The Dakota Cottage is a smaller variation of our original north-facing Dakota. When clients have artistic and practical sensibilities, a creative home that is easy to build emerges. A daylight basement with fine finishes has been chosen over constructing a second floor. While sitting in the large bay windows, views south and west can be awe inspiring.

The Dakota Cottage is a smaller variation of our original north-facing Dakota. When clients have artistic and practical sensibilities, a creative home that is easy to build emerges. A daylight basement with fine finishes has been chosen over constructing a second floor. While sitting in the large bay windows, views south and west can be awe inspiring.

First Floor

The quaint front porch welcomes the visitor and creates a cool place for sunset viewing. The large air lock entry serves those entering from the outside, garage, or studio sunroom. The large dining area bay window and the rest of the south side of the home will be full of sunlight year round, yet shaded from direct solar gain in summer. The woodstove or fireplace hearth is in the center of the home for equal distribution of heat. Behind it is the art wall tucked beneath the loft walkway above. The kitchen with nearby pantry and laundry are in the center of the home yet not too far from the garage or the basement stairs which have windows on the north side and the air lock side to allow for a pleasant descent to the sunny lower level.

Daylight Basement

The sunny, south facing basement creates a low-energy, upside- down version of a two-story home. The second level is placed downstairs instead of upstairs. Living areas are on the sunny south while storage and mechanicals are on the north. Insulated walls tucked into the earth hillside lose less heat in winter and stay cooler in summer. Smaller first floor decks assure that the sun still warms the home. With the option of two bedrooms and its own living area with wood stove and kitchenette, the floor can be ideal for children or parents - especially if the optional elevator is installed in the foyer.

Garage & Studio/Sunroom

The single vehicle garage connects directly to the air lock entry to quickly leave coats and boots as well as to the sunroom studio. This southern, flexible use space can be accessed directly from the house or from the sunny south deck.

Construction Info

The southern rooms from the master bedroom to the sunroom have sloped ceilings created with manufactured scissor trusses resting on 8' high walls. The best of both worlds merge with economical wall height and a bit of spaciousness, but not too much so as to create excessive volume and unreasonably high ceilings. Trusses with the heels "jacked up" are an economical way to allow for the use of thicker roof insulation. With its simple shape, this house is well suited to be constructed with SIP walls or 2x6 studs. Thermal mass that keeps the home from overheating is both in the tile and stone veneer walls in south facing rooms. The 12% south glass includes the sunroom.

Modification Ideas

Since these ideas may affect energy performance and structural integrity, they should only be undertaken with professional assistance.

- Turn the studio sunroom into garage space, but leave the south windows for a winter greenhouse area in the oversized garage

- If a basement is not desired, turn the stair area into the foyer, and the existing foyer into a study

- Then consider reversing the laundry/bath 2 with the new study so the bath is closer to bedroom 2

Read more about the drawings available for various Sun Plans.