20130128 Thin House 2 19

Semi-random assortment of photos of a WIP design, the Thin House. Half the deviation is really the explanation, so here it goes;

The Thin house is an extremely small freestanding home based on the concepts of optimal efficiency, operable walls and ceiling, and use of natural solar heating/cooling.

The original structure is built around a shipping container (whose walls will probably play a greater role in the landscape or actual design of the structure in later iterations. The structure is supplemented by a light steel frame (modeled). The steel frame will hold wood and glass panels that slide along the front, allowing the structure to open onto a deck and gardens. The rear is backed with cinderblock and a sheet of metal from the original trailer and containers the more private and/or service spaces. Many built-ins in the house have multi-purpose utility (a bed that transforms into a desk, a kitchen counter that lowers to create a table, a bathroom whose entire space doubles as a shower.)

The transparent/transluscent roof is operable, allowing the top of the structure to completely open up as the hemispherical plexiglass and steel panels swing to either side to allow extensive natural ventilation. That roof in turn has an operable "sail" that can lower over the structure during sunny days to keep the house cool, and be rolled up during the winter to allow solar heating. I think it would be hella cool to be able to open the roof up at night and be able to watch the stars.

This is very much a WIP, the frame isn't even completely finished, and even though I have sketches of the interior and surrounding environment, they still haven't even begun to be modeled.

Anyway just thought I'd post this... as a sort of benchmark for later work on the house.