You may have read an earlier blog post of mine where I described how to design a windowless house. This post is a follow up to that one.
Since the writing of that post, my clients decided that they would compromise and have only a few windows added to their home. You might recall, that the three reasons my clients did not want any windows on three of the four sides are because:
1. They are in the aviation biz and work in all hours of the day and night. So, having no windows would help them control the sunlight that would be getting into their home while they are sleeping between shifts.
2. They collect very rare antique maps and books. Having sun light could cause them to fad and deteriorate faster.
3. This house is being built in the "Hill Country" of Texas. While it is a beautiful place to live, it can get very hot during the summers - especially from the South and Southwest. They wanted to minimize the heat gain from the sun along the walls facing the sun.
Before, I introduced a ribbon of windows that was only for aesthetics and not for viewing through. Now, the house will have real vision windows in strategic locations.
The view towards the east is breath-taking. I designed a sweeping deck that spans the full width of the house so one can go out on it from the ground floor bedrooms and living areas. From the deck, one can watch the rising sun and also see the brilliant rays of the sun paint the sky at the end of the day. There is a lake that is 30 miles away and still in view from this deck.
During yukky weather days, there is a wall of windows that allows my clients to still enjoy this view.
Another major design feature is the introduction of outside design elements to the indoors. Besides the view of the outdoors, I also have a stone wall that penetrates the house from front to back. This wall also serves as the main wall of the kitchen and then of the dining area, and then out to the deck where it anchors itself below the deck onto the rocky cliff that the house is built along. Even the wooden trusses that support the roof over the deck repeat along the ceiling of the great room.
There are many adjectives that played an important part of the design of this house. Some were:
"Soaring, Freedom, Uplifting, Security, Well-Grounded, Anchored, Certainty, Strength."
These adjectives are a big part of the "Living Blueprint" that my clients enjoy in their day to day lives.
What is your "Living Blueprint?"
If we were designing a house for you and your family, what adjectives would describe the feelings and emotions you and your family would want to enjoy? This is one of the 7 simple steps that you will learn about after grabbing your free e-book, "Experience Architecture Journal". Just go to this website and get your right now at "The Designed Home website"
Here are some quick design sketches that allowed us to develop a home that would fulfill my client's "Living Blueprint."
Once the concrete slab is poured, the walls are framed a lightening speed!
Find out what your "Living Blueprint" is with the "Experience Architecture Journal."
Did you get your journal yet? If not, go get it now at "The Designed Home website"
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