ICI - Jagman Alliance
Very-Low-Eco-Impact-Autonomous-Mobile-Structures |
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For Concious Urban/Rural Dwelling -When sustainability has become an issue ICI: Jagman Alliance is an experiment. a study and a statement, where people of different skills have gathered to conduct a life-size experiment in Alternative Dwelling.
Modules: Static, rigid, bearing structures where all furniture has been integrated for structural solidity and easy assembly. Multiple kinds of woods and fibres, such as pine, larch, oak, acacia, bamboo, hemp and flax are used, all according to estimated wear, level of exposure and availability.
Quality is achieved by using goods dimensioned for its purpose (size & sort) in combination with awareness. When one stays aware and mentally awake performing a task, this is always reflected in the outcome, -whether it’s cooking, canoeing or carpentry. If one stays focused on building, fewer mistakes will be made, holes will end up where they’re supposed to be, planks will be cut at an exact angle, bolts will be tightened individually and problems will be dealt with in a manner of intelligence and responsibility. Sincerity and commitment in a project produces quality no industry in the world can compete with.
By using only natural materials, many building-industry-problems are addressed and avoided. When natural materials are produced, any residues can go back into the biodynamic cycle of becoming. Natural materials, as opposed to manufactured ones, continue living. They breath, swell, sweat and shrink. They smell good and they give a very special, undefinable but easily detectable atmosphere to the room. If you ever visited an eco-village or a very old, well kept building, you’ll know exactly what that means. Natural materials are not glued together with epoxy, constantly epoxicating ones mind. Nor are they laminated with chloride polymers, emitting carcinogenic particles for decades. Making them don’t require petrochemicals, solubles, hardeners, mining or an insane amount of energy. When building a big house, choosing eco-friendly-style or eco-unfriendly style, the amount of money to be saved can be quite substantial, since companies making conventional, semi-synthetic houses aren’t fined for the damage they do to the planet meanwhile. Building a JAM requires relatively little material, the price-difference is no longer a valid argument.
Restrictions regarding size applies partly to the width of the carriage, which in Europe is set to 260 cm. This measurement can be exceeded by 50 cm if the transported piece is inseparable. There’s also the restriction of weight. Most of the JA-modules exceed the weight a person with a standard drivers-license (class B) can tow with a normal sized car. This cause no problem for a Jagman, since the idea is not to drag the module on camping-trips to the south of France, but to move it from where it was built to the new location of dwelling, or from where one has squatted the past four years (organizing a community, saving up money or cashing in the inheritance) to a purchased piece of land that can remain unexploited. These few transportations are better left for tractors or trucks.
A section can either be on wheels, and thereby transported as it is, or it can be the size of the biggest chest of drawers you ever tried to lift. The number of sections to a module differ from version to version, but mostly 1 -3.
Segments. This is one of the details that making this project a little unique. As you probably gathered by now, these modules have very little in common with the so-called mobile homes. A mobile home is always square (more or less) and can never exceed the width that can be transported on a public road. For one thing, this means the walls have to be pretty thin, otherwise you can’t even swing a cat inside. Thin walls consume outrageous amounts of energy, biting chunky bits out of the operational budget. The Jagman-solution is to arrange the sections in such way that manageable segments (with impressive insulation properties) can be stacked to connect the sections, and “Voila!” –a mobile dwelling-unit, not resembling a prop from a depressing reality-film about generic degeneration in the American mid-west.
Site. An area of about 5 x 10 meters is required for the actual unit. Some extra space may be needed to get away from eventual tree-shade that hits the roof at 4 O’clock. Yet more may be needed for a veggie-garden, and some for hippiefriends or nephews to place their tents in the summer. So let’s say 15 x 30 meters. The price for having this space at one's disposal differs, but renting it from an average European farmer (based on missed-out EU subsidies), will amount to about 300€/year.
