20K House

In addition to the other firsts this year’s group has encountered, (first 20K thesis student, first slab on grade foundation, etc.), this week saw the first 20K stress test.  The stress test, for those of who don’t know (I didn’t), sees two faculty from Auburn come and “stress” the current projects. David Hinson, who is the architect of record on all Studio projects, and architecture professor Rusty Smith came with the express purpose of judging the viability and wisdom of each of the projects in order to give them the official “green light.” In the past the 20K house hasn’t been bothered by these tests; the teams have either been building or on the cusp of building so there didn’t seem to be much point in assessing the viability of a project that was already underway.

Whatever the reason, we had one this year, which consisted of our Pig Roast presentation with a few more drawings, a large print of the budget, and our construction timeline. The critique was very positive and helpful, not only for us but for the 20K project as a whole.  Our house needs a little more finesse at the detail level, but was otherwise well received. It was good to have some architects look at the 20K project who were not as familiar with it, in order to see things that we have missed for a while. For example, the 20K houses have long used 6” recessed can lights throughout the house. David Hinson pointed out that, as detailed, these lights actually vent large amounts of air into the attic, going against the 20K idea of a well-insulated house. We may be re-examining the lighting for our house now… The staff also approved our budget and timeline, which is very exciting. As we finish up foundation details in order to pour in a couple weeks, stay tuned for our progress and the first construction photos!

So, as many of you faithful readers may know, this past weekend was the Rural Studio Pig Roast, annual celebration of projects and pork! While the threat of rain produced some angst in the minds of staff and students alike, it turned out to be a very pleasant day with only a passing shower in the evening.

The 20K team presented very well as a group at the site of Eddie’s new house, the plan taped out on the ground for all to see. Not only that, we used a completely new scrolling presentation device, as yet unnamed, to have our powerpoint on site! The only power involved was the kind that comes from a hand crank made of pvc pipe resting in a frame made of 2x4’s.

The knowledge of such a good roast also led to new momentum going into the week as the team is itching to get out and build. Finishing up final details and double-checking everything with staff and consultants is at the top of our priority list as we hope to break ground in a couple weeks!

To test the ideas behind the porch details we are building a full-scale mockup. So far, it’s been a great way to get some more construction experience and to make some detail decisions through building. Andrew has also suggested to us that this is a process of “backing into your big idea,” meaning that by looking at the details first and then zooming out to the bigger conceptual picture, we can get a more complete understanding of the porch. Zoom in, zoom out, then make decisions!  We’ll keep you updated and Pig Roast is on the 27th…stay tuned!

We are seeking a big idea for our porch. Since the porch has become such a defining element of the house, much attention is being paid to the details that will make the porch something more than ordinary. To that end, the team is currently discussing what can be the big idea that defines the porch. The materials and details of the porch are reflected in the way the big idea is coded, so it is important to understand the big idea as a way to lead us to the physical details.

With the porch as outdoor room, the yard becomes an extension of the porch because as a slab house it’s already on the ground. The floor, as an extension of the yard (or vice versa), takes on a different character than the walls and ceiling. The porch pieces now have the opportunity to be treated in different ways. One big idea is, like a bite out of an apple, the house outside and porch inside are very different things. Or, like an extrusion through a block of cheese, the inside remains the same or takes on the same identity as the outside. Or, perhaps a volume has been subtracted from the house and the porch as a whole is put into that void.

No matter what we choose it will have consequences for how the porch meets the rest of the house. The front corner is the critical spot; here porch, wall, and foundation all collide. Concrete, wood, and metal must meet in a way that supports the big idea while still being buildable. It’s a tricky moment, but we’ll get it!