Julie Kardatzke Architect, LLC
608.588.7105
  • About
    • Design Philosophy
    • sustainable building
    • MY STORY
  • Portfolio
    • NEW HOMES
    • Additions / Remodels
    • Non-Residential Buildings
  • THE DESIGN PROCESS
    • GETTING STARTED
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • Contact
  • Non-clickable Page

"The Not So Big House" by Sarah Susanka - Analysis of a Home Design

9/18/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
I'm currently working on the design of a new home for a couple who are retiring and planning to relocate to the Hollandale, Wisconsin area from Nebraska.  They are fans of Sarah Susanka;s "Not So Big House" books, and part of the design process was incorporating her ideas into the their new home.  To help my clients understand the design, I did an analysis of the first level floorplan using the concepts expressed in another of Susanka's books, "Home By Design", which I highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a clear illustration of the characteristics that make a home feel great to live in.  The numbers on the floorpan below refer to the concept key on the left side of the drawing.
Picture
One of the key features of the home is the use of changes of ceiling height to create a feeling of separation between spaces without the need for walls.  This can be a wonderful compromise between a completely open floorplan, where the house feels like one big undivided room, and a traditionally divided floorplan, where every room is walled off from every other room.  In this design, the ceiling steps down from 9' over the living area and kitchen to only 8' above the dining table and office, giving those areas a more intimate feel.  In addition, the ceiling drops down to only 7' over the dining area window seat (not visible in this picture) and above the windows flanking the fireplace, creating cozy nooks.
Picture
A second key feature of the home is the use of views through and within the house, oriented along the two main axes of the house.  The first axis runs from the entry porch, past the living/dining and kitchen areas and back outside through the double patio door to the deck.  This provides a view to the outside as one enters the house.  The second axis runs from the south wall of the living area at one end of the house, to the north wall of the master bedroom at the other end of the house.  This axis follows a continuum from public space (living area) to semi-private space (the office visible in the upper right corner of the picture above) to private space (the master bedroom).  Views through the house are framed by the changes in ceiling height and by partial walls which allow glimpses of rooms beyond and beckon one forward to investigate.  
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Essentials
    Good To Know
    Projects
    Working With An Architect

    Archives

    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    December 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012

Remodeling and Home Design
 © 2015  /  Julie Kardatzke Architect, LLC  /  408 W. Leeson Street, Spring Green, WI  53588   /   608.588.7105  /  julie@jkarchitecture.com
Picture