Found a great home plan today:
Specifications
Square Footage 4,174
Total with basement: 6,168
Main:2,182
Upper:1,835
Monitor Deck:157
Basement:1,994
Screen Porch:253
Footprint: 72' 6" W x 47' 5" D
Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3.0 Master suite: Upper Floor
Energy Efficient
Exposed Timbers
Passive Solar
Wood/Stone Interior
Sunken Livingroom
Description
Inspired by the Arts and Crafts houses of Greene & Greene as well as the Adirondack Camps of the 19th century, the Stone Craftsman House is actually a high-performance green building within its historic design. This very spacious home is designed as an advanced passive solar, energy-efficient structure with a strong emphasis on the design of the building envelope for minimal heat requirements and total passive cooling.
The original house, built on wooded acreage, made use of local stone and locally harvested heavy timber structural frame. Both the stonework and the timber roof and upper floor frame are exposed throughout the home. Walls are generally standard 2x6 wood frame but feature a "rain screen" venting system between the shingles and sheathing for excellent moisture control and uninterrupted thermal insulation. Massive masonry walls act as thermal storage stabilizing the interior temperatures by storing daytime heat and heat from the fireplaces, then slowly radiating it at night.
Entry into this beautiful home is into the large sunken living and dining room area, with its wood floors, high timber frame ceiling and stone veneer walls. A line of double French doors opposite the entry, lead to a partially covered wooden deck. These well-placed windows also bring in abundant healthy natural light, draw you into the center of the home, and make this already large area feel even more spacious, yet warm and inviting. The kitchen and breakfast nook area is also large and features a walk-in pantry, built in refrigerator and freezer, plenty of island and countertop space, and built in bench seat. A two sided raised hearth fireplace can be enjoyed from either the kitchen/breakfast area or the screen porch. The main level also features a guest bedroom, full bathroom with sauna, outdoor sun shower, and a large office that could also serve as a bedroom if needed.
The upper level of the home contains the spacious master bedroom, with its woodstove, master bath, and private balcony with its own spa. The two additional bedrooms on this level share a full bath. An upper sitting or reading loft overlooks the wood and stone of the living room below. The high ceilings of the living room are more than just architecturally interesting. Combined with the open center stairway in the middle of the home, these high ceilings allow for warm internal air to rise and escape through the remotely operable windows of the monitor room above the stairs. This thermal chimney effect cools the home passively, eliminating the need for expensive air conditioning in almost all climates. In cold weather, the monitor can be closed and sealed to prevent heat loss, and keep the upper level cozy and warm. The monitor is full standing height, allowing it to be used as an observation area, reading room or quiet meditation space.
The basement, if it is built, is roughly the size and shape of the kitchen, office and living room areas of the main level. The home's laundry and mechanical rooms are near the base of the stairs. The rest of its layout is largely left open, though provisions were made for a large workshop, game room, wine storage and general storage.
The roof is a unique, massively vented system providing passive cooling for the home. Named the "umbrella" roof system for its inherent shading qualities, the system is a simple and unique application of currently available building technologies. The roof is comprised of rigid insulation panels with a bonded foil radiant barrier under a recycled metal roof. Throughout the entire structure, the roof is completely vented in order to dissipate summer heat to the exterior. The heating system is a highly efficient boiler with a combined radiant floor heating system and traditional cast iron radiator distribution system. The house features two fireplaces and a wood stove designed to be used as significant secondary heating if desired.
The original house was sited on a wooded hillside overlooking a narrow valley and is designed to integrate naturally into this type of site, though it would work equally well in many more spacious suburban settings. Old stone walls that criss-crossed the original site were the inspiration for the extensive stone used inside and outside the structure. Porches, sleeping balconies, trellised decks and terraces bring the house directly into the site and provide a wide variety of exterior environments.
Construction materials used in the original home were locally harvested Eastern Hemlock for the structural frame, regional stone for masonry walls, and white oak for the interior trim, stairs and rails. Gypsum wallboard, soapstone, glass tile and ceramic tile were primary finish materials.
Floor Plans
(click to enlarge and view measurements)
http://healthyhomeplans.com/home_plans/home_plan_detail.php?plan_id=154
http://bialeckiarchitects.com/arts_crafts/Stone_Craftsman/index.shtml
