Sleeping Porch Home in the Woods
Waller Texas Area
Purchasing a heavily wooded lot in an area nearby her old home, this specialty veterinarian wanted an affordable place where guests could stay inside the house, yet be away from her main living quarters. Having rather large dogs (Rhodesian Ridgebacks) that live inside with her, she wanted a private study where she could isolate herself from them without a door or gate, and having a naturally ventilated sleeping porch, the main living-dining-kitchen and master bedroom areas all connected with the outdoors.
She also wanted to minimize the cooling and heating energy use for her home in the woods by using as much natural ventilation as possible. To accomplish these goals, EA purposely designed the main living area to be upstairs in the tree canopy. Then by designing extra wide roof eaves, these eaves provide ample shade while protecting the open windows and the interior from blowing rain. The third story study’s design placement enhances natural ventilation flow for the whole house (acting as a thermal chimney), plus provides privacy, as requested, from her pets since the dogs won’t climb its circular stair. The sleeping porch is purposely located to capture the prevailing southeastern breezes yet is positioned high about the humidity that hovers near the ground. Guest rooms are on the ground floor.
She exclaims: “This is the perfect home for me.”