center, convince store and dining hall all in one. This section is part of our Mobile Modular Unit (MMU) rapid site development plan. See the Shade Roof Basecamp (SRB) page. MMUs are manufactured off site and installed under the shade roof. Like the Kitchen and Rack Quarters the roof above this area is insulated and there is plenty of airflow thanks to the solar thermal chimney system. This passively cools the space using no extra energy.

14 – Cantina MMU: This is the point of sale for convenience goods and where restaurant orders or other public transactions are paid for. The space behind the MMU is secured by the 4 foot swing door of the unit itself and provides a space for students to wash their dishes and KFS kit (Knife Fork Spoon) after meals.

15 – Systems Modules: These Mobile Modular Units (MMUs) each include a full CR (Comfort Room –  bathroom) a laundry room and a full exterior kitchen. 

16 – Cantina Kitchen: Campus meals and restaurant orders are prepared here. This section is part of our Mobile Modular Unit (MMU) rapid site development plan. See the Shade Roof Basecamp (SRB) page.

17 – Hab Modules: This is a Mobile Modular Unit (MMU) that serves as a bedroom, office and filming station. The Quarters Deck has four hab modules.  

18 – Rack Quarters:  Staff and local students can stay on campus in bunks that close for privacy and include a foot-locker for personal effects. This section is part of our Mobile Modular Unit (MMU) rapid site development plan. See the Shade Roof Basecamp (SRB) page.

19 – Gate Lockers: The end of the Shade Roof section has two heavily reinforced secure storage lockers and a rolling gate that can allow vehicles to bring MMUs in and out. This section is part of our Mobile Modular Unit (MMU) rapid site development plan. See the Shade Roof Basecamp (SRB) page.

20 – Hiyas Covered Deck: The covered deck space of the Hiyas Complex includes multipurpose seating and workbench space. It is an excellent filming location and serves as a meeting or dining space. The courtyard shown is extremely narrow but in reality the space will expand to suit the property. It is likely a larger courtyard would have planters and patio furniture.  

21 – Staff Quarters: This suite is a senior staff residence in the first floor of the Hiyas Observatory. It has adjoining access to the Bath Block semi-private CR (interior Comfort Room). This suite includes a secure workspace and storage for rolling carts.

22 – Bath Block: This single story structure adjoins the West Deck and the Hiyas Observatory. It is a bath house with two CRs (Comfort Rooms). The Deck CR is accessible from the West Deck and the Interior CR is accessible from inside the Bath House or the Staff Quarters.

23 – Star Finder Deck: With comfortable seating and enough space for visitors to set up their own telescopes this is a multirole area that can be secured via locked stairwell access. As a roof deck it has excellent airflow and a small self contained fire pit located next to Campfire Hall.

24 – Campfire Hall: This sheltered area serves either as seating space or convertible bunk space that allows an entire class of visiting students to stay for an overnight astronomy session. The structures adjoin the Star Finder Deck making it one large indoor / outdoor space. Some utilities and storage lockers are installed, specifically a series of holding tanks for gravity fed drinking water.

25 – Workshop One: This is a general purpose makerspace for bamboo, electronics, metal, welding, and wood work. It also supports secondary activities such as painting, casting cement, and low-temp (aluminum, copper) foundry. This area is adjacent to the ground floor of the Hiyas observatory where rolling carts are used to secure valuable equipment and supplies.

26 – Solar Chimney System: The lower roof section (over the workshops and bakery) are not insulated. In the case of Shop One and the Bakery air flows freely into the Cantina and kitchen, rising as it is heated. The upper roof section is insulated but the solar chimney to the north aids in drawing air. This flow passively keeps the space fresh and cool. 

27 – Bakery: This is a full bakery, supporting the kitchen with some stations and storage. Sous-vide cookery is done on the DHOPS system. Thermal blocks from the hot DHOPS can partially power griddle and range stations in the main kitchen.

28 – Delta Hybrid Oven Pyrolizer Smoker (DHOPS) Unit: This is a multi-chamber masonry bake oven, food dryer, sous-vide bath and smoker. Hot water allows low temperature operation and the pre-heating of dry thermal mass. When drained of water the dry thermal mass can be heated by direct solar electricity or the operation of the attached pyrolizer retort. Thermal blocks can be moved to other stations in the kitchen after high temperature operations to power stations there. Hot thermal blocks from the exterior DHOP can be used for the operation of this unit.