Dwelling. That’s what it is, it’s not a house. It’s a tempered cave for the sophisticated caveman. A tranquil meditationcell for the secularized monk. A lovenest for the ridiculously happy two. A spartan habitat for the artist without a steady income. A refuge for the conscious contemplater. An off-work-season cottage for the voluntary-worker. A residential quarter for the idealistic member of some permaculture community somewhere on Jylland. This is not the living arrangement for people mad about shopping items, nor for people who think cooking is the same as unwrapping, or people believing it’s a god-given right to exploit and molest nature, enslave and suppress nations. This is not for people who want to “do something for the environment” but are annoyingly reluctant to change any of their own habitual trespassing.
Formation. All models of the Jagman-module are based on the same concept; windowless northern walls, pitched roofs suitable for solar- and photovoltaic cells, harvesting, purifying and storing rainwater. Thick walls, triple-glazed windows with latches. Cast iron stove in centre, tweaked to heat and distribute water with logistic elegance.
Design-wise. Well, aestheticism is a long debate. The modules could be built all square but they’re not. As long as a designfeature does not impair functionality or affects production-cost in any obscene way, there are no valid reasons for not making them look good. Somewhat irregular shapes makes construction a bit more complex, but adds an interesting dimension revealing its own value. More so, the off-square angles have constructional purposes, -distributing forces, making more roof-area, protecting exterior walls and making a bit more room where needed. Some modules are simpler and some may challenge the artisan, but permeating the making of the “module-moulds”, has been the ambition of keeping construction as simple as possible.
Series. An armada of anything is scary, even if it happens to be peaceloving environmentalists. But smaller formations, consisting of a dozen friends or so, living as good neighbors in a tranquil setting, - that’s an interesting idea. Owing a few cars together, synchronizing food orders, starting up a new civilization after Armageddon, or… whatever. -Having communionship, but without the sectarian component.
Assembly. The time needed to assemble the sections into a functional module depends on: -The kind of module If a 3-section module (35 m²) with few segments are placed favourably on firm, even ground by a kind, helpful trucker, and three swift compañeros running on 100% arabica joins up on a sunny day with James Brown on the sterio, -the stove can be lit before sunset.
Land can be found anywhere! -Lease a piece from a farmer if the rural setting is preferred or more realistic. Farmers need to put their land to cyclic rest, with a mobile unit there’s a win-winner. -Rent a piece of land from a building company or a real-estate dealer. Sometimes hectars of land in urban areas stay untouched for several years, awaiting a building permit, a new government or financial aid . -Squat. This is the most ethically correct way, since almost all nations have signed the human-rights treaty, which concludes that humans have equal rights. If that was the case, some would not have a “more equal right” to graze some parts of the planet. -Purchase. Either personally or in group. With a little bit of money and an income, the bank will happily lend you the money. In that way, you are renting it from the bank, with an option to buy if wealth is suddenly stumbled upon.
Flat. In theory, the module could be arranged in a vertical landscape, but it would be immensely impractical. The flat area needed is about 50m², and the less difference in height where the legs touch the ground, the less adding of further elevation. Each leg has a + - capacity of about 500 mm. Larger differences have to be adjusted with blocks of stone or chunks of wood.
Foundation. To not use concrete and still achieve solid, squared and leveled spots to place the module feet can be done thanks to cheap laser technology and perseverance . Once the module is in place, it has to be observed regularly for the first two-three months, since it will continue to set into the soil and some feet will take more pressure than others. By screwing and unscrewing the foot-tips accordingly, the module will stand firmly on all legs at all times. If this is overlooked, the frames might bend and the sections won’t fit like they were designed to do. Over time, parts of the rigid body might snap.
