Robert Swinburne Architect, LLC | Robert Swinburne

Designer: Robert Swinburne

The cohesive style of this house is neither overtly modern nor too neo-traditional. It is flexible and adaptable to a wide range of aesthetic preferences and regional precedents. Deep overhangs on the south protect large areas of glass in the living room. A deeply recessed deck area off the dining room creates a nicely protected outside space - a screen porch could be added here. Another porch off the large bedroom could be screened in as well. The connector between the house and garage also offers useful covered outdoors space. The 1700 square foot plan is open, simple and leaves ample opportunity for indoor/outdoor living. Tight spots are eliminated and everything is on one level. The plan is designed to function well for a variety of living situations and can accommodate a large number of dinner guests. There is also a high level of privacy for the master suite. The entry contains extra space that can be used for a variety of things including stairs to a basement, utility closet or perhaps a study or craft area. Nine foot ceilings feel airy and light and allow for ceiling fans but are not too high to clean. Construction is extremely simple and is designed for “Passive House” levels of insulation. The roof is a basic truss system and the walls can be constructed using any of a number of systems including double stud wall, Structural insulated panels or insulated concrete forms. There is nothing at all radical about this house in form or construction methods other than the fact that it is designed to be built to Passive House standards which is just common sense. Although designed for the empty nest profile, this house would work equally well as a starter home and everything in between.

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Entry: Simple House

views: 9538
votes: 1
comments: 35
profile: The Not So Empty Nest

area: 1707
bedrooms: 2
bathrooms: 2
garage stalls: 2
floor: 1
depth: 64
width: 48

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Comments on Simple House

3/20/2010

David Whittall: Very comfortable looking. I like it.
3/17/2010

justin: cool design
3/17/2010

Binka: Nice design Simple but practical
3/16/2010

Sorrel: I can see a lot of similarities to my Community Land Trust Home, which has several Green features such as passive solar. The open floor plan in the living room/kitchen area is cozy yet spacious. This house design has a simple but elegant feel. I don't know any of the architects featured here but Robert Swinburne's design gets my vote.
3/16/2010

Drj: Is that a dog entering or a person?
3/15/2010

Meg Pond: The spaciousness and adaptability of the design is very appealing to me, including the inclusion of an apartment above the garage. It feels very airy and efficient at the same time.
3/15/2010

Drj: I hope everyone who voted for this design will get one other person to do so in the next 24 hours.
3/14/2010

Fauxbro: Nice work.
3/14/2010

Mason: Agree.
3/14/2010

Drj: I like the proximity of dining area to outside porch.
3/14/2010

Jan: I've just noticed that the dog is entering in one view, and leaving in another. Dogs aside, I have now clicked through at least a couple hundred entries and am still convinced that this design is among the best. I hope it makes it into the round judged by the experts.
3/14/2010

pret: Thanks.
3/13/2010

Bob S: Sorry. Flu-addled brain. That's 24' X 24'. 576 square feet.
3/13/2010

Jan: 24 s.f. goes beyond tiny. I suspect there's a zero missing, yes?
3/13/2010

pret: 24 s.f.?
3/12/2010

Bob S: The garage is 24 sq. feet. The apartment above could be that size or a portion of it. The design has a lot of flexibility to suit the owners' needs.
3/11/2010

Mason: In my humble opinion, the dog should be brown and perhaps a bit bigger. Otherwise, the design is superb in every respect.
3/10/2010

Ellie: Beautiful design.
3/10/2010

Jan: I've spent waaaaay too much time browsing through the pages here, and voted for a few designs. Some I'm surprised have few or no votes, and I wonder if that's a function of how soon people got their designs posted on the site. In many of the plans there's something I can't quite put my finger on, but designers probably could, and that is a lack of clarity in the images. Bob's design is one I can immediately "picture," which makes sense since it is presented in pictures. But some of the other designs, even though they are pictured, I can't picture! Does that make sense? I don't know. But I suspect what I experience translates at some level into how easy the house is to build and inhabit.
3/10/2010

Rachelle: I admittedly haven't looked at all the other entries yet, but it seems that so many of the others would cost a fortune to build. This design is elegant in its simplicity, and the simple, easy lines would make for cheaper construction costs, as well. I noticed a bunch of the other entries spelled out every "green" feature in the descriptions and here his descriptions sort of take that for granted. So I want to point out a few things. Even though he doesn't include the air flow charts so many of the others seem fond of, the windows and doors are placed optimally for cross-ventilation. It would also be quite easy to include an air exchange system in the construction, and the extra deep roof overhangs over the large window areas protects from summer sun to eliminate the need for air conditioning. At the same time, there are plenty of windows for passive solar gain in the winter, when the angle of the sun is low enough that the overhangs won't block it. It would be quite easy to install solar hot water on the roof to use for both hot water needs and the heating system. And, of course, in dry areas gutters and rain chains could recapture rain water in a rain barrel for landscaping use. The extra thick walls for super-insulation make a huge impact in terms of sustainability and also reduce the day-to-day heating expenses for the home. Plus they make for really cool, deep window sills perfect for plants or cats. I do wish he'd included an image of the caretaker apt. above the garage, but I guess that's an optional feature to be designed according to the owners' needs. Perhaps the final construction drawings would have the more spelled out.
3/10/2010

Rachelle: That's so funny, on first view I noticed the dog dish but somehow missed the dog!
3/9/2010

Pret: How many s.f. in the guest room above the garage?
3/9/2010

Jan: Speaking as someone's mother-in-law, I agree!
3/9/2010

me: I like that's there is just enough dog in the rendering
3/9/2010

tsmith: Gotta love the back-end of the dog in the last view!
3/9/2010

chocoholic: I think this house would be awesome for someone's mother in law.
3/9/2010

Jan: I've just read the guidelines and am seeing some of the details that would make this plan work so well in its category, e.g., how gloriously close the master bedroom bathroom is to the bed: great for sore knees in the middle of the night! And wall/floor space for the retired arts promoter to display favorite pieces.
3/9/2010

Nadja: I can imagine this house blending with just about any other style. Amazing how you have made it "matchable" to modern, ranch, cottage, etc. styles. Many of the designs on this site are interesting, but would not blend well in existing developments and neighborhoods.
3/8/2010

Judith Ackerman: Very comfortable looking and good use of light. If the house were mine, I'd put in skylight as well.
3/8/2010

Rebecca: This is a house design I'd actually want to live in and that the neighbors would be happy to have on their street!
3/7/2010

bob S: Coolness - thanks Greg! I've actually had a few inquiries about plans for it already.
3/6/2010

Greg La Vardera: Robert, I like your design and I've voted for it. I also put your design on my list of recommended entries here: http:/blog.lamidesign.com/2010/03/contest-entries-to-vote-for-our.html
3/6/2010

Kirstin: I love the open feel of the main living space.
3/4/2010

mil: v. nice
3/2/2010

Jan: Elegant and inviting. I love the deep porch w/option for a screen. Important in the mosquito-ridden NE.

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