29 – Solar Hot Water Tanks: The partially in ground ferrocement tanks are insulated for the storage of hot water coming from the rooftop solar thermosiphon holding tanks.  These large tanks supply the DHOPS units and provide heat for large batch UHT pasteurization (used in mushroom farming, canning, etc.)

30 – Workshop Two: This workshop is open on two sites. Valuables are not secured here, instead all tools and key supplies are on rolling carts secured elsewhere. There is no free airflow to the quarters deck due to the bamboo and lumber treatment system here.

31 – Bamboo Treatment Tank & Racks: These pits are used to soak bamboo with various non-toxic treatments. Hook lines / racks above the pits allow initial draining of the bamboo. This is then moved out to A-frame near vertical (high angle) racks outside the shop where the draining can finish. Note the channels where drained solution can be allowed to run back into the pit when open. During the high angle drying the bamboo is rotated daily avoid cracking due to uneven exposure to the sun. Sun dried bamboo is then stored indoors in well ventilated wall racks and high storage bays.

32 – Permaculture Guild: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines prohibits cutting certain rate mature trees. We will adapt our site to retain these trees and engineer “guilds”, biomes of edible plants, around them. Here we pursue some more aesthetic arrangements but not at the expense of reasonable productivity.

33 – Primary Cisterns: These ferrocement storage tanks are partially in ground and rise to just below the 16 foot lowest roof level. The various tanks are fed by rain collection, wells and the  municipal supply. They gravity feed and pump feed the distribution system and the nearby facility. 

34 – Tropical Greenhouses: Shown with and without partial solar panel roofs. These are tropical greenhouses with mesh sidewalls, shade systems, passive thermally driven air flow and active ventilation. Construction is durable welded steel and polycarbonate panel with drop shutters for storm conditions.

35 – Essential Open Space: This includes driveways, parking, paths, etc. Some typical spaces can be seen on this sample site plan. This is only a sample site plan and does not reflect any specific campus. SRB can be adapted to many properties as it is modular.

36 – Half Covered Court: This is a full sized basketball court (shown truncated, it could function as just a half court) with the northern half covered with a two story roof. The court sides have high storage bays that serve to reduce the size of the openings – there are no walls.

37 – High Storage Bays: These are the high bays, shown in cut-away, built into the Half Covered Court.

38 – Fauna Sanctuary: The three structures shown to the West, North West and North of the Guest Block are the “Dog Castle”, “Green Aviary” and “Cat-Koi Palace”. It also includes the two feeding stations, separated by both a wall and vertical high access for cats – to help keep cats and dogs separated. As a working farm the campus needs cats and dogs to control vermin. The castle and palace are comfortable quarters for our female animals so we can control breeding. Male cats and dogs are fed at the automated feeding station, with access controlled via electronic collars. The Dog castle, which is built onto a row of three cisterns, has a large green screen on it’s north exterior face. The Green Aviary, shown on the North West corner of the plan, is so named because it has a large covered green screen set to the East. The Cat-Koi palace is to the North of the guest block and is an opulent looking structure that uses some perspective based optical illusion to make photos or video shot there unedited appear to be on the steps of a grand structure. The Palace is also a training ground for mother cats and kittens, with areas where rodents can be released for the hunt but will not escape to the surrounding environment.

39 – Vinegar Production: Production of gourmet vinegar from seasonal fruits and rice is conducted in these sheltered vats. The insulated roof keeps the vat temperatures low and there is plenty of ventilation. The air temperature in the guest block’s north shadow is also cool most of the time, hence the placement of the vats. There is enough space to set up mobile fruit prep / canning lines – even awnings against the north face of the guest block.

40 – Film Studio Lot: This area includes the guest block ground level deck, the fauna sanctuary structures, vinegar production, the green screen sets (on the exteriors of Dog Castle and the Green Aviary) and several open spaces. The entire space is enclosed in a secure fence with locking gates. In addition to the many interesting video content categories produced via our “farm to table plus shelf stable goods” FoodPlus system the filming lot covers animal videos, large green screen shots for fiction, etc.