Why the Prototype Matters
The single most important action for the Foundation is to build one complete house, measure it, sensor it, and publish every nail. A built, lived-in, measured house transforms the Foundation from a concept to a demonstrated technology.
The prototype is not a model. It is a real house, lived in by real people, measured continuously for at least 12 months. It must prove four things: structural adequacy, thermal performance, buildability by non-specialists, and livability.
What the Prototype Proves
- Structural: Load-bearing capacity, racking resistance, long-term creep deflection
- Thermal: Measured U-values vs. calculated, heating/cooling demand, humidity management
- Buildability: Time-per-operation, tool requirements, skill level needed, error frequency
- Livability: Comfort, durability, maintenance requirements, user satisfaction
- Economic: Actual cost vs. estimated, labour hours, professional fees
Prototype Specification
The prototype will be Shell A — 37.5m² (7.5m × 5m), single storey, with the following configuration:
- Walls: Single RCP (145mm) with blown rockwool insulation
- Foundation: Earth screws (helical piles)
- Roof: Mono-pitch, 400mm I-joists, OSB deck, metal standing seam
- Windows: 3× aluminium-clad timber, double glazed
- Door: 1× solid timber external, 1× glazed patio
- Off-grid: 4kWp solar, 10kWh battery, solar hot water, composting toilet, rainwater harvesting
- Interior: OSB walls, pine tar treated, engineered oak floor
- Services: Mini-split AC backup, induction hob, small fridge, LED lighting
Site Requirements
- Location: Within 30 minutes of Lagos, Algarve
- Land: Flat or gently sloping, minimum 200m²
- Access: Vehicle access for flatbed trailer delivery
- Soil: Suitable for earth screws (tested before build)
- Legal: Temporary structure permit or full planning permission
- Water: Connection or borehole for testing rainwater system
- Grid: Connection available for testing off-grid vs. grid comparison
Build Timeline
Month 1
Site acquisition + preparation
Secure land, test soil for earth screws, clear and level, establish base camp.
Month 2
Material procurement
Order all materials to Leroy Merlin Portimão, arrange cutting service, schedule delivery.
Month 3 — Day 1
Foundation + floor
Install earth screws, timber joists, OSB floor deck. Day 1 complete.
Day 2–3
Wall panel fabrication + erection
Fabricate RCP panels on-site, erect walls, install windows as walls go up.
Day 4–5
Roof + weatherproofing
Install I-joists, OSB deck, membrane, metal roof. Achieve weathertightness.
Day 6–7
Insulation + services
Blow insulation, install electrics, plumbing, solar, hot water, composting toilet.
Day 8–10
Interior finishing
Interior OSB, pine tar treatment, flooring, kitchen, bathroom fixtures.
Month 4–15
Monitoring + documentation
Continuous sensor logging, monthly photo documentation, seasonal performance review.
Documentation Protocol
Every operation is documented:
- Photography: Before/during/after every build phase, every component arrival, every tool in use
- Video: Time-lapse of full build, instructional videos of key operations
- Receipts: Every purchase photographed, catalogued, cross-referenced to build phase
- Labour log: Time per operation, number of people, skill level, errors, corrections
- Engineer notes: Structural observations, deviations from protocol, on-site decisions
- Daily log: Weather, progress, problems, solutions, morale
Sensor Network
The prototype will be instrumented with a continuous monitoring network:
- Internal temperature: 4× sensors (corners, different heights)
- External temperature: 2× sensors (north and south façades)
- Humidity: 4× internal sensors + 1× external
- Wall core temperature: 2× sensors (embedded in RCP panels)
- Roof deck temperature: 1× sensor (under metal roof)
- Floor temperature: 1× sensor (under floor deck)
- Electrical: Solar generation, battery state, consumption logging
- Water: Rainfall, tank level, consumption
- Air quality: CO₂, VOCs (indoor)
All sensors feed a central data logger publishing to a public dashboard in real time.
Testing Protocol
Structural Tests
- Wall panel loading: Incremental load to documented deflection, compare to calculation
- Racking test: Lateral load on completed wall, measure displacement
- Long-term deflection: Measure floor and roof deflection at 1, 3, 6, 12 months
Thermal Tests
- U-value verification: Co-heating test or heat flux meter measurement
- Seasonal performance: Heating/cooling degree days vs. energy consumption
- Thermal comfort: PMV/PPD indices per ISO 7730
Prototype Budget
| Item | Cost (€) |
|---|
| Materials (RCP shell + off-grid) | 25,700 |
| Site preparation + access | 2,000 |
| Professional fees (engineer, surveyor) | 3,000 |
| Sensor network + data logger | 1,500 |
| Documentation (cameras, storage, editing) | 1,000 |
| Contingency (15%) | 4,980 |
| TOTAL | €38,180 |
Build Team
The prototype build will use a workshop model — participants pay a modest fee (€500–€1,000) to learn the system by building it:
- Core team: 2–3 people with construction experience (carpenter, engineer, coordinator)
- Workshop participants: 6–10 people paying to learn (covers material costs)
- Volunteers: Local community members contributing labour
- Observers: University students, journalists, policymakers
This model simultaneously funds the build, educates future builders, and generates media content.