The Sunshine 2B is still a high mass house, but now with a full daylight basement. The stairs are centrally located to access the two other bedrooms or workshop below. The outside has been changed to brick with stucco accents, but would also look attractive in lap siding with stone.

First Floor

Adding the stairs was possible with no extra square footage by making the rooms a bit more compact but still very functional. The dining and living are a little more open. The removal of the south French door from the great room makes furniture arranging more flexible. The deck has been relocated to maximize sun to the daylight basement With the vaulted ceilings and abundance of south glass, the main living area as well as the master bedroom will be very sunny in winter yet protected in summer by the overhang. The master bath has been revised to allow for a separate toilet and bathing area that is based on Japanese culture. The family entry is still multifunctional with nooks for computers, coats, keys, and boots. The many window nooks and flower boxes add character to this simple and economical house.

Daylight Basement

Our suggested layout shows two large bedrooms with an entertainment room and bath room in between. The large closets on the north occupy the cooler areas of the house up against the earth while the south walls full of glass will make it difficult to believe your are in a basement The door to the outside will allow you to access outside storage or a nice east patio beneath the screened porch above. There is so much space here that your imagination is the only restriction on possibilities. Through our custom services, let us customize a layout for you.

Garage

The one-vehicle garage also has a large studio area that is passive solar. Of course it could easily become a two vehicle garage too. The south end of the garage with its windows can also be a greenhouse for plants in winter. With this area detached from the main house, it is safer for PV battery storage and other potentially harmful chemicals. The connecting walkway to the house still provides some protection.

Construction Info

The main walls of the home are concrete block and the exterior is designed to be brick, but this does not affect the interior thermal mass so therefore could be changed. The important part is the inside with the extra mass of the 8" concrete block which can be covered with plaster for smooth walls. The great room, kitchen, and dining area have vaulted scissors trusses. Because of the abundance of wall mass, the floors can be wood or whatever else you would like.

Modification Ideas

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

- Change the study to a small bedroom
- Turn part of pantry into a closet and add a door to half bath.
- Change the exterior to lap siding with stone accents

Read more about the drawings available for various Sun Plans.