Okay, so many of us have at one time or another, dreamed about our ideal home. No doubt you have dreamed about more than one type of home. Sometimes we dream of a huge house that we only wish we could afford... probably bigger than we really need.... and othertimes we might wish for something smaller, maybe a really nice getaway or permanent live-in cabin. While others simply have in mind an ideal charming little house that is more realistic to your needs.
This thread if for all things architecture. I'm not really an architecture buff, but like most people, I simply have spent some time looking at various styles of houses, kind of wishing and hoping I could one day maybe get something like that. I like a number of different styles, so in this thread, I'll post a number of different places I think it would be cool to live in. It would be nice to see your ideal dream home, as well.
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One of the styles of houses I like are timber frame houses. If I were to ever build a cabin, these are four different styles I find appealing. These all come pretty close to my ideal vision for a house in the woods.
The first two are more cabin type houses, whereas the last two are more traditional looking homes, but I also think they would be a great looking mountain home.
(http://www.mtnarchitects-loghomes.com/portals/0/Caribou_lg.gif)
^^^^^ Since I live alone, I think it would be more realistic to just build a small place like the above house.
(http://www.precisioncraft.com/image/Floorplans/Cumberland_large.jpg)
(http://www.mtnarchitects-loghomes.com/portals/0/Dakota_lg.jpg)
(http://www.mtnarchitects-loghomes.com/portals/0/inglewood_lg.gif)
This looks fun:
(http://www.architectureandhygiene.com/12conHouse/images/12con01.jpg)
(http://www.architectureandhygiene.com/12conHouse/images/12con02.jpg)
(http://www.architectureandhygiene.com/12conHouse/images/12con06.jpg)
(http://www.architectureandhygiene.com/12conHouse/images/12con03.jpg)
Ahhh. Container homes. I've been looking at those lately, also.
They seem like a great opportunity. You can probably get a used container cheap and then design it from scratch yourself, or one could probably seek out a good deal on a prefabricated container home.
Slap some really nice siding on these container homes, and put a vertical panel colored steel roof on it, and I think they look quite spiffy. They especially lend themselves to the "modern look" insofar as the interior decorating.
David Lee writes articles for Backwoods Home and has some innovated, cool approaches to building your own home.
http://www.backwoodshome.com/blogs/DavidLee/
not that it's a cabin or anything. . .I've grown quite fond of Bungalow homes: more or less the new england types with more of a pitch to the roof.
(http://www.lucianoappraisals.com/images/Queen%20Ann%20Bungalow.jpg)
I guess my first love would still be the old New England saltbox that many people hate:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/2645806919_632c5c3ce2.jpg?v=0)
I have a few more types I'm fond of, one in particular that I have no idea what it is called. I'll have to take pictures later.
I already have my dream house...
(http://home.comcast.net/~lildog/Images/House/Merrimack.jpg)
I just need the money now to finish everything in it the way I like it!
Those cabins are pretty nice, but I don't really like the giant open porch roof thing.
Those particular designs are too "busy" for my tastes.
There is a local contractor near Keene that makes log homes.
Monadnock Log Homes (http://www.monadnockloghomes.com/index.php)
I like this simple floor plan - http://www.realloghomes.com/floorplans/log_home_plans_pdf/03W0009.pdf
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I like MengerMan's shipping container examples as well. That's pretty neat.
I've thought about building a home out of a steel truss building. Just put up the steel outer walls and then add drywall to one's liking on the inside. I envision a sort of giant garage and warehouse loft sort of thing.
Really, I'd be happy to just not live in a fucking apartment. :-\
I can't make up my mind; I like too many things. :P I like classic New England-style houses, particularly phoofy Queen Anne ones with towers. I also like modern architecture with high ceilings and lots of glass. And recently I've become enamored of log cabins. I think whichever style I wind up in will depend on whatever's the best price in an acceptable location at a point in time when my lease is about to expire.
I've had the image of my dream home in my mind for many years. It's actually pretty simple: I'd like to get a big old barn, and renovate it on the inside. Just one big great room, perhaps a bit sunken at one end, open kitchen along one side, and a half-loft for the master bedroom, with just a simple post and rope railing at the edge of the loft.
