USGBC 2010 Natural Talent Design Competition
Small. Green. Affordable.
Pivotal Case Study House #7 hinges on the concept of movement. The idea stretches the plan of the home with relation to the
linear site, allowing opportunities for inside/outside spaces. This stretch allows for natural ventilation in the humid climate and pivots
along a line dividing the public and private spaces. The roof line wraps around the home breaking on the spine and continuing down
to the ground, tying the structure into the landscape. Number 7 demonstrates the essentials of sustainable design, connecting
regional characteristics, resilient materials and construction methods.
The design was first conceived with the interior layout of spaces. It incorporates three different ‘zones’ of space, each providing a
distinct function within the building footprint.
Zone 1 (Service) - This area represents the working components of the house, including the bathrooms, mechanical and kitchen services. It houses all mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems, allowing the rest of the plan to be free for multiple uses and/or integration of spaces.
Zone 2 (Spine) - The spine contains the circulation for the house, along with large storage units disguised within the thick walls. This allows for a double loaded corridor, maximizing space efficiency. With this storage spine, occupants are able to easily reach the storage units all within one section of the house. This helps cut down on the users need to maneuver in and out of tight storage spaces, especially within a house of such condensed size.
Zone 3 (Living) - The living zone contains the master bedroom, flex space, and the living room. These spaces are free of all storage, with each room containing at least two walls of windows. Each room has access to an outdoor deck space, allowing the occupants multiple points of interaction with the outdoor environment. All north/south facing walls incorporate a sliding door system, allowing the whole house to be ‘opened’ and permit full air circulation.
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Number 7 is raised just over eight feet off the ground, allowing for small automobile access underneath. This eight foot high space
contains concrete block walls along with a wrapping roof structure that aids in the appearance of a grounded house. The street
elevation contains a pivoting garage door made of treated wood, which acts as the third device to ground the house.
Deciding to forego ramp construction, we have converted a boat lift into an ADA accessible lift. Taking the basic structure, we
finished the top with a standard wood deck finish to match the rest of the house. This helped eliminate the 80 plus foot ramp that
would be climbing and crisscrossing the site. We wanted the house plan to be number one priority, and not allow a large ramp
dictate the site and interior layouts. The ramp can easily be concealed within the footprint of the house. It acts as a multifunctional
space, both for necessity and leisure. If current or future owners do not see a need for a lift, it can easily be concealed as a deck,
unlike a large ramp that would either be torn down or never used.
The outdoor spaces breaking up the living spaces allow for natural light to penetrate deeply into the house. This will help
tremendously as shotgun homes are generally located within close proximity of each other, blocking the majority of natural light
entering through the sides of the home. A large front porch was incorporated into the design, keeping with traditional New Orleans
shotgun home neighborhoods. This helps shade the interior space from the warm midday summer sun and acts as another outdoor
extension of the house. Owners of the house will never be more than a few feet away from having access to the outdoor
environment.
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All east-west walls throughout the 'living zone' incorporate a sliding door system. This will allow the entire zone to be 'opened'
throughout the day, maximizing fresh air circulation. With the overhangs and the large expanse of sliding doors and operable
windows, the house should maintain a very comfortable temperature throughout the warm summer months. Following the concept
of movement, Sliding wood clad screens aid in the protection of the glazing during the harsh storm elements.
On top of the finished floor surface, Number 7 incorporates prefabricated structurally insulated panels (SIP) in order to cut down
on site construction and labor costs. Due to the modular layout of the house, most structurally insulated panels will be of exact or
similar dimensions, making the prefabricating process simple and quick.
Half of Number 7 is clad in a horizontally oriented reclaimed wood, wrapping the service and spine of the house. The remaining is
clad in a vertically oriented Hardie Panel, finished with a deep red color. Two contrasting materials and colors express the interior
layout onto the exterior facade.
Check out USGBC for more information on the competition!
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