Human Needs- Jagman Alliance has detected six needs that classifies as basic. These have outlined a target, at which energy and attention has been directed in the aim to cover them all. The modules are designed to meet these needs, provided there is a balance present, weighing the present, prolonging the present -Nutrition. We are the physiological product of whatever has gone through our digestive system. The JAM-kitchens are designed for healthy eatinghabits, meaning vegetarianism/veganism. A vegan diet is the most efficient way of using the global resources to feed humanity. Overall, the food-issue and need for nutrition is probably the area where most of us need to revise our values, our habits, our philosophies, our cravings and aversions. To eat wisely doesn’t mean monotony and beans 7 days a week, but rather flexibility, creativity and most of all, -humility. With gastronomical adaptation and some wholesome gratitude, the world is class A smorgasbord. -Elimination. The human need to evacuate ones bowels vary from 7 times/day to once every 5:th day. The modules carriy no restrictions in this area. -Sleep/rest in a warm bed. The 1-person modules are equipped with a bed 100 x 200 cm. In case of an over night guest whom with closeness is desired, an extra 20 cm can easily be added for comfort. -Social/intimate relationships. -Very important components of a healthy, happy life. Social patterns differ, but the conclusion is that having people over to share food, thoughts and laughter from time to time is important. Almost equally important is to offer them a seat. -Hygiene. Keeping tidy is a need as basic as food, all species except some humans keep themselves clean. As the Hindu proverb put it: “Cleanliness comes next to godliness”. -Clean enough? Human fears and insecurities are prime targets for advertisement, bombarding us with information promising this shampoo to be better, this toothpaste to protect from gum-cancer, this deodorant to work like pheromones and this lotion to stop ageing. -Meditation. A necessity for so many reasons, and a more extensive text regarding this is likely published here at a later date, but few topics have been so thoroughly covered throughout the history of literature, that yet another view won’t contribute with anything previously unsaid. How the meditation is done is of secondary importance, but the inward view mustn’t be overlooked. A voyage or a day-trip in that direction is rewarding in many ways, from the very moment one starts.
Selfsufficient. Well, this is true to the aware person, -the Jagman, who understands to use limited resources wisely. It’s not really that much of a deal, many of us already do most of these things, -turning off the light when leaving a room, keeping showers short, separating waste into paper,- plastic,- and organic piles. This is only taking it one step further, -and the effect is immediate. If humans continue to live like we do now, the ecosystem will collapse, -we just don’t know when. In the world of self-sustainable modules, environmental friendly behavior has to be carried out, or the system will choke, rattle and fall apart, -right in front of the perpetrator.
Water. The fresh water comes from filtered rainwater, Successively cleaned by using down to 2 micron ceramic filters, removing particles down to virus-size, producing waterquality perfectly suitable for showers, cleaning and washing. Drinkingwater is made from this water, further purified using reversed osmosis, eliminating eventual heavy metals and such. For a detailed plan of this small-scale-cleaning-plant, see technical specifications. The cleaned water is stored in a very durable, bitumen bladder, holding up to 6000 litres, which is placed directly on the ground between the assembled modules. The rubber is certified to store drinkingwater and has a life-expectancy of 50 years or more.
Electric power. The best way to cover the need for energy, is to eliminate as many needs as possible. Of course one could become selfsufficient in terms of electric power if money was no obstacle. Modern, superefficient photovoltaic-cells covering the roof and the front yard, a medium sized windmill in a 25 meter mast and lithium-ion accumulators for a million and one will never run out of power, no matter how many gadgets and commodities are hooked up to the system. But how to become selfsufficient for 2-6000 euros? (added today: Partial conversion is the best option. See tech.spec.) There is one “but”, and that is the washing-machine. At this stage, good alternatives to take care of the dirty laundry are still being debated in theory. One way is to have a conventional machine running with 220 V conversion, but having the water heated separately (since waterheating is the foremost energy-consumer of the washing cycle). Another is to convert a used, disposed machine into a manually powered one (using the strength of ones legs), where the spinning cycle is replaced by having the fabric pressed through rolls, extruding the water by pressure. Another obscure option involves vacuum. These manual solutions forces one to stay put for the entire wash, even to contribute with tofu-powered energy. This may seem like a gigantic sacrifice to some, washing 2-4 machines/week. But he/she that produces that much laundry definitely needs to reevaluate and scrutinize personal behaviour. For many times, we put a used garment in the laundrybin out of habit, laziness and anal fixation. This wears out the clothes and requires a lot of detergent (which pollutes and requires a lot of energy in the manufacturing process). A lot of the time, the shirt, jeans or sweater just needs a breath of fresh air. This leaves mostly dirty underwear, -i.e thin fabrics and many items per kg. One machine wash per week should sort you out and keep you in a respectable, presentable fashion. Either way, this has to be tested thoroughly before any good solutions can be recommended. And at this point, no module has a designated space for a washingmachine, since this feature will be added at a later stage, - as an out-door installation.
