Manndala

This 1160 sq. ft. home (the Architect's residence) was a tight budget of $120,000. It is mandalic in form and is aligned on the magnetic north south axis.

Archetypically, the four concrete block corner piers and the central concrete block pier (a quincunx) can be seen as the four corners of the earth and the center of the earth respectively.

This high mountain area (3400 foot el.) has hot summers and cold winters. (Valley floor is 900 feet el.) Click image for larger view.

Climate Control:

Hot Summer Techniques - Natural ventilation and cooling. The eight building corners have open screened sliding windows and the four skylight cupolas have screened openings as well that allow through and cross ventilation. This can be enhanced by the four ceiling fans.

The roof overhangs of four feet keep out the hot summer sun. The roof is actually a double roof construction. The insulated roof is separated by a screened ventilating air space from the sun and rain shedding roof to keep the interior cool.

Cold Winter Techniques - The wood frame walls and the open ceiling are well insulated. The glazing is either double or quad paned with some argon fill and low E. The four foot overhangs still allows the low angle winter sun to penetrate to the depth of structure. The square footprint of the building minimizes external heat loss through walls and ceiling. In 2009 a Geo Thermal heating system was installed in the crawl space in the structure.

Heating is by the centrally located wood store and since the residence is essentially square, with open ceilings and partial height walls and general open planning, heat reaches all the areas, augmented by the four ceiling fans.

The passive mass of the central pillar of the quincunx wherein sits the wood store absorbs heat from the stove during the day then releases this stored heat at night when the stove then dies down.

Environmental Considerations:

Firstly, the construction of the residence is air and moisture transfusive (a breathing construction). Synthetic materials (plastic and poly anything) are avoided.

A breathing building construction coupled with 'natural' materials and finished without off-gassing qualities avoids the possibility of the 'sick building syndrome' and avoids moisture entrapment within the building envelope.

The site was disturbed as little as possible, allowing the natural vegetation (mainly bunch grass and sage) to remain and regenerate. No trees previously existed within the foot print of the building.

Transportation of materials is minimized by using the local suppliers, The lumber mill is ½ hour from the site and the concrete block plant is ¾ hour from the site.

A certain amount of recycling was used in the construction. The wind bells are either discarded acetylene tanks or old galvanized water tanks. Discarded wooden molds from a metal foundry were used in the dining light and in a sculpture Plinth. The 1 x 4 T&G cladding is actually reject lumber, that is salvaged and remilled in a small local 2-man operation. Cedar hydro poles that have been replaced by Hydro crews, are utilized in the construction of the wood shed and the carport.

Design Notes:

To quote Albert Bush-Brown - "A Design that fails to provide full emotional and physical performance is not economical, however cheap."