Framing Part 5 - Skylights, Columns & Overall

Now that the roof has been sheathed the window and skylight openings are more distinct both from inside and outside.
 An 8" curb is left between the roofs to allow for the layers of insulation that will be added by the roofers on top of the deck.

The fireplace flue will exit the roof between these two skylights.

The temporary columns were replaced by the permanent columns, doubled up cedar 6x6's.

Though not required structurally, two cedar 6x6's give a bit more mass to these columns. You can see the outdoor rooms taking shape under the overhang. Later, a deck will be framed just above the ground plane to complete these.

A trip 45' straight up in the framer's lull gave me some great shots of the roof in one view.

Eight columns help support the four glulam beams that span across the middle of the house. The four to the left bear around the kitchen island, the four to the right bear on the block walls.

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.