No Perfect Homes - Including those of Frank Lloyd Wright

Green Means

No Perfect Homes

By Shannon Scott

            Alas, neither error free blue prints nor the perfect house exist.

            When my eldest son was in college in Pennsylvania he visited Frank Lloyd Wright’s, Fallingwater.  Partially built cantilevered over a waterfall, the home connects inhabitants with nature.   It was named, “best all time work in American Architecture” in 1991 by the American Institute of Architects (AIA).  I asked Kevin to recall his tour. 

             “Wright was way overrated.”

              Kevin, 6’5”, broad shouldered, yet slim, continued, “Wright felt that the ideal home should suit people who are about 5’7”.  I got through the tour, but given that I could barely fit down the hallways, nearly banged my head on thresholds, and had to duck in places, I couldn’t wait to get out of that nightmare… Plus, construction crews were redoing much of the concrete foundations and retaining walls.  They hadn’t been adequately reinforced with steel.”

            Fallingwater had some serious problems: mold, concrete deflecting (displacing under load pressure), and leaky roofs.  Yet, the home’s merits outweigh its weaknesses.  One size doesn’t fit all and building technologies advance. 

An exterior view of Fallingwater

            One of the most impressive pieces of residential architecture I’ve seen, the Osprey House, boasts hundreds of square feet of custom made Marvin windows designed to look like feathers.  From the air the home depicts an osprey in flight. 

            Rooms left and right of the centrally located living room, lay underneath the protective cover of outstretched wings.  A fanned tail, part of the overall roof design, shades and protects the front entry and serves as a carport.   Wood ribbing on the interior’s south wall replicates delicate bird bones. 

            The living room has floor area dimensions of roughly 16’ x 18’, with a higher than 24’ ceiling.  Standing in the living room, I felt that I was at the bottom of a silo.  The floor area too small, or the ceiling too high, a slight adjustment of one or the other would have made the space feel better – at least to me.  Notice that in the photo full ceiling height cannot be viewed.  Yet, the overall design, thought, construction, and beauty of this home are top notch.  Marvin uses this home as a case study, a tribute to their engineering team’s know-how. 

Partially viewed to the left and right are windows depicting wings.  www.Marvin.com “Soaring Osprey”   Note: This home is not a passive solar design.  It is located in an area of the northwest that receives extremely limited sun during winter months.  It is not green built, nor energy efficient.

            More than twenty years ago, I toured Earthships in Taos, NM.  The concepts were good: energy efficient, constructed with recycled and found materials such as bottles and old tires, reduced water consumption, black and grey water use, and so forth.  Earthships are cool. 

            Earth-bermed on three sides with highly glazed south walls, Earthships incorporate passive solar design elements.   Given their embedded-in-the-ground nature and natural, organic materials Earthships harmoniously tie inhabitants to natural surroundings.  Many have indoor food gardens, which use waste water for fertilizer and watering needs.

            A problem with Earthships is that having windows on only one side disallows cooling cross breezes and cross ventilation.  Earthships do have roof top ventilation and exhaust fans, but this isn’t as pleasant as having views out in more than one direction.  Earthships likely work and feel best to inhabitants who identify with Hobbits.

A nice exterior, but with windows on only one side, breeze pathways are negated.

            Our individual unique natures mean that no structure will function optimally for any two people.  Since many of us would rather live with our partners than alone, we settle for close enough, and don’t get too worked up over small details. 

            Make 2013 the year to build.  Hire an architect, engineer, or DIY.  Create and construct.  No matter the imperfections, your selections and designs will be distinctly yours and beyond fabulous.  Build green, save money, and live well.  Happy New Year, and all the best with your green projects.

           

Shannon Scott is a green home owner, builder, and LEED Green Associate.  She and her husband live in northwestern Nevada in a straw bale home they designed and built without hired help.  If you’re interested in upcoming DIY hands-on straw bale home building workshops, she can be reached at: greenmeansnv@gmail.com