Inspired by the pit houses of the Okanogan aboriginal tribes, this house design is simple in form and simple in construction. Accentually a buried pyramid with the south wall open for exposure and a central skylight, this building will look to provide ample daylight while also achieving superior insulation.
The pyramid will sit on top of a five foot high perimeter wall and before pitching inward, providing ample standing space. A three foot wide hinged pyramid skylight will sit ontop of the roof, providing an abundance of natural daylight. Have the skylight hinged will allow for the hatch to be opened to create sufficient breeze when necessary. Allowing air to travel freely through the front door and out the skylight.
Although not exhibited in any of the final drawings, I am also believe that there should be a lite weight adjustable aluminum canopy that will be fixed as an eve over the patio door on the south wall that can be lowered in the summer to adjust the amount of direct sunlight you want to let in the cabin in order to help regulate the temperature. Then subsequently in the winter time the canopy can be used to protect against wind or raised to allow additional light into the cabin for passive heat.
Buried under 6-8 Inches of soil this building will be will insulated from the north winter wind and will maintain a relative constant temperature depending on the amount of direct sunlight that is allowed into the room in the summer and winter months. With the addition of a small woodstove, this compact space will heat up rather fast if it's needed.
Constructed out of local New Brunswick 6'x6' cedar, the simplicity of this design will allow for fast and easy construction with really very limited tools after site preparation. If the contractor so desired, I'm sure the bulk of this cabin could quite easily be built with almost nothing more that a chainsaw and hammer. Built of overlapping 6x6 lumber this cabin will be strong and compact protecting will against all the elements.
Having a buried cabin the primary concern is to protect it against moisture in order to prevent rot. To protect the wood from moister the entire cabin will be wrapped in Blue skin moisture barrier and covered with a drainage mat to channel water away from the building. To allow for the wall to be completely wrapped in Blue skin moisture barrier, the walls will be built independently from the floor. This will allow the Blue skin to be wrapped around the bottom of the wall and up four to six inches on the inside wall protecting from any moister in the ground. A sub floor will be built inside the walls raised off the ground on top of a series of shallow patio blocks, with the underside of the floor will also be wrapped in blue skin to prolong it's lifespan.
Designed to be built with a very low impact on the site, once buried this cabin will blend in almost seamlessly with its surroundings complimenting the site effortlessly.
(Competitor's text)
7 scanned / 6 viewable
- Site Plan
- Plan
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