Sewer (for greywater). This is a bit tricky… But not for a Jagman! Provided full responsibility is taken as far as consumer goods are concerned, infiltration will not be a problem.
Toilet. The toilet is of the dry kind, meaning faeces are not mixed with drinkingwater like it normally is. The urine is also separated from the faeces, which takes away 95% of the foul odor. The toilet is flushed with a handful of sawdust or other equivalent, organic, dry matter, and composted once the bin is full. The urine is mixed with the greywater.
Waste disposal. A household that keeps from buying items packed in small volymes, that doesn’t buy yoghurt, milk and other foods overpacked in plastic, will not produce much garbage that needs to be disposed through a corporation.
Energy-efficient insulation. The modules can be insulated with a wide range of products that is 100% biodegradable. The sections are insulated separately, as well as each segment. During assembly, joineries and cracks are filled ad hoc. Hemp is one example, becoming more accessible due to new agricultural laws being passed in different parts of the world. These fibres are very versatile, being used for anything from clothing to constructional framework. (If you have a minute to spare, find an on-line petition to sign so that legislators in your country can put the use of hemp back into practice!). Cork is not a commonly used option on the Scandinavian market, but holds supreme qualities and properties; It doesn’t burn, it doesn’t rot, it repels termites and other bugs, it doesn’t absorb humidity, it lasts forever and is very easy to work with,- either in bulk or pressed into boards. Now that wine bottles are increasingly being sealed with plastic, there might be a change on the rise. The prime candidate for the test-modules is called Termoträ®, which is cellulose from the abundant pineforests of Sweden. This insulation is treated with Borax to make it less prone to burn in case of fire. It has the physiological character that lets humidity move freely inside it, not causing convection dampness and thus keeping fungus at a comfortable distance. More information can be found at www.termotra.se
These materials all have insulation properties comparable to any conventional, non-biodegradable product on the market (rock-wool, glassfibre, Styrofoam). They are a bit more expensive, but just the indoor ambience created by all-natural-materials is worth it, not to mention a kosher status of the planet.
Emissions. To radically decrease emissions originating from heating a household, a good start is to keep things small-scale. This is one solid reason for compact dwelling. Every square meter of living area counts, so when keeping it simple, the emphasis is put where the most time is spent. We spend a lot of time in the bed. We spend a lot of time around the kitchentable. We spend long hours lounging,- reading, watching TV, surfing the web, socializing over cup of tea or on the phone. These are therefore the areas that are being kept warm, this is where the energy is spent, nowhere else. Most of us don’t spend so much time at the toilet, -we enter, do our deeds and exit. These moments can be endured in a cold (yes, even freezing) environment if it serves a purpose of such importance. However, on really cold days, the stove will be burning, and a stream of hot air can easily heat these spaces for the few dramatic minutes. This will be very welcome feature as far as showers go.
Showering. As stated earlier, showers are to be kept short. Keeping them short is easy due to a few differences from conventional systems. In the JA-module-shower, the right temperature is immediate. The amount of water leaving the handle is regulated with fewer holes, and subsequently compensated with manually produced pressure. The waterstream is an active affair, meaning it can’t be left running. The body is wetted, scrubbed and rinsed- a showering procedure that requires the least amount of water, soap and energy, and yet results in a cleaned body. -The stove is likely to be burning atleast once a day for 3-4 months per year (in a Nordic climate). On top of the stove, a watertank is favourably placed as a simple device to store energy. This water is to be had for warm showers, washing dishes and clothes.
