The Design
Learning Curve
The first step was ensuring it was a buildable lot, then researching set backs and curb cuts to find out I only had a 35' by 60' buildable area. The lot itself is half of a normal lot, so after identifying the rooms I wanted, I began to work on ideas to fit them all in this small space.
Improvements
The design for the house went through several stages. I was sure I wanted to use concrete, glass, and natural wood as the basic building materials, exposed in a simple and natural way. I wanted just enough space for a comfortable living area. The most significant amount of time I spent was ensuring that the views from the house were framed in a way that felt private yet open.
Simplifying
As the design process progressed, the layout of the house became more streamlined and minimalistic. The goal was to create a seamless flow between each space, making it easy to navigate through the house. One of the biggest challenges was balancing the need for privacy in each room with the desire to frame the beautiful views outside. To overcome this, the main living area was elevated, allowing for more expansive windows without feeling as exposed as it would have been on the ground level.
Polishing
This design iteration, which was likely the 42nd version, represented the majority of the final design that was eventually put into the official drawings. Although there were still some details that needed to be worked out, the overall layout of the design had been established and was headed in the right direction.
Final Design
At this stage, the design was passed on to an architect who drafted it up and collaborated with a structural engineer to create detailed building plans from the 3D Sketchup Model. There were a few minor changes required by the structural engineer for structural loading, but ultimately a final set of plans was produced and submitted to the city for approval.
Plan B
2 years into the process and approvals from the city coming with conditions, design flaws not being fully ironed out, and with the added cost of building, I said screw it lets build a barn on the end of the existing house! New Design took 4 weeks to design, and should be a breeze to build! Bonus is I get to live it in already and enjoy the views!