Steel Magnolia: Anna & Leon
Sun room breezeway. Expandable second floor. 4+ BR. 1 story
w/ loft. 3258 sf
The Steel Magnolia is a perfect example of how Sun Plans
caters to its custom design clients to create a house that fits all of their
wishes. The Steel Magnolia is larger than than average passive solar homes, but
it still retains the elements of passive solar that keeps the house cool in the
summer and warm in the winter - even more so due to tile (over concrete
slab) floors and insulated concrete walls.
Anna's first concern when she contacted us about designing a
custom home for them was whether the larger than average house size was
something we would consider. Elsewhere on our web site we had stated our
preference for designing smaller homes. Anna understood this, but said
that after living in a 1400 s.f. home her entire adult life while raising
several kids, she was ready for some space and wanted enough for the adult
children to be comfortable when they came home to visit. Plus her
mother-in-law was likely to be living with them.
With their land just 50 miles inland from the Gulf Coast,
they wanted a home where they could confidently stay during hurricanes and the
associated tornadoes. "Passive survivability" became a
goal. If they lost power for extended periods of time, they wanted to
remain safely and comfortably in their home without electricity and therefore
heat and air conditioning. But they also wanted a home with a traditional
exterior which to them was defined with brick and a large front porch. The
connecting sun room/breezeway we recommended to keep the garage detached,
create a cool room in summer with the windows open, and a warm room in winter
with the windows closed. Anna originally wanted a two story home in addition to
the rooms on the first floor, but both Leon and Sun Plans talked her out of it
for cost control and instead designed in an optional second floor that could be
finished out later.
Their builder friend John Morgan was proficient with both
ICF (insulated concrete forms) and structural steel. He was great at
improvising. And when Anna saw the optional second floor, walk-in attic,
she worked out some on-site field changes with John. Before you knew it
they had added front and back dormers, a central two story elegant stair cases,
and had "found" the money to finish off the second floor. They had
already planned on spraying foam to the roof deck instead of placing blown insulation
on the ceiling so the attic volume was already there. This is not the
first time that we've seen client spend a little extra once they see their
dream home unfold before their eyes. Last we heard right after we visited
and took these photos, the house had comfortably held a great crawfish boil
with music supplied by the finish carpenters who also were also full of ideas.
They almost got carried away in the sun room breezeway with pine and cypress
finishes. The space has since evolved into a display area for Leon's fishing
and hunting trophies.
click thumbnail images to enlarge
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