Cooking. To eat wholesome, good, tasty food ranks high on the top-three-list of habits we shouldn’t try to do without.
Airheaters. To keep ones abode heated at all times is folly. Why would anyone want to spend energy on something not present to enjoy it? Well, there are a few arguments as to why.
DIY-manual. The Jagman Modular Dwelling Experiment is not merely a product of imagination, a grand plan in theory, looking sweet and easy on the drawingbord. Neither is it an idealistic manifesto that claims to have some entire plan figured out. But it is one way, a sort of middle-way, a road to choose in order to diminish the discrepancy between one’s volition and one’s actions, actions that so often are imposed by custom, ignorance, tradition, law or fashion, served to us as the sole alternative. Everyone has to participate in changing the current paradigm, and we who don’t struggle for survival on a daily basis, have to realize the need to ease the burden of our next mans shoulder, who’s back we indirectly break while living normal, western-standard life. Everyone needs to help everyone, since changing personal habits is the most difficult of all human tasks. Changing takes an almost endless amount of effort, and is subjected to numerous pitfalls, obstacles, uphills and setbacks. We need to encourage one another for trying, rather than pointing fingers at each other when failing, regardless if it’s giving up smoking or starting up a political green party. We need to strengthen our own courage, which is the force producing the fastest, most poignant progress in eliminating degenerative behaviour. Naturally, and this cannot be articulated clearly enough, the Jagman Modular Dwelling Experiment offers no solutions to real problems, since real problems originate in the skewed mind of the problemized. Instead the experiment is conducted to show how a favorable setting can be arranged, a “permanent” situation where negative influences of forces such as global market economy, patriarchal powerstructures, racial segregation, religious bigotry, homophobia, various forms of exploitation and the malignant form of ignorance can be kept at a distance. This breathingspace is the setting, a refuge allowing the individual to cultivate growth into dimensions and directions not taught at schools and universities. For this reason, architects, engineers, horticulturists, carpenters, ecologists, artists and other knowledgeable persons with relevant skills are continuously contributing to this project. In difference to conventional construction, the outline of blueprints and the actual building goes hand in hand, hopefully resulting in a practical guide, well documented in text, image and film, on how to do this yourself. This documentation, the blueprints and such, is protected by CopyLeft. In other words, it’s an open-source solution, free to utilize, spread and quote. When so is done, a proper reference should be declared for the sake of synergy and synchronicity. There is never enough room for big egos, but infinite space for the humble. ICI:Jagman Alliance will be able to offer members an extensive machine-park and a dry location for building JA-modules at self-cost.
Jagman is not a gender, a colour, a nationality or a political revolutionary, nor is Jagman sectarian or a compulsive individualist, but a person humble enough to quench his thirst with clean water, living life with awareness, respect and a smiling mind.
Total cost. Obviously the building cost will differ between different modules. But the cost is also dependent on how each module is equipped, how the materials are acquired, what materials are used and if hiring helping hands proves necessary for its completion. An innovative, crafty and skilled person with many contacts can surely build one for less than 5 k, while a financially comfortable person who loves stainless steel, oak and gadgets, using 50 kW per day in his computerized studio, might need a 100 k. One of the main aims of this experiment is to make this a cost efficient alternative to traditional living. This is presented as an alternative for the “ordinary” couple, willing to sacrifice some comfort for the possibility of raising a child at home, -not needing an institution to do the job because both spend 50% of their wake time gathering honey for the omnipresent divinity of consumerism. This is an exposé; - The look and function of a living-arrangement when focus is shifted from convention towards functionality in a macrocosmic and holistic perspective.
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