New design in the works

I recently received a commission to design a new home for a couple's rural land. This will be a local project which affords me the ability to visit the building site. The couple owns some land south-west of Lawrence, Kansas, overlooking Clinton lake.

The building site sits atop of a very steep slope allowing for wonderful views of the lake and surrounding forest to the east. The design will depend heavily on passive solar heating and thus will be oriented east-west with a long south facade. This will be a two story structure, the couple occupying the upper floor with the potential for a bed and breakfast on the lower floor.

Because of the vertical height from the entrance to the property to where the house will be located, their drive will pass below the home to the south and curve back to the house from the west. This will allow the owners to park at the upper level, negating the need for stairs, and allow the winter sun to help melt away ice and snow.

At this time, the main level will have a large living area on the south-east side of the house with 2 bedrooms and a den to the north and east. The floor of the upper level will probably be of frame construction covered with a layer of light weight concrete to absorb and store solar energy. Both levels will also incorporate radiant floor heating, the heat energy coming from solar collectors in an adjacent green house.

There will also be a small third level consisting of a watch tower and deck above the main roof line. The watch tower will be large enough to accommodate a couple of chairs and possibly a window seat. The tower will allow for air circulation up and out of the home, creating a natural cooling cycle.

The customer also wants to maximize energy efficiency, so they are planning to construct the home of ICFs (insulated concrete forms) at this time. Part of the north side of the upper level will also be earth bermed to increase energy efficiency.

We had a meeting on Sunday to discuss ideas and requirements. I have started to rough out the design and hope to post more information soon.