Getting oriented.

Our plot of land is mostly flat, with a gentle slope down to the lake. The site looks north to the lake, with the lake shore running northwest to southeast. To utilize solar gain to heat a passive solar home, we needed to consider the solar aspects of the site.

The set back is 75 feet from the shore, which brings us just below the crest of the hill. A typical configuration might be a two or three story cabin with a walk-out basement and a two-story deck, pushed tight up against that setback line.

For us, we wanted our home to be more of a continuation of the hill, somewhat hidden from the lake, and of a diminutive scale. We wanted the lake to be a draw to go outside, vs. a lake in a “picture frame”. So we considered pushing the house back from the setback a bit. One of the advantages of that could be a reduction in needed excavating toward the lake shore, leaving the natural slope largely undisturbed.

We also needed to optimize our solar gain to the south and our views to the north. The situation suggests a more open pavilion form, with strategically arranged fenestration (glass doors and windows) on both the south and north side of a main living area. That configuration could also allow for some natural air conditioning, with the breezes blowing up and over the hill from our lake and a second lake about a quarter mile to the south. Yet another design challenge would be to limit the heat loss on the north side while maximizing the view and connection to the lake. The typical approach would be to put a wall of double-height windows facing the view.

A real puzzle!

Site contours, zoning setbacks, seasonal solar exposure, natural ventilation and key views.