House of the future

[Chris Stewart]

I thought it will be fun to play around with some ideas of what the ideal home of the future might look like in a green future.

Here is a model that I have started with.

My primary ideas here are:
1. most of the roof is oriented to the south.
2. The lower pitch is optimized for PV
3. the upper pitch is optimized for winter hot water production
4. The western sun is blocked out
5. the walls of the next door houses provides shade and privacy
6. the houses are narrow so that street frontage is minimized
7. garages are in front so that driveways are minimized
8. possibly entire walls will open up like louvers
9. this roof shape is also well optimized to catch rain water

[Chris Stewart]

Bedrooms can be no bigger than necessary to provide private working and sleeping space.

[Chris Stewart]

Maybe the kitchen would look like this.

[Chris Stewart]

The dining room table would be adjustable to seat 4-10 people. The table leaf storage could be built into the wall.

The kitchen cabinets would extend into the dining room and provide serving ware and other storage.

[Chris Stewart]

Maybe high windows above the cabinets to provide good daylighting and cross ventilation.

[Chris Stewart]

This kitchen and dining room area is about 273 sq. ft. So I am well on my way to making a 1000 sq ft. home for a family of four to live comfortably in.

Making it small will allow us to make it very high quality and energy efficient while keeping the cost very affordable. Energy for this house will cost very little.

Also there will be plenty of storage space. Much of the furniture will be built in.

[Chris Stewart]

Here is what I have so far. The shell I started playing with turned out to be larger than 1000 sq. ft. so for this one I just filled in the existing shell. Next time I will see about reducing some of the excess.

I also thought that the home of the future needs an office because at least one spouse may work from home.

[Chris Stewart]

Hardly the perfect plan yet but it is a good start.

I wanted another 1/2 bath downstairs. Maybe the master bath could be reconfigured so that the toilet and another sink was accessible from both the master bedroom and living room.

[Chris Stewart]

The house of the future also needs good outdoor space. At least a covered porch but even better would be a screened in porch. Maybe even a screened in porch off the second floor that could be used as a sleeping porch. (that used to be common before AC came along.

Also I think everyone likes a fireplace. What about one that is extremely efficient, actually provides heat and can also be used for cooking?

[Chris Stewart]

Here is a cross section through the house: