Passive solar house and organic farm. Owner design-build.
The site
The land is a reclaimed old rock quarry and the house is sited in a south-facing bowl overlooking a pond and meadow. An adjacent wetland is protected by conservation covenant. The owner is an experienced organic grower and the land is now supporting a small vineyard and commercial greenhouse tomato production.
Design
The single-storey house is designed to fit into its surroundings and maximize passive solar gains. The curved walls and living roof blend with the landscape. The house is partly earth-bermed on the north side.
Thermal envelope
The foundation is insulated slab-on-grade and the above grade walls are Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF). The foam blocks, which are stacked like Lego and then filled with concrete, form the curved walls, which would have been more difficult to frame with wood. The cathedral ceiling is insulated with expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) above the exposed fir decking. Windows are fiberglass frame with Low-E plus argon insulated glass.
Recycled materials
The large, exposed glulam roof beams are recycled from an old shopping centre in Cloverdale, refinished and cut to size.
Living roof
The living roof is constructed over an EPDM waterproof membrane, which is loose-laid on the foam board insulation. The living roof consists of a number of layers including a drainage mat, filter, and substrate with soil. The roof was planted with Sedum (Stonecrop), a drought-tolerant flowering succulent.
Heating system
An in-floor hydronic heating system is used to circulate passive solar gains to the non-solar areas of the house. The on-demand water heater is rarely used to heat the floors, passive solar heat and a Pacific Energy woodstove keeps the house warm.
Interior finishes
Finished floor is polished concrete; cabinets are Ikea.
Organic production
The commercial greenhouse near the parking area is filled with tomatoes at this time of year.
Tiny House
If you have time, take a peek at the neighbour’s 10 ft x 10 ft tiny house under construction. This Tiny House is not intended to be moved.
For more information:
Recycled materials:
Demxx Deconstruction Inc.
Insulated Concrete Forms:
Quad-Lock
Windows:
Milgard
Living Roof:
Brock White Construction Materials