Framing Part 4 - South Canopy

Doubled cedar 2x12's extend beyond the south wall and bear on an external beam to create the main structure for the south canopy roof. This roof will provide a frame to attach vertical slats that will shade the southern sunlight entering the kitchen. It will also collect and distribute the water running down from the rest of the roof.

The canopy roof slopes up to stop the water from flowing off the end of the roof and directs it to a location where a roof drain will be located. This roof drain will collect the water into a cistern. Next to the roof drain is a large framed scupper that will allow heavy rains to overflow off the roof.

The roof drain will extend down to the bottom of the canopy beam. From there the water will fall visibly into the cistern below. This roof drain is centered on the kitchen window where the sink will be located, allowing a visible connection between the rain water and kitchen faucet water. This collected rain water will be used for watering the vegetable gardens to the south.

Here is the overflow scupper and the low area showing where the roof drain will be located.

Framing Part 3 - Center Roof

In addition to the north and south walls, the center roof is supported by four glulam beams spanning east to west.

Once the beams were all in place, doubled 2x12's were placed spanning down the slope in the north south direction.

2x4 purlins were then placed across the 2x12's to support the sloping portion of the central roof where water will drain off the side roofs.

In the middle of this sloping roof a hand framed truss rises to create a higher roof that will provide space for clerestory windows and skylights above.

Here the directional flow of the water down the roofs can be understood.

Five skylights above, three clerestory windows on the south, one on the east and west sides, and three on the north side create the full extent of light that will filter down into the central living space. Each section of light from above corresponds to a function below- the kitchen island, the dining table, entry into the living room around the fireplace and the balcony library.

Here are the three skylights above the dining table. Eventually, white hollow cube forms will be set up within these trusses, directing and reflecting this light from above.

Framing Part 2 -Upper Level to Roof

After staring at a one level building for a week there is a bit of a gasp when you see the first upper level wall tipped up. Especially when that wall is the highest point of a low sloped roof and is actually creating the parapet. We quickly accustomed to it as we saw that upper level begin to take its reaching form to the southern sky.

You can also see the floating form of the upper level corner defined as well as the covered space below it.

All of these walls will form parapets for the low sloping roof which will sit down within these walls.

The break at this exterior wall on the upper level frames another void that will be preserved through the upper level from one end to the other.

The west end of the house frames up the same as the east end, creating a symmetrical double and creating 4 defined corner masses to the house.

Like the studio, all the roof joists and plywood deck will be exposed to view in the house.

Here the sloping of the roof and the defining of the parapet walls begin to become visible.

The east and west side roofs slope to the middle of the house in two directions, directing water flow onto the middle roof, yet to be built.

The step down in grade from the main level to the studio creates a great view back up through the house.

The openings at the end of the house create views into the woods, and invite those in the house out into nature as the grades continue to step down.