Residence at Windy Ridge / South East Perspective
Straw Bale Residence with Guest Cottage Silo
Southwest Perspective
Southwest Perspective
Abstract: |
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Residence at Windy Ridge
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The project is a new rural family residence for a couple and their son, with an adjacent cottage for their aging parents. With a collective desire to design, build and live in the most ecologically responsible manner possible, the challenge is to integrate as many environmentally beneficial principles as logistics and budget constraints will allow. The result is a collaborative choreography of site, structure, materials selection, and sequence. |
Straw Bale Residence with Guest Cottage Silo
Northeast Entry Screen Porch Perspective
Northeast Entry Screen Porch Perspective
The appropriate criteria by which a given structural system or material should be specified, is
relative to the total system performance and longevity. Optimized performance is achieved through
the correct inter-relationship of elements, to maximize the greatest cumulative benefit. For
example, the high embodied energy and pollution from the manufacture of extruded polystyrene
[XPS] insulation is undesirable. However, because of its high R-value, moisture resistance,
compressive strength, and dimensional stability, it is currently the best insulation available
for below grade applications. Its use makes a living earth roof system practical, which may have an
enormous overall positive impact, but otherwise might not even be possible. In keeping with
these principles and intentions, the collective decision was made to design and build a [ passive
solar / straw bale / green oak post & beam / living roof ] home.
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Residence at Windy Ridge / North Elevation
Bedford County, Virginia
Straw Bale Construction and
Living Earth Roof Garden System
Bedford County, Virginia
Straw Bale Construction and
Living Earth Roof Garden System
Ecologic Principles in Practice:
• Optimized orientation for Direct Gain Passive Solar w/ high-performance low-emmisitivy glazing.[ Backup high-efficiency propane on-demand water heater.]
• Correctly proportioned eve overhangs w/ thermal break at exterior walls,
providing maximum solar penetration in the Winter, and maximum shade in the Summer.
• Optimized natural daylighting w/ light colored interior walls, and high wall transoms at ceiling.
• Photovoltaic collectors for task lighting and small appliances w/ compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Natural ventilation and cooling w/ low northern and high southern operable window vents, minimum east and west glazing, isolated ventilation of interior humidity sources, reflective light colored exterior walls, and self-shading grass roof transporation.
• Minimum inventory / maximum diversity modular structural "kit of parts", w/ precast concrete pipe for columns, and prefabricated oak timber roof trusses, from local sustainable yield forests.
• R-45 Straw Bale non-loadbearing and stucco exterior walls w/ lime based "breathable" stucco finish.
• Living earth roof w/ extended outdoor landscaped terrace and garden, with indigenous grasses, plantings, and wildflowers.
• Earth bermed northern walls w/ entry air locks.
• Composting toilets and on site greywater treatment and irrigation w/ constructed wetland.
• Water-conserving plumbing fixtures throughout.
• High efficiency wood burning Finnish heater and bake oven.
• Shallow frost-protected rubble-trench foundation minimizing construction site impact w/ on site field stone for selected wall facings.
• Exterior fire resistance detailing w/ constructed wetlands "fire pond".
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Straw Bale Window and Door Jamb Detail
Developed By O.E.D. / All Rights Reserved.
Developed By O.E.D. / All Rights Reserved.
© Copyright H. Frederick Oesch, 2002 All rights reserved.
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