Sustainable Community
The Quietude is one of my favorite design concepts for a small house and an inspiration for our EcoHouse Cottages. Based on a mandala floor plan, the architect designed the house with affordability, creativity, and holistic health in mind. Although only 300 sq. ft., the floor plan is easily modified for more spacious requirements. Take a look at the architect’s website for more information.
This Montana cabin was influenced by an old forest service tower, and has been an influence in our EcoHouse Cottage design. I love the rock foundation, expansive glass, and hip roof with large overhangs. See more photos and information at the architect’s website.
As we move forward with our conceptual plans for the property we are developing, I am pursuing a design concept I have had for some time. We are designing a prefabricated home package using structural insulated panels (SIPs) for the walls and roof, and high quality energy efficient windows to complete the shell. The design process will be simple yet highly customizable for the completion of a small creative green built home.
Starting with a basic rectangle or square for the primary house component, we are designing add on modules for additional living space, expansion nooks and dormers, and creative entrances. The design process will be a simple procedure of choosing your primary component and add on choices. The next step is completion of architectural drawings, with any additional custom features, from which the SIPs will be fabricated complete with window and door openings for quick construction.
In addition to a turn key option, we will also be offering the house package with consultation services for an owner built home. Additionally the package will be available to construct on your lot wherever you chose to build.
Contact me for more information.
I have been wanting to start featuring small, creative, and sustainable homes as part of my blog. I thought this slide presentation, courtesy of Natural Homes, would be a great place to start. It’s any inspirational photo’s are linked to creative design patterns articulated by architect Christopher Alexander. A Pattern Language, by Alexander, is a collection of 253 things that make your living environment a pleasure.
Mouse over the pictures, then click to see the picture and pattern it represents on the Natural Homes Facebook page. From there, you can follow links to the house the picture came from.
Enjoy the inspiration!
I love the quote by a 1st century BC Roman lawyer, Marcus Tullius Cicero: “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need”. Although an advocate of small houses, my approach to design is far from utilitarian. My pursuit in life has been holistic well being along with an environment that nurtures that pursuit. A garden and a library provides the space to nurture our body and soul, as well as a metaphor for small house design that nurtures every aspect of our well being
The garden sustains us in many ways by providing nourishment for our body and spirit. It is where we develop a relationship with the earth that sustains us – where we nurture the plants and the soil they grow in. It is a place for contemplation and appreciation for life. Without a garden we quickly become a society that hardly knows a definition of food or where it comes from.
Whether you have room for a garden or not, everyone can begin with containers in their house or on their porch. For food or just aesthetic value, by surrounding ourselves with life we can relearn appreciation for our Source and the nourishment we are provided. In the garden, we can then contemplate our needs and design our house to nurture the path we desire. Starting with the garden, nurture can be the center of our design.
The library sustains our intellect and soul. There we learn from the perspective of others and all of history. By surrounding ourselves with prose and poetry we find connection and growth. We also establish a vision for who we are and where we are going. In the library, whether bound or virtual, we can contemplate the thoughts of others as we nurture our own creativity. Starting with the library, we can build our design to express our place in history.
From this foundation we can contemplate other aspects of design consideration. Among these considerations are practical solutions to meet our personal needs and budget, to limit our impact on the environmental, to optimize our wellness, to express our creativity and personal aesthetic. Here are some design resources from my library that guide my path:
