The text of an e-mail sent out
by Julian Bowron on the 9th of November 2005 to interested parties:
To my
Friends, Relatives,
Business Associates and Neighbors,
Due to the amount of interest and the number of similar questions regarding
the drawings of the off-grid studio I sent out, we have created the
attached "Feature Sheet" describing
the building (which
has now been christened "IRRESIDENCE"). I have also attached
a couple of pages from the drawings. A few more people have been added
to the mailing list, so please let me know if you aren't interested and
I will take you off the off-grid list....
Background:
This project started when I asked John Bowron to design an improved get-away
house for Helen and I. Since then the idea has been developed to the
point where the building is applicable to anyone wanting
to set up on a piece of land without access to power. With hydro costing
$1,000 a pole to bring in, being energy self-sufficient greatly expands
the options if you want to get away from it all and enjoy
relatively trouble-free living with all the basic cottage gear; refrigeration,
a phone, internet, lighting etc. and have a big open studio space indoors.
Please note that due to their heavy energy use things like ground source
heat pumps, air conditioning, electric clothes dryers etc. aren't really
feasible unless you spend tens of thousands on the delivery /
install of those huge natural gas tanks, more solar
panels, huge inverters, batteries etc. The water and
electrical systems we have spec'd out will need monitoring
while in use, but will survive your total absence just fine. Heat
and cooking is by a high-quality wood stove, except in summer (too hot!)
when you can use yer barbie or a small gas cooktop fed by bottles located
outdoors. To do this right I think you should build on at least
25 acres, both for privacy and firewood. In Haliburton land is
about $1,000 an acre (more or less) and you can still get land that
cheap on rivers and ponds (not on good lakes).
So:
We are back to the well of public opinion looking for feedback.
The question is: What would you like to see added? Taken away?
I will respond to all comments (unless they are rude.....) so please
let 'er rip. By the way there are some discrepancies between the
statements and the drawings. They will soon be fixed.
Some comments / answers from the first "showing"
1st: "Reminds me of my years in a portable during the baby boom...." OK,
we know it looks like a school portable. To keep the cost reasonable we
decided to optimize the building for energy performance and useable
space, not for exterior looks. Of course you can add to it, change the
finishes etc....BUT...please note we think this shape is more
or less perfect .
a) It is easy to build with dimensional lumber and plywood.
b) It is big on the front to gather light and heat for
fall / winter / spring /, slopes north to drain but also
to minimize the size of the north wall and shed cold winds.
c) It is built on stilts so it has a low thermal mass (no basement
/ heats quickly upon arrival in January). This also helps
with critter-proofing.
d) The glazing is the proportions it is (long sideways orientation) so
the panes are as big as possible but it can still be made and split
50 / 50 between super energy efficient / you get your view of the
land.
e) The deep eaves shade the windows in summer, the shutters close it
up at night or when the sun shines in too much on a warm winter day.
f) It is covered in steel because it's durable, fire
resistant and cheap.
g) Outside stairs are huge because they make a great place to hang out,
dry boots etc.
h) It has a big front room since, after all, you are there to
hang out or work on your "Art".
2nd: How much? First: "The excuses" ..... The building is super-insulated,
has many custom components, 11' + ceilings in the main room and generates
all the power (and most of the heat) it needs to operate, so it isn't going
to be as cheap per square foot as a regular house of the same size. In
the form shown it would cost about $150,000 to build if you acted as your
own contractor and helped with the tricky bits, about $250,000 if you got
lucky on a turnkey "quote" to build one according to the
drawing set. Keep in mind that most house designs used in Canada belong
somewhere in the US. The area we are planning for (Haliburton) experiences
a 70 degree temperature swing, +35 summer, - 35 winter, (can get colder!).
Compare that to Florida or Nevada's swing at +45 summer +5
winter (40 degrees). In Ontario pipes freeze! Sun is low in the winter!
3rd: The basics? .....Duh... It is 30' X 40', (which is 1200 sq ft)
outside to outside (not including the roof). Keep in mind the outer
walls are 6" thick. It has one big living / dining / reading
room almost 39' X 17', two cottage-sized bedrooms and
one bigger one and a bathroom with all the electrical and water systems
in a two-story "tower". The attached plan
and section give you
the basic idea.
4th: Legal? Yes. We got a building permit for this house from
the Township of Minden Hills. There is still some push-back on the
septic, even though many of these composting toilets are already in use
and the OBC references our details (i.e. they aren't off the charts).
If you have any comments, questions or you have any interest in
building one of these homes please let me know.
Regards to all,
Julian Bowron, President
Feature Factory Design Build
The Kiosk Factory
416 537 6860
www.fefa.com
www.thekioskfactory.com
