This project is another case of clients who did not want to have to build a new home. They were quite happy in their previous house and although it was relatively small it was all they needed. The new structure also contains 2 bedrooms and is only about 100 s.f. larger than the original home. The owners were preparing to build a garage when the fire struck so that was to be incorporated into the new plan.  The new house was to be similar to the previous house except that it was to be much more energy efficient and healthy than the original home that was built around 1972.

This is a simple design that is based on the previous house that stood on the site. The project consists of a simple rectangular floor plan, a garage and a breezeway/entry that connects the two main elements. While the garage is situated on the pad cleared for it before the fire the residence is rotated slightly from the original to a take advantage of the southern orientation. The breezeway serves to bring these two incongruent elements together. The floor plan of the living space is open with the Living room on the South side to get the most benefit from the direct sunlight. The bedrooms are located on the East to get the morning sun.

The original design incorporated an open ceiling with a South facing clerestory to bring more daylight into the space. The Living room was left open while the Kitchen and Dining room were articulated with a lower, flat ceiling which created a small loft area that is left open to the living space below. The bedrooms have flat ceilings with attic space above for storage. The area above the Garage will eventually be finished off for a playroom.

Insulated concrete form (ICF) construction provided a well insulated, tightly sealed building envelope with the all important thermal mass to store the suns energy and maintain a comfortable thermal environment day and night. Radiant heat embedded in the floors will provide a more comfortable thermal environment that complements the passive solar system. Domestic hot water is provided by solar panels on the roof. The wiring has been installed for future photovoltaic panels that will be added to created electricity in the future. Several solar tubes were installed to bring additional daylight into the interior of the home.