Solar Cabin

Solar Cabin (click to enlarge)

Specifications: 622 sq. ft. interior plus 273 sq. ft. loft, 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 1 loft, Footprint: 25′ x 35.5′

Description: Have you been dreaming of a getaway in the mountains or off in the country? Here’s your chance to live your dream. This design is small and simple, yet it has ample size and all the comforts for off-grid living. Features include passive solar design (roof overhang modified for your area at no charge), large loft, grow bed and modern kitchen.

Solar Cabin (click to enlarge)

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Green House

Green House (click to enlarge)

Specifications: 315 sq. ft. interior plus 90 sq. ft. loft, Footprint: 18′ x 24′

Description: A play on words, this tiny house has ‘green’ walls and optional living roof (not shown). Plant covered buildings are very practical, because they can save materials and finish work, reduce heating and cooling loads, oxygenate air around the building, as well as provide habitat for wildlife, buffer noise, etc. This house was designed for two university students who are concerned about the environment. Vines work well, or you could use the living wall system I am currently developing.

There are two main options: Loadbearing design (no posts), and post and beam. The loadbearing option requires dense ‘builder quality’ bales to prevent settling.

Green House (click to enlarge)

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Mediterranean

Mediterranean (click to enlarge)

Specifications: 832 sq. ft. interior, 2 bedroom, 1 bath, Footprint: 27′ x 41′

Description: This Mediterranean house has curved walls, a common plumbing wall, large closets and wood stove.

Mediterranean (click to enlarge)

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Sweet Spot

Sweet Spot (click to enlarge)

Specifications: 792 sq. ft. interior, 3 bedroom, 1 bath, Footprint: 25′ x 39′

Description: Sweet Spot is an attractive and very efficient three bedroom home. Two roof options are available: 1. clerestory roof (shown); 2. gable roof with optional porch roof.

Sweet Spot Floorplan (click to enlarge)

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Wilderness Cabin

Wilderness Cabin (click to enlarge)

Specifications: 283 sq. ft. interior, sleeping loft, 1 bath, Footprint: 17′ x 24′ plus porch

Description: Just like the name implies, this cabin design is for remote fishing, hiking and hunting camps where it is difficult to transport building materials. It is compact, efficient and easy to build. A sleeping loft is under the high side of a shed roof.

Wilderness Cabin Floorplan

I’m reposting this plan to illustrate how the 30 most popular house designs will look once finished. AutoCAD plans are complete. The goal now is to produce the SketchUp perspectives at about one every 10 days and hopefully put them in a house plan book next year. There will be no added charge for upgraded plans (computer renderings) once they’re available. Thanks for your patience.

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Farmhouse

Farmhouse (click to enlarge)

Specifications: 928 sq. ft. interior plus 512 sq. ft. upper floor, 4 bedroom, 3 bath, Footprint: 32′ x 35′

Description: This classic farmhouse design can be built in three phases: 1. Main two-story structure; 2. Shed roof sunroom addition with family room and 4th bedroom; 3. Porch.

Farmhouse (click to enlarge)

Farmhouse upper floor (click to enlarge)

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Modern House

Modern House (click to enlarge)

Specifications: 840 sq. ft. interior plus 390 sq. ft. upper floor, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, home office or bonus room, Footprint: 31′ x 33′

Description: A stunning 30’wide by 2-story window wall faces the mountains, lake or other view. A large grow bed provides year-round growing space for flowers, dwarf fruit trees, tomatoes, herbs and other plants.

Modern House (click to enlarge)

Modern House Upper Floor (click to enlarge)

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Solar Ranch

caption id=”attachment_1173″ align=”aligncenter” width=”500″ caption=”Solar Ranch (click to enlarge)”][/caption]
Specifications: 805 sq. ft. interior, 2 bedroom, 1 bath, Footprint: 26′ x 38′

Description: Very livable and comfortable, this solar ranch has vaulted ceilings in the great room, a modern kitchen and wood stove.

Solar Ranch (click to enlarge)

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Double Wide

Double Wide (click to enlarge)

Specifications: 693 sq. ft. interior, 2 bedroom, 1 bath, Footprint: 24′ x 36′

Description: Originally designed to go on 12′ x 36′ trailer chassis, this design could also be built on the ground. The main design goal is a compact shape that provides all the basic amenities one would find in a trailer house (which are very popular despite their poor quality and offgassing of noxious fumes). A trailer design is one way to legally circumvent certain building codes. If you’re building this on the ground, one 2×4 center wall can be deleted to save money and free up a little extra space. A deck or porch on the south creates extra living space at low cost. This design is one of my most efficient, having almost no wasted space.

Double Wide (click to enlarge)

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U-shaped House

U-shaped House (click to enlarge)

Specifications: 990 sq. ft. interior, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, Footprint: 31′ x 46′

Description: This pleasant home looks inward to an inviting flagstone courtyard with trees and plants. Spacious windows fill the home with light, while the earthen floors, earthen plaster and earthbags provide thermal mass to store excess heat, thus providing an even, comfortable inside temperature in moderate climates.

U-shaped House (click to enlarge)

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