STRATEGY: DESIGN FOR HARMONY WITH THE PLANET
» Site, orient, and shelter the home to make conserving and best use of renewable resources. Use the sun, wind, and water for all or most of your energy needs and rely less on supplementary, nonrenewable energy.

» Use “green” materials and nontoxic, nonpolluting, sustainable, and renewable products; produced with low energy and low environmental and social cost, and biodegradable or easily reused and recycled.

» Design the house to be “intelligent” in it’s use of resources and complement natural mechanisms, if necessary with efficient control systems to regulate energy, heating, cooling, water, airflow, and lighting.

» Integrate the house with the local ecosystem, by planting indigenous tree and flower species. Compost organic waste, garden organically, and use natural pest control—no pesticides. Recycle “gray water” and use low- flush or waterless toilets. Collect, store and use rainwater.

» Design systems to prevent export of pollution to the air, water and soil.

In an effort to approach this project on good footings, I assembled a team that consist of civil and structural engineers certified flood plain surveyors, solar energy designer/installer, hydroponics practitioners and my 27 years of experience to plan the most sustainable strategy for this project.

The Ark exemplifies a new, innovative, unique house design which incorporates a pedestal-type foundation consisting of a central core of four steel columns. This central core is the essential focal point of the entire structure, as it is the center of gravity on which the entire living space rests.

Because the house is constructed around a steel core, an elevated structure, which is safe, stable, and sound from an engineering stand point, it provides optimum resistance to flooding. Such a structure is also resistant to termites and other insect infection because of the ground clearance. In addition, with certain (engineering/structural) design modifications, this house can be designed with an enhanced resistance to natural disasters, such as strong winds, earthquakes, and flooding; thus making it suitable for erection in coastal, mountainous, and floodtide areas and plains which offer no natural impedance to wind velocity. The shape of the structure (octagonal) approaches a cylinder which possesses the aerodynamics which renders it very resistant to strong winds.

The steel construction also minimizes the use of wood, thus lessening the environmental impact of deforestation. Wood is mostly used in a non-stressed or decorative mode.


EXPANDABILITY AND DESIGN FLEXIBILITY
A primary value of the pedestal foundation is its expandability. The pedestal foundation allows for a variety of styles, whereby vertical and horizontal expandability is possible, including the use of an additional core which allows suspension of the house over a ravine, creek or other topographical peculiarities of terrain.

In this design utilities can be located in the central core, and the space formed by the elevation of the house above the steel columns can be utilized for living and storage space, or it may be used for a patio, garage or carport. An alternative design can still utilize the core for utilities and wiring, while enclosing the area surrounding the poles for lower level living space. A large part of the expandability feature is on the ground level surrounding the core. (See figure. 1).

With the addition of wings or saddlebags, achieved by utilizing steel beams which are bolted and welded to the steel columns, one can add on to the upper level, increasing the volume of the internal spaces within certain predetermined engineering constraints; however, more work is involved (compared to the ready utilization of the ground level space).

The expandability options make it possible to increase the size of the lower level of the structure up to 5 fold without further addition to the foundation. This modular, phase like design enables the builder to provide an affordable house for the young growing family, or for those who work at home who need functional office space isolated from the primary living quarters.

The design maximizes interchangeability, expandability and modularity. One can achieve many different designs beginning with a basic module. The modules can be joined like the connecting pieces of a child’s erector set.

The common denominator in achieving these various aspects is the use of four steel piles mounted on concrete blocks, as the foundation of the house. As these columns comprise the primary load-bearing component, this type of structure allows for additions and modifications to the internal living space much more easily than would be the case if various other interfaces were burdened with the load-bearing functions. It also allows for geometric expansion of the living space with addition to the foundation.

The interior walls provide only the functions of partitioning and encapsulating the house, and do not serve the function of holding it up. Of course, the initial character of the original frame dictates the ultimate design, in terms of expansion.

If the occupant wishes to change the internal look/design by moving, and even removing, partitions and doors, it is possible to do so without exorbitant expense. Expansion is less expensive compared to conventional additions (up to 50% less), because to add on requires less work and material, since the framework for the addition is already in place.

In a sense, the homeowner is paying for the ease of expansion up front. This concept is also affordable for those who want a house which can be larger and more luxurious in the future. Homeowners have the ability to begin small and to expand in incremental stages later, i.e. “the house that grows”.


CONSTRUCTION TIME AND COST
The small foundation foot print enables the house to be situated on almost any type of terrain without the need for excessive grading. There is no requirement for heavy equipment such as bulldozers and track hoes. The grading necessary to set the steel poles in concrete blocks can be done with a small tractor, thereby minimizing the grading cost. This type of foundation design provides the type of housing that can be adapted even to undesirable terrain.

Reducing the time for construction can impact significantly on the cost of construction. With this design construction time can be significantly reduced because of the simplicity of the foundation and the ability to prefabricate most of the parts which can then be assembled on site with very little time and effort. Also, because of the prefabricated nature of the components, theoretically, even the homeowner can construct the foundation, especially since the prefab kit is user friendly in that it does not require skilled technicians for the construction process. Ideally, all one must do is to locate a space on the lot in an area a minimum of 18 feet square free of trees. It is not necessary to cut the trees beyond this area, thereby maintaining an attractive, secluded natural landscape.

The cost of the materials should be within the price range of conventional structures.


ENERGY EFFICIENCY
The ARK is built to criteria that result in energy efficient performance, meeting or exceeding Energy Star, Build Green, and other popular programs.

Designs can incorporate any energy efficient features such as passive solar exposure (orientation of the glazing to the seasonal rays of the sun). The houses are framed using foam core stress skin panels (SIPs). SIP buildings are vastly more energy efficient, stronger, quieter, and more draft free than other building systems, such as stud framing with fiberglass insulation. Fiberglass is sometimes used for furnace filters because air moves through so freely. Rigid insulation is used as solid component insulation in almost every industry for its inherent efficiency and lack of air movement. These attributes are built right into a SIP building. Less air leakage means fewer drafts, less noise, lower energy bills, and a much more comfortable indoor environment.

The design features an in-floor radiant heating system. Radiant heating has a number of advantages: it is more efficient than baseboard heating and usually more efficient than forced-air heating because no energy is lost through ducts. The lack of moving air can also be advantageous to people with severe allergies. Hydronic (liquid-based) systems use little electricity, a benefit for homes off the power grid or in areas with high electricity prices. The hydronic systems will also be supplemented by a water heater that is fueled by the sun’s rays. All window and door glazing is low-e glass thermo pane. All lighting fixtures are outfitted with compact fluorescent bulbs.


HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
There will be every effort to use solid wood to do all interior trim and this wood trim will be sealed with low VOC stains and paints. All floor surfaces will be covered with wood and masonry. All electrical circuits that surround bedrooms will be controlled by automatic demand switches which turn off the circuits in those areas so that our cells can repair themselves in an electromagnetic radiation free environment while we sleep. A hydorponic garden will be available for the purpose of providing a regular supply of healthy organically grown vegetables. There is also in place for a rain water collection system which will be used to supply water for the hydroponic garden and the site pond which can be used to grow healthy fish.

The bottom line is that the Ark is an approach to affordable high quality healthy housing which is energy efficient and ecologically sound.