Sunlit Back-Split

Designed for minimal energy consumption, this South-facing house drinks in the Winter Sun while its deep eaves block the Summer radiation. The walls are 610mm (2'-0") thick, made of semi-rigid insulation-wrapped concrete and a 2x4 sprayfoam-insulated stud layer.

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The living room is located outside, under a sheltering roof. Like the rest of the house it is compact, so even in the Winter a fire will be warm and inviting. The space behind the bankette seating and between the chimney and the columns could easily be filled with screens- or even windows- to create a more enclosed space.

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The door opens from the living room into the ground-floor kitchen. Nearby stairs lead to two adjunct levels at the back of the house.

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The kitchen table takes full advantage of the huge window. There is also room in the kitchen for a sofa, an idea spot to sip afternoon tea.

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The kitchen is bright and open. The shelf to the right of the refrigerator slides out, revealing a tremendous amount of easily-accessible storage space.

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The sleeping loft is upstairs. Its footprint is small, but it overlooks the kitchen and the big window. It feels cozy, but not constricting.

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There is a clothes-closet to the left. More storage opportunities are to be found in shelving built into the stub wall, and perhaps with baskets placed on top of the kitchen cabinets.

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The washroom is located downstairs, beneath the sleeping loft. It is quite spacious for such a small house. Standing out among all the typical amenities, it features a one-person sauna.

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This plan shows the ground level and the sleeping loft.

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This plan shows the ground level and the washroom.

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