This is a conceptual design, The Wave House, for the remodel of an exiting home. The existing home is about 2000 SF, outdated and in a neighborhood that has become very expensive.
This is a radical idea to create a unique beach home with a nod to traditional style as well
The Skinny House
Welcome to The Skinny House!
This is a house designed several years ago for Ojai, California. It’s important to note that this is a hot dry climate in a wildfire area.
Part of the objective was to design a simple, efficient, easy to build home that takes some lessons from prefabricated homes. I often meet with people who are interested in the idea of prefabricated homes only to find out that it’s not always the best solution. For several reasons, including prefabricated homes are not designed site specifically and they are very difficult to change from the standard format. so this exercise was to design something that could be built in this area on a lot facing south with the advantage of being simple and inexpensive to build.
The house faces south and has a large overhanging roof which shades the property. This is passive solar design. Additionally the house would have a solar array on the south-facing roof on top. The house is built with a concrete slab on grade design and standard “stick” or wood frame which is the standard in most of the USA. The concrete is also the finished floor. The outdoors is used ase outdoor living area. The garage, a building code requirement at the time, is intended to be used as a studio or guest room instead of an actual garage.
Would this work for you?
Casa Bel Aire
Check out the build of this beautiful contemporary, Spanish style home. This is new construction from the ground up. The old small house was removed to build this one.
Ojai Ranch Remodel
Revised Kitchen
- move range to opposite wall
- wrap corner to breakfast nook
- center sink at windows
- keep existing openings to Dining Room
- View from entry hall
Through breakfast nook to kitchen
Looking towards entry hall and passthrough to dining room
Looking towards breakfast nook
Other side
From Breakfast nook
Master Suite Revision of Option # 2
Plan
- added double door at bedroom entry
- moved tub and shower to south wall
Skinny, Tiny, Pre-Fab, Eco House
The “Skinny House” is an idea taken from looking at various pre-fab homes, in particular the high concept, prefabricated Glide House, designed by Michelle Kaufmann. Working with clients over the years, many had seen interesting prefabricated homes in Dwell Magazine and other online architectural place. The idea of having a home built in a factory – better working conditions – better quality – cheaper prices etc – is a hot appeal.
The Glide House
The plan below is an idea that uses many of the concepts of a prefabricated home but a bit bigger and using the garage as a “flex space.” Many people prefer using their garage as a studio, office or other use.
One of the ideas of the “Skinny House” is to incorporate outdoors living space.
Keep construction simple to keep costs down … simple but elegant!
Incorporate solar power …
Often times, after researching the true costs with infrastructure, foundations etc, the actual costs of prefabricated homes are the same or more than building the home on site. A site built home design has much more freedom to be “tweaked” to fit the site. Many options, levels of quality and design exist, but most prefabricated homes are based on components – usually 16 feet wide – that can be transported by truck.
Below – some additional ideas for floor plans.
Prefabricated home companies have been around for years. You mostly know them as trailer park homes. Many of these companies have not evolved past the ugly boxy designs you have seen. A bunch of new companies have come and gone such as Michelle Kaufmann’s Glidehouse. It seems to be – so far – a serious challenge to create the “iHouse” design for homes. A design that works everywhere – works well – is priced well and deliverable everywhere.
A bold objective …
Hygge – a friend of mine recently built this home in Long Island, New York
https://hyggesupply.com/supply/models/
Method Homes
https://methodhomes.net/homes/
Stillwater – in the state of Washington is an interesting company
https://www.stillwaterdwellings.com/designs
Cool House – Fred Fisher Ojai Studio
Architect: Fred Fisher
Location: Ojai, California
Details
- Industrial style
- New construction – completed approx 2008
- Wood frame with partial concrete walls at garage
- Garage /studio space on first floor
- Metal cladding on entire building
- Lots of glass Continue reading “Cool House – Fred Fisher Ojai Studio”
Ventana Magazine Features Ojai Custom Home Builder – Green Home
Contemporary Cool
The Ojai abode of green builder Otis Bradley.
By Andrea Kitay—Photography by Gaszton Gal
Casa Verde, the two-acre Ojai spread that Otis Bradley and his family call home, is more than a play on words. Its name is a nod to the custom homebuilder’s passion for efficiency. The 3400-square-foot contemporary completed in 2008 is a result of Bradley’s determination to build an ecologically sound home, in keeping with his family’s laidback lifestyle.
Continue reading “Ventana Magazine Features Ojai Custom Home Builder – Green Home”