BY CLINT MILLER, ARCHITECT AIA
Also a home built with a small footprint and, more importantly, with green values, can achieve architectural splendor. This requires neither size nor the expense of expensive finishes. Consider the placement of the living spaces and the strong use of biological light as the key to the process. This includes floor plans that are designed to allow for several views of the home, reveal the most intriguing features of the living spaces, and draw in the elements.
WINDOWOWS ARE A VERY Important DESIGN ELEMENT
Several large and taller spaces don’t always lead to a powerful outcome. Instead, splendor can be achieved with an expanse of floor-to-ceiling glass that confidently connects to the landscape. This helps to define the distinctions between the interior and the exterior. Additionally, a long, horizontal expanse of glass can add a touch of boldness without being specially high, allowing a nine-foot ceiling to feel really comfortable. With this ceiling height, the cost of the windows and standard construction is still respectable.
By reducing solar gain into the home, present technology has improved the performance of glass. Heat and glare are reduced by numerous clear silvery coatings applied to the window panes. Additionally, semi-transparent roller blinds can keep the view while reducing heat buildup. When the sun’s rays don’t fall directly onto the glass, these types of blinds typically retract and are motor-driven.
FAVOR SHAPE OVER SIZE AND HEIGHT
Many architects favor a stretched rectangle in their designs, creating a fundamental pattern that embodies simplicity and beauty. The triangular plan can also look more intriguing and offer more opportunities for natural light than a square-style home. The more I learn that the connection to opposite spaces, natural light, and the outdoors is much more important than the room’s size or height.
A smaller-sized home will have the lowest operating costs and be more affordable, which means that the home will use less resources and energy to run it, resulting in greater sustainability. With construction costs continuing to rise, it is time to think about how to use high-performance insulation and locally supplied and green materials to improve the efficiency of our homes. Remember that even homes with a smaller footprint can feel like they are living massive when spaces are set up to engage the outdoors.
