Waterfront House from Stinson Beach, California

As an architect Cass Calder Smith met with his client to discuss replacing beach house cramped, she took a canoe trip on the lagoon close to check the neighborhood. When they (occupied by a few high-level meeting Joe Esherick, Stanley and William Wurster Saitowitz) for cottages eclectic paddled, she shared some of their claims: “To see the summit of Mount Tamalpais in my living room, plenty of space used outdoors, and urging them to be as environmentally friendly as possible. ”

The original house in a gated community in Stinson Beach, 45 minutes north of San Francisco was a look-evisceration, covered with tiles, rainbow windowed case, the owner called the “Taco Bell home. “She bought seven years ago because of its location in front of her husband leaves the house. When the time of the exchange, many came to 25 members, the drift of the extended family between the two houses design her children, her husband, her children and grand-son of Passel, had its say. “One son was for the protection of nature and was very focused on finding green solutions,” said Smith. It added ironically: “The project manager for other development organization for affordable housing is, then, yes, it was an unusual amount of give and take.”

One of the first decisions taken by Smith and the project architect Dera-Jill Lamontagne has been made to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. PV systems produce electricity supply all air conditioning and radiant heating systems and provide backup on cloudy days the solar hot water system which is driven by two thermal plates.

Although not completely independent of the energy, the house actually feeds the network, so that the excess energy to the community. “We all think that the electric fields to heat the houses cheap,” says Smith, “but if you have a small power plant sitting on the roof, and you’re at home four days a week is ideal.” In addition to a propane tank 50 gallon fueling the oven does the domestic energy consumption of zero energy. Although the initial investment was higher estimates of the owner $ 30,000, a refund check has been the condition $ 9000 shortly after construction was completed.

The layout of the house was designed to regulate the comfort of a natural way to forge a link with nature. Since regulations require new development to FEMA, at least three feet above the level, Smith approached the house, as if the construction of a jetty. Two large ipe deck, large enough for a tricycle to the flow of the large room at the front and rear, where drive stands up to the lagoon-style down. If opens double-glazed glass doors disappear essentially inviting cross space cooling designs. All roof windows and a large overhang on the south side of the house to protect from sun.