Quote from: ancapagency on January 09, 2009, 07:45 PM NHFT
.....with just a simple post and rope railing at the edge of the loft.
Code violation. ;)
Quote from: Alex Free Market on January 09, 2009, 08:13 PM NHFT
Quote from: ancapagency on January 09, 2009, 07:45 PM NHFT
.....with just a simple post and rope railing at the edge of the loft.
Code violation. ;)
Depends on which town in NH.
"VII. For any municipality which has not adopted an enforcement mechanism under RSA 674:51, the contractor of the building, building component, or structure shall notify the state fire marshal concerning the type of construction before construction begins excluding one- and 2-family dwellings"
I'm attempting to purchase my dream home right now. If I get it, it will need a lot of work, but then I'll be pretty darn happy.
Quote from: dalebert on January 09, 2009, 09:43 PM NHFT
I'm attempting to purchase my dream home right now. If I get it, it will need a lot of work, but then I'll be pretty darn happy.
Never never never postpone your happiness... but I know how you feel :)
Quote from: Alex Free Market on January 09, 2009, 08:13 PM NHFT
Quote from: ancapagency on January 09, 2009, 07:45 PM NHFT
.....with just a simple post and rope railing at the edge of the loft.
Code violation. ;)
There is actually a way to do it... just need to think outside the box.
Grafton is probably the best town south of the Notches for what you are looking for. As long as you don't subsidize, you only have to jump thru some state stuff concerning septic.
FWIW, a Freestater (Dan McG) recently became head of the Planning Board in Epsom. Hopefully he can have a positive impact.
Alex,
Building code and zoning are different.
A single family home in town X will have roughly the same building code regardless of the zoning.
But a commercial, industrial, or even multi-family will be limited to where it can be built with zoning.
While other zones like agricultural or conservation might require much larger lot sizes.
Flood plains are really a PIA, have federal implications... and that is usually why the land is so cheap.
Quote from: Alex Free Market on January 09, 2009, 08:13 PM NHFT
Quote from: ancapagency on January 09, 2009, 07:45 PM NHFT
.....with just a simple post and rope railing at the edge of the loft.
Code violation. ;)
What are you talking about? That doesn't violate MY building code. :)
I don't know yet what kind of house I want (although underground or partially underground sounds very appealing), but I know that my dream is to build it myself. I don't care about codes or laws - I want to buy a lot of property and build in the middle of it, so no one driving by can see what I'm doing or how I'm living. I'll do research and make sensible decisions regarding septic, energy, safety, etc., but what I decide for myself about my own property is sufficient for me - I don't need or want a government forcing me to do it their way, waiting for them to approve, and paying them all the while. If I make a mistake, I'll suffer the consequences - and survive them and learn from them.
Quote from: Lloyd Danforth on January 10, 2009, 10:45 AM NHFT
Grafton is probably the best town south of the Notches for what you are looking for. As long as you don't subsidize, you only have to jump thru some state stuff concerning septic.
Subdivide not subsidise
For traditional architecture, I really love modern style... albeit the term "modern" is now about 50 years old... It's typified by what architects thought a future house would look like. Clean lines, flat roofs, lots of white stucco facing, but in particular large amounts of glass.... The interior of the modern style really rounds on the architecture and makes it what it is. Inside is minimal furniture.... not a lot of 'nick nacks' laying around (however you spell that).
The famous "Case Study" houses from the 50's have some nice examples. Frank Lloyd Wrights "famous Falling Water" house is also nice....that one is kind of a hybrid style.
(http://blog.aia.org/mt-static/plugins/Ajaxify/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/imagemanager/images/favorite_architecture_images/stahl_twelve_600_x_548.jpg.jpg)
Log cabins are an interesting style. I have grown a little bit fond of them lately. I don't totally like the look, but some of them are nice. The few I posted at the beginning of this thread are some of the nicer ones.
The kits are fairly inexpensive. Here is one from "Lincoln Logs International" and its supposedly only $70k for the kit which is a 6,000 square-foot home.... Whatever the kit consists of, I'm not entirely clear... but looks like a good deal, nonetheless:
(http://www.lincolnlogsinternational.com/New_gallery/Casa_de_Yorleny.jpg)
A few more minamalist designs I find interesting. Not exactly the style for New Hampshire.... but... I like it anyway.
