jtk1519
May 22, 2008, 2:58 AM
Very good article about a style that is becoming more and more widespread in a lot of Texas communities and I'm sure they can be found in other Southwestern areas...
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, passive solar or climatic design is achieved by designing windows, walls and floors to collect, store and distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer.
Koehn eventually became so engrossed with the idea of passive solar that he hired New Mexico-based architect Mark Chalom to help him design a house that would not only keep the heat and cold at bay but also keep the electric bill below $100. The 3,000-square-foot house, where he has now lived with wife, Kate, for about 21 years, resembles a modern-style adobe more than a hogan (it includes a guest suite), but even on the steamy, hot day of our visit, it was cool and comfortable inside.
To allow for additional ventilation, there is a vent under each window and a wind chimney, which creates a gentle draft when opened, hidden in the kitchen pantry.
The main part of the house includes the kitchen and dining areas, a sunken living room, the master bedroom and bathroom, a second bathroom with a cedar sauna and a sun room connecting to the guest suite. There are three fireplaces, and the back wall of the house is nearly all windows, offering a breathtaking view of Lake Travis.
Additional exterior features that help combat the heat and moisture are deep overhangs, shielding the windows from sun and rain, plus the roof, which is overlaid with reflective aluminum strips. Landscaping includes native plants, and the Koehns have a rainwater collection system that supplies water for the pool.
http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/stories/style/05/22//0522goinside.html
http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/08/60/90/image_7090608.jpg
http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/01/62/90/image_7090621.jpg
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, passive solar or climatic design is achieved by designing windows, walls and floors to collect, store and distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer.
Koehn eventually became so engrossed with the idea of passive solar that he hired New Mexico-based architect Mark Chalom to help him design a house that would not only keep the heat and cold at bay but also keep the electric bill below $100. The 3,000-square-foot house, where he has now lived with wife, Kate, for about 21 years, resembles a modern-style adobe more than a hogan (it includes a guest suite), but even on the steamy, hot day of our visit, it was cool and comfortable inside.
To allow for additional ventilation, there is a vent under each window and a wind chimney, which creates a gentle draft when opened, hidden in the kitchen pantry.
The main part of the house includes the kitchen and dining areas, a sunken living room, the master bedroom and bathroom, a second bathroom with a cedar sauna and a sun room connecting to the guest suite. There are three fireplaces, and the back wall of the house is nearly all windows, offering a breathtaking view of Lake Travis.
Additional exterior features that help combat the heat and moisture are deep overhangs, shielding the windows from sun and rain, plus the roof, which is overlaid with reflective aluminum strips. Landscaping includes native plants, and the Koehns have a rainwater collection system that supplies water for the pool.
http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/stories/style/05/22//0522goinside.html
http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/08/60/90/image_7090608.jpg
http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/01/62/90/image_7090621.jpg
