The Solar Carriage House

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Above grade, as dictated by the site topography, we use wooden framing—I'm fond of heavy-timber construction for both aesthetic and economic reasons—to erect a superinsulated cap. Because the south side of both the first and second floors is unbermed, there's a large potential area for solar gain, and the apertures can be sized to suit the mass in each area.

A little more than two years ago, I amalgamated these concepts into a design I call the Solar Carriage House, and in the last two years two homes have been built using modified versions of this plan. Though the implementation is somewhat different in the two buildings, the basic ideas remain the same.

WALLIS CARRIAGE HOUSE

Jean and David Wallis's version of the Solar Carriage House is actually just one of the structures these owner-builders plan to erect on the steep, rocky hillside overlooking their private stream and valley in central Virginia. Jean and David, with help from relatives and friends, constructed the 1,456-square-foot building for use as a temporary residence while they build a larger hybrid earthtempered home about 100 feet away. They intend to use the smaller home as a guest house once the main residence is done, but the little structure has proven so comfortable that they now feel no urgency to move.

David and Jean worked closely with mason Adrian Stillson to erect the lower floor of cast concrete and block on a 26' X 28' foundation. This area incorporates a large workshop, two root cellars/cold storage rooms with heavily insulated doors of David's design, and a woodstove. The intervening floor is reinforced cast concrete on Epicore decking. This masonry floor provides a fireproof barrier between the workshop and living area, and offers thermal mass for the sun porch and direct gain living area.

The above-grade heavy-timber structure was prepared and assembled by George Allman's company, Timber Smith Kits of Gordonsville, Virginia, and David and his two sons, Allan and Paul, framed and superinsulated the walls and roof. Many other local craftsmen contributed to the completion of the Wallises' home, which at times resembled a community project.

During the winter of 1984-85, the perform ance of the Wallis Carriage House was excel lent. Backup heat from the woodstove was rarely needed, even when the temperature plunged to -10°F, and the living area temperatures ranged from 64°F to 78°F. Jean and David regulate the interior temperature by operating the sliding glass doors that connect the solar porch and living area, and natural convection has been sufficient to provide all the circulation needed.

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