Actually, what I also find fascinating are some of the super small homes that are built in minimalist-modern style. Some of the "prefab" homes are built on this style, and they are quite appealing.
(http://www.homedesignfind.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/boso-house-architecture.jpg)
^^^ Boso House. The property is utterly God awful to the worst degree.... but if you filled the property up with exotic plants or load it up with other landscape and design features, it would be beautiful.
(http://www.homedesignfind.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/openhouse-xten-architecture.jpg)
^^^ Open House by XTen Architecture:
http://www.contemporist.com/2008/12/16/the-openhouse-by-xten-architecture/ (http://www.contemporist.com/2008/12/16/the-openhouse-by-xten-architecture/)
These are actually made in a factory in Concord.
http://www.powerhouse-enterprises.com/ph_powerpods.html (http://www.powerhouse-enterprises.com/ph_powerpods.html)
Quote from: dalebert on January 09, 2009, 09:43 PM NHFT
I'm attempting to purchase my dream home right now. If I get it, it will need a lot of work, but then I'll be pretty darn happy.
Dale, that's actually the best kind of home. As you do the work you get to make things they way YOU want them, not how a prior home owner wanted them. You get the chance to personalize it.
(http://www.ineedmorelife.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/rob-roy-underground-house.jpg)
Quote from: enloopious on April 04, 2009, 12:42 PM NHFT
(http://www.ineedmorelife.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/rob-roy-underground-house.jpg)
I soooooo have house envy!
That is EXACTLY what I want to build here soon. EXACTLY!
Quote from: Lumpy on April 04, 2009, 12:46 PM NHFT
That is EXACTLY what I want to build here soon. EXACTLY!
That's beautiful. I'd LOVE something like that too. I understand there are a few issues to work out in terms of making sure the structure can handle the weight of the earth up against it like that, but it's just something you have to consider and work out. I think there could also be water table problems, but I bet you could deal with that by setting up good drainage along the earth side of the house.
Quote from: Alex Free Market on January 12, 2009, 10:54 PM NHFT
Not exactly the style for New Hampshire.... but... I like it anyway.
Maybe with fewer historical districts it would be in some places.
I LOVE historical districts. . . all the neat uniformity of the houses with their individual characteristics. I only wish historical districts were voluntary.
Quote from: AntonLee on April 04, 2009, 03:36 PM NHFT
I LOVE historical districts. . . all the neat uniformity of the houses with their individual characteristics. I only wish historical districts were voluntary.
I agree in full.
Quote from: dalebert on April 04, 2009, 12:54 PM NHFT
Quote from: Lumpy on April 04, 2009, 12:46 PM NHFT
That is EXACTLY what I want to build here soon. EXACTLY!
That's beautiful. I'd LOVE something like that too. I understand there are a few issues to work out in terms of making sure the structure can handle the weight of the earth up against it like that, but it's just something you have to consider and work out. I think there could also be water table problems, but I bet you could deal with that by setting up good drainage along the earth side of the house.
Typically it's as easy as properly grading your earth AWAY from the structure. You can even build with straw bale while farther away from the risky spots. This home appears to have recycled bottles in the walls. Those let in interesting light but some may turn their nose up at them.
I agree that the walls pose the most problem handling the pressure from the earth against them, that is why I think it is best to simply use what earth you have without pushing a whole hell of a lot of crap against the walls. Grading will keep the moisture out but if it's already graded for the most part, the earth may already be the best form of water and pressure diversion available, especially if there is rock, like a granite slab, in the back, with earth over and/or around it.
Many times I've been through the woods of NH and I have seen plenty of spots that would fit that kind of bill.
Does that make sense or more like ramblings of a crazy person?
After living in the UK for 5 years I like old style homes, see pdf below. Any colonial era stuff in NH?
http://resources.knightfrank.com/getres.ashx?id=ac81e583-03c0-4aef-9dd6-17bb76bf7585&type=1 (http://resources.knightfrank.com/getres.ashx?id=ac81e583-03c0-4aef-9dd6-17bb76bf7585&type=1)
Quote from: dalebert on April 04, 2009, 12:54 PM NHFT
Quote from: Lumpy on April 04, 2009, 12:46 PM NHFT
That is EXACTLY what I want to build here soon. EXACTLY!
That's beautiful. I'd LOVE something like that too. I understand there are a few issues to work out in terms of making sure the structure can handle the weight of the earth up against it like that, but it's just something you have to consider and work out. I think there could also be water table problems, but I bet you could deal with that by setting up good drainage along the earth side of the house.
that structure handles backfilled dirt just like the rest of them
it looks like that house is built on the top of the normal ground and dirt was piled against it
that picture is of rob roy's house in ny
I like cordwood buildings, but not round ones
if you want to see one being built, stop by the farm ... we laid our first cordwood yesterday
if you like colonial era stuph .... new hampshire is a good place
some are that old ... many not quite so old ones are made in that style
look up some real estate listings and see them all
Quote from: yamnuska on October 18, 2009, 03:53 AM NHFT
After living in the UK for 5 years I like old style homes, see pdf below. Any colonial era stuff in NH?
http://resources.knightfrank.com/getres.ashx?id=ac81e583-03c0-4aef-9dd6-17bb76bf7585&type=1 (http://resources.knightfrank.com/getres.ashx?id=ac81e583-03c0-4aef-9dd6-17bb76bf7585&type=1)
Most houses in NH are 'Colonial America' styled and many are actually from the Colonial period. You won't find many half timbered stucco houses though. Most are covered with clapboards or, shingles and have multi pained windows.
(http://www.hsoy.org/historic/crockerS.jpg)
Quote from: Russell Kanning on October 18, 2009, 05:53 AM NHFT
Quote from: dalebert on April 04, 2009, 12:54 PM NHFT
Quote from: Lumpy on April 04, 2009, 12:46 PM NHFT
That is EXACTLY what I want to build here soon. EXACTLY!
That's beautiful. I'd LOVE something like that too. I understand there are a few issues to work out in terms of making sure the structure can handle the weight of the earth up against it like that, but it's just something you have to consider and work out. I think there could also be water table problems, but I bet you could deal with that by setting up good drainage along the earth side of the house.
that structure handles backfilled dirt just like the rest of them
it looks like that house is built on the top of the normal ground and dirt was piled against it
that picture is of rob roy's house in ny
I like cordwood buildings, but not round ones
if you want to see one being built, stop by the farm ... we laid our first cordwood yesterday
How did I miss this? Thanks Russell! We've been studying some more straw bale timber frame... and I reeeeeeally like the flexibility of the interior due to the heavy external (walled) support of the structure. Straw bale is also super insulative... needed in G-town!
You guys came close, but didnt exactly touch on what I want.
I want an Earth Ship.
I want to dig into a mountain/hill, and down at least one floor, and use used tires filled with rammed earth for the foundation, outside walls, and load bearing walls. I want my house to take care of its own electrical, water, heat/cooling and sewage needs (and it would be awesome to grow edible food inside the house). I want big ass windows facing south, slanted around 60 degrees, allowing summer sun to hit just the planters, but winter sun would be allowed to smack the two/three foot thick tire/dirt walls.
Ideally there would be a mini nuclear reactor a couple dozen yards below the basement.
i find a few designs better than the earthships, but they do have the whole selfcontained thing going
if you had a nuke battery you could have as much glass and plants growing as you want
I would be interested to know how you deal with heating. In our walk out cellar, we have the south wall that is at ground level and the other three walls at least 3/4 "underground". Without heat in there now, the lower part of the concrete walls is against 50 F dirt, but the parts within a couple feet of ground level are against frozen ground. It stays around the freezing mark in there when it is 10 F outside. The house above is too tight to leak heat down and the boiler doesn't run enough to leak much heat. We are looking to add heat down there for the pipes. Comfort level heat, if it were living space would be wicked right out without the walls insulated. Would your tire/earth walls prevent this?
If your basement floor is insulated, you can add insulation to the south wall and the door I assume is on the wall and all of the rest of the wall that is above 4 feet below grade.
If you heat the area, you will always have to concentrate it near that south wall.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2910870522_8bc3574be4.jpg)
The views suck and it's noisy, but it's all mine and payed for.
if you had some earth on the south side and some insulation it could be a lot closer to 50 with no heat source
My dream home is not to different from Cathleen's beautiful house or my aunt's Nancy's house.
