Spiral House Powerhouse Company
Burgundy France
Designed as an extension to an old French farmhouse, the Spiral House springs gently from the ground to twist around a loose inner courtyard and connect back to the main house at the upper level. Located within the rural landscape of Burgundy, the extension adds a further 200 square metres (656 square feet) to the building’s original footprint to accommodate new guest rooms. The extension is a long structure with high ceilings, open to the courtyard through a glazed wall on its inner outline. A large, open living room and library are located at the lower level, while two guest rooms occupy the upper level. A staircase follows the inner wall to lead the occupants through a soft transition from the more public areas to the private realm of the house. The simplicity of the plan provides a surprising diversity of open spaces and gives priority to light exposure and views. The fully glazed courtyard floods the house with sunlight and creates a sense of openness without compromising a feeling of intimacy. Windows on the external façade vary in size and proportion, framing selected views of the surrounding countryside. The rooms function as a series of mezzanines that can be opened or closed to provide guests with a subtle feeling of participating in the life of the house. Further adding to the adaptability of the house, a timber structural system offers a high degree of flexibility, while adjusting to the complex geometry of the project. This twisting house is a playful example of a home that is open and intimate as well as elegant and adaptable.
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Homes for growth and adaptability
Spiral House
21
Spiral House Powerhouse Company
Burgundy France
Designed as an extension to an old French farmhouse, the Spiral House springs gently from the ground to twist around a loose inner courtyard and connect back to the main house at the upper level. Located within the rural landscape of Burgundy, the extension adds a further 200 square metres (656 square feet) to the building’s original footprint to accommodate new guest rooms. The extension is a long structure with high ceilings, open to the courtyard through a glazed wall on its inner outline. A large, open living room and library are located at the lower level, while two guest rooms occupy the upper level. A staircase follows the inner wall to lead the occupants through a soft transition from the more public areas to the private realm of the house. The simplicity of the plan provides a surprising diversity of open spaces and gives priority to light exposure and views. The fully glazed courtyard floods the house with sunlight and creates a sense of openness without compromising a feeling of intimacy. Windows on the external façade vary in size and proportion, framing selected views of the surrounding countryside. The rooms function as a series of mezzanines that can be opened or closed to provide guests with a subtle feeling of participating in the life of the house. Further adding to the adaptability of the house, a timber structural system offers a high degree of flexibility, while adjusting to the complex geometry of the project. This twisting house is a playful example of a home that is open and intimate as well as elegant and adaptable.
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Homes for growth and adaptability
Spiral House
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Homes for growth and adaptability
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Spiral House
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Homes for growth and adaptability
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Spiral House
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Fogo Island Studios Saunders Architecture
Fogo Island Newfoundland Canada 16
Considering nature
The Fogo Island Studios are a series of six artist studios placed in various locations on Fogo Island in Newfoundland, Canada. The studios, commissioned by the Shorefast Foundation and the Fogo Island Arts Corporation, are intended to revive the local fishing community who have inhabited the raw, untamed landscape for many centuries. Each studio has been designed to respect and glorify the turbulent sea-swept terrain by rising above the sea and rocks to provide panoramic views of the landscape. Measuring 120 square metres (1290 square feet), the long studio has been designed to reflect the transition of the seasons. The entrance, representing spring and the start of seasonal activity, consists of a sheltered outdoor space. The stretch of whitewashed patio leads to an exposed outdoor area that frames the local scenery and encourages summertime use. The main section of the studio is fully enclosed to provide protection from the ever-changing environment. The fully glazed end wall extends out towards the North Atlantic Ocean to provide a connection with the landscape, while strategically framing the dramatic surroundings. This idea of a large window is mimicked at the opposite end, filling the studio with natural light. All six studios project out across the rocks towards the sea and are supported by pillars. The entrance rests on a concrete foundation that anchors the structure to the rocky topography. This economically sound structural system allowed the studios to be prefabricated and placed in almost any location across the island.
Fogo Island Studios Saunders Architecture
Fogo Island Newfoundland Canada 16
Considering nature
The Fogo Island Studios are a series of six artist studios placed in various locations on Fogo Island in Newfoundland, Canada. The studios, commissioned by the Shorefast Foundation and the Fogo Island Arts Corporation, are intended to revive the local fishing community who have inhabited the raw, untamed landscape for many centuries. Each studio has been designed to respect and glorify the turbulent sea-swept terrain by rising above the sea and rocks to provide panoramic views of the landscape. Measuring 120 square metres (1290 square feet), the long studio has been designed to reflect the transition of the seasons. The entrance, representing spring and the start of seasonal activity, consists of a sheltered outdoor space. The stretch of whitewashed patio leads to an exposed outdoor area that frames the local scenery and encourages summertime use. The main section of the studio is fully enclosed to provide protection from the ever-changing environment. The fully glazed end wall extends out towards the North Atlantic Ocean to provide a connection with the landscape, while strategically framing the dramatic surroundings. This idea of a large window is mimicked at the opposite end, filling the studio with natural light. All six studios project out across the rocks towards the sea and are supported by pillars. The entrance rests on a concrete foundation that anchors the structure to the rocky topography. This economically sound structural system allowed the studios to be prefabricated and placed in almost any location across the island.
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Considering nature
Fogo Island Studios
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Considering nature
Fogo Island Studios
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Greening our roofs
Euclid Avenue House
119
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Greening our roofs
Euclid Avenue House
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drip and tube; capillary and standing water, with the traditional sprinklers being the least desirable option as it wastes water and can cause surface rooting. The construction guidelines outlined above form the basis for green roof design, and require further specificity once the occupant and designer have selected a desired range of plant life. These are categorised under three headings: extensive, semi-intensive and intensive green roofs; and vary in cost and soil depth. The most inexpensive model, an extensive green roof, affords minimal plant diversity with the least amount of maintenance and added dead load. Plants are grown in 5 centimetres to 15 centimetres (2 inches to 6 inches) of substrate composed of sand, gravel, crushed brick, leca, perlite, peat, organic matter and some soil at a weight of 78.1 kilograms per square metre to 169.4 kilograms per square metre (16 pounds per square foot to 35 pounds per square foot) when fully saturated (Peck and Kuhn 2008; Lawlor et al. 2006). This method serves indigenous plant life best. One step up from the extensive model, semi-intensive systems necessitate a similar amount of maintenance. However, their slightly deeper growing substrate (10–20 centimetres or 4–8 inches) enables a broader range of plant life.
third approach at the onset of design as it involves added structural capacity as well as railings, roof access and means of egress (BCIT 2009; Dunnett and Kingsbury 2008). Substrate depths typically range between 20 centimetres and 60 centimetres (8 inches and 24 inches) to allow for trees, shrubs, etc., and can weigh over 300 kilograms per square metre (61 pounds per square foot) (Peck and Kuhn 2008, BCIT 2009). Load calculations must include the weight of the plant life throughout its lifecycle as well as its fully saturated growing medium. Despite the many benefits to dwellers and their neighbours alike, green roof design is still in its early stages. A number of municipalities, such as Toronto, Canada, have implemented bylaws that require the implementation of green roofs on any new construction project. While these initiatives present a step in the right direction, the building industry is still a long way off from understanding the full extent of green roof implementation and management. Architects and designers must work in consortium with agricultural specialists to develop innovative approaches and design guidelines for rooftop growing.
Intensive systems bear the closest resemblance to a traditional garden both in terms of plant diversity and maintenance. These labour-intensive roofscapes require increased soil depths and therefore exert a greater load on the host structure. Thus, it is easier to consider this
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Greening our roofs
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