Robert J Morton
Robert J Morton |
This is my ideal home's centre of industry and practicality. It is the place where its domestic fabric and systems are maintained and repaired; where new ideas and inventions are brought to life.
Every home - especially a high technology home - really needs to include a dedicated laboratory/workshop in which the householder can service, repair and enhance the fabric and technology of his house. My ideal home has such a place. It is accommodated in one of the standard 4 metre diameter cells of which my ideal home is constructed. It is part of the ground floor ellipsoid.
Its main feature is a wrap-around bench 600 mm deep, at which one can work while standing or sitting on one of the six 480 mm diameter stools. Tools are stored in lockable wall cupboards so that each individual tool is independently accessible from its storage place. On the wall is a flat 1000 mm wide computer display screen identical to the ones in the auditorium and the study booth. On this can be displayed construction details, design information, servicing schedules and repair procedures for the fabric and systems of the house. A keyboard is on the bench in front of the screen. Natural daylight for working is provided by a central collimated skylight equipped with a 12-vane camera door to control the light. Good artificial spot lighting is provided around the bench. Small machine tools are installed on different parts of the wrap-around bench.
The laboratory/workshop has two doors. One is to the lower landing of the house. The other is directly to the outside for easy access on jobs involving the outer cladding, fittings or devices of the house - and other outside work.