My aunt also has a passive solar house that she and my uncle built in the 80's.
It is one story on the north side of the house and two stories on the south side. Walk out basement style.
It has a neat feature of having a green house on the lower level of the south side of the house.
The passive solar windows go from the ground to roof line on the south side of the house. The basement is 3 feet lower than the ground level on the south side of the house and completely below ground on the north side. The green house has a large "garden box" that runs most of the the length of the house, 3 feet wide and 3"deep. This works as in insulating heat sink and an indoor garden. The basement not only has the green house but some of the living space too. The main floor is an open floor concept with a wood burning stove. My aunt has heated the house for 20 years at the cost of gasoline and a tune up every year for the chainsaw. They have 7 acres of woods and have heated the house from only dead fall from their property. She still splits most of he own wood.
My husband has family building a straw bale house in Maine. It is very cool. Rick spoke about it at the Alt Expo last Porc fest. They are building it without a mortgage. it has a very Tudor feel to the look of it. I love the deep window sills and rough milled exposed beams in it. They are recycling materials and finding creative ways to use them. One example is in the flooring upstairs. It is from an old gym floor from the school they work at.
One thing to keep in mind if you build a straw bale house here in NH. Moisture. The houses are designed to breath but we are way to wet in New England for that to work really well without a vapor barrier for the interior of the house or a good dehumidifier. I was visiting the house in Maine and it is quite musty smelling. It may improve once they are living in it full time but the moisture would be a serious issue to anyone with mold allergies or asthma.
http://www.certainteed.com/products/insulation/mold-prevention/317391 (http://www.certainteed.com/products/insulation/mold-prevention/317391)
Made from an advanced material that changes its permeability with the ambient humidity condition, MemBrain acts like a traditional vapor retarder to protect wall cavities, but also allows closed building envelope systems to dramatically increase their drying potential with seasonal climatic changes.
We used it. So far so good.
Thanks.
I am a free state project participant and an architect offering services to liberty oriented people in NH and free state project participants.
I have over five years experience and hold a masters of architecture. I have a great deal of experience with single family homes.
I specialize in creating emotive places that are well-tuned to their context and surrounding landscape. I have done rigorous study in how environment and architecture can induce and support well-being. There is exciting new research in the field of neuroscience that proves my thesis that architecture can evoke wellness and there are ways to design to evoke more wellness. Architects I appreciate include Richard Neutra, Frank Llyod Wright, Steven Holl and Juhani Pallassma.
I'm working on a booklet called "hidden cabins in the wilderness".
From modern grand mansions on the mountain to humble single room cabins carved into a bluff, I can design and draw to your personal taste. I'm well versed in 'green' and 'sustainable' techniques.
If any of you are interested in building a new home in New Hampshire, message me. I offer free advice and if you are interested in hiring me I can email you my portfolio and offer a proposal.
If you have a specific design in mind, I can also just do the drafting for you. I can deliver blueprints for not much more than what Menards would charge.
feel free to email me directly: tandtfoods@gmail.com
Cool. Are you here in NH, yet?
Joe
Nice. I hope you stick around and participate in the forums, and that your work becomes known.
Thanks. Yes I plan to prod around in the forum. I dabbled in freestateproject forum for a little while as JeffersonsSpirit, but I just started on here.
I'm not in NH now, but I plan to be there by next fall. I was at last years porc fest and have otherwise been to NH a few times before.
I wont' really fully develop my architecture business until I get there, but for now I want to start a little advertising, become known a bit. For now, I can take on projects and start work without actually being there or meeting the client in person.
Of course I'm strongly against all building codes and zoning rules.
I notice some of you like the traditional designs of the northeast. I worked at a boutique firm in Chicago for a while that specialized in classical and traditional detailing so I can help with that.
Porcupine home?
http://epicwinftw.com/2010/11/26/awesome-photos-porcubuilding/ (http://epicwinftw.com/2010/11/26/awesome-photos-porcubuilding/)
My dream house is one on 10+ acres of land and paid for. ;D
Hell! A shed on 10 paid acres would do. Hi George.