TURRET
HOUSE consists of 4 basic 12 ft. square modules. Each two storied unit has
a flat roof and the 4 modules are offset around an 8 ft. square central turret
with windows. The ground floor has 3 bedrooms but the second living floor
is open plan. The turreted clerestorey windows provide ample daylight to the
center of the living space - Peak House has 'attitude' even though it is only
1280 sq.ft. (640 sq.ft. each floor).
SW
view
SE
view
NE
view
NW
view
First
floor details: Small spaces are enhanced by careful window placement and minimal
furnishings. Bedroom #1 has 12 ft. square floor area with additional 11 ft.
closet space - three 4'x8' sliding doors make closet accessible. Single bