SRQ Magazine | Home of the Year 2020

BEST OVERALL HOME — UNDER $1 MILLION AND BEST SUSTAINABILITY | GREEN - PLATINUM WINNER

MIKE’S HAMMOCK

JOSH WYNNE CONSTRUCTION

Eventually, if we are lucky, we all grow old. I designed and built this home for my aging father. My dad adopted me when I was two. He was the hardestworking, most selfless man I have ever known. His whole life he fantasized about retiring to a cabin in the woods. Unfortunately, health issues cut his career and his dreams short. I had to rescue him, but our budget was tight. To keep him close, I found a prime spot on our family farm. I had to evict the pigs from their pen! The pen dictated the building size, as I chose not to remove trees to build the house. I minimized the foundation to protect the palms and maintain drainage. The structure was cantilevered beyond the foundation to keep it light in its location and to allow for the program without removing trees. The rear is set to the west, overlooking an adjacent wetland, where he can watch the birds and the deer with nightly sunsets as the backdrop. The design is intended to be incredibly cost efficient, durable, comfortable, low maintenance, fitting for its environment and my dad’s love of cabins, and considerate of his unique health issues. The shape is a reflection of standard material sizes, resulting in a waste factor of less than 1 percent. We filled only a 10-yard dumpster in its construction. The cladding wraps the walls and the roof to break the perceived length of the structure and minimize maintenance, with the corrugation matching our 70-year-old barn. Yellow pine cladding runs cohesively through and up the ends of the structure to stretch the perception of space and create visual interest at every moment in the home. White interior dividing walls were intended to be lost visually while still reflecting light. The kitchen is full size, with a hidden pantry, flush microwave and no uppers. The Ikea cabinets feature all full-extension drawers for easy access—and saved my wallet. I used every inch of space. The bathroom is oversize with a walk-in shower, made to fit my dad’s needs. The HVAC system was custom-designed and built by Carrier. It is the smallest variable-speed split system in the US, to help maximize indoor air quality and comfort control. Scraps, small lots and leftovers make up the majority of finishes. This home is proof that we can provide better design, better construction, better care and a better life for our aging loved ones—even on a budget. My dad’s health has improved drastically since he moved in. He loves his home. He’s out tending to the chickens right now.

Architect: Design by Josh Wynne and Jimmy Thornton of Nebula Design Contractor: Josh Wynne Construction Interior Design: Josh Wynne Kitchen Cabinets: IKEA Bathroom: IKEA, Atlas Concorde Carpets and Flooring: Locally Sourced Southern Yellow Pine Landscape: Josh Wynne Photographer: Ryan Gamma Photography srq magazine_MAR20 live local | 69