Sundial House by Specht Architects
New Mexico
Photo © Taggart Sorensen
Photo © Casey Dunn
Photo © Casey Dunn
Photo © Casey Dunn
Photo © Casey Dunn
Photo © Casey Dunn
Photo © Casey Dunn
Photo © Taggart Sorensen
Image courtesy Specht Architects
Architects & Firms
Site size: 8 acres
Project size: 3,600 square feet
Program: The architects sunk the front of the house into the earth; guests enter through a recessed courtyard into a private vestibule. Once inside, panoramic views of the Sangre de Christos Mountains are revealed. Cantilevered roofs shade glazed walls, creating porches around the perimeter.
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Solution: The house was designed to become part of its surrounding environment. It is organized around large concrete walls that extend into the landscape. Natural light is a major element—a narrow skylight runs the entire length of one of the house’s walls, casting shadows that change throughout the day on the rough concrete.
Construction and materials: Materials are simple and reflect traditional local construction, but have a more contemporary expression. The roof system is closed cell foam. The building is very much influenced by site climate and energy/water use. The primary walls are solid concrete and the skylights are oriented to allow absorption and blocking of solar gain to maximal effect. Deep portals, or porches, shade the perimeter glazing, reducing direct heat gain. A large photovoltaic array provides nearly all power for the house, and all lighting is LED. Rainwater is collected in large tanks for irrigation and non-potable use. Perimeter walls are insulated concrete form ICF construction, providing durability, fire resistance, and thermal performance. The house is dug into the earth, creating recessed exterior courtyards and additionally moderating thermal performance.
Additional Information
Completion date: June 2016
Gross square footage: 3,600 square feet
CreditsArchitect: Specht Architects
Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit: Scott Specht: Architect & Designer
Architect of record: Scott Specht
Interior designer: At Home, Inc. (Norine Hayes)
Engineers: Structural: QPEC or Quiroga-Pfeiffer Engineering (David GrabCivil: Walker Engineering
General contractor: Wolf Corp. (John Wolf, John Jones, Nat Sena)
Photographer: Taggart Sorenson & Casey Dunn
Consultants: Landscape: James David Lighting: Rotman & Associates, Inc. Other: Solar Energy consultant: Positive Energy Solar (Thomas Gray)
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SpecificationsStructural System Load bearing board form concrete walls, glulam beams (exposed), insulated concrete forms, steel columns & beams @ window wall, premanufactured truss, slab on grade, mtl stvd interior walls Manufacturer of any structural components unique to this project: Build block (ICF), APA wood (glulam), SantaFe Steel Exterior Cladding Metal/glass curtain wall: Cardinal Glass Wood: White Oak Curtain wall: Fleetwood storefront windows & doors Other cladding unique to this project: Cementitous stucco by El Ray Roofing Built-up roofing: Closed cell foam roof system Doors Entrances: Fleetwood Hardware Locksets: Emtek Stuffart Door Handles Other special hardware: Hettich Track Hardware Interior Finishes Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: Chavez Woodworking Paints and stains: Minwax, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams Wall coverings: Philip Jeffries Raised flooring: Board form concrete Special interior finishes unique to this project: Board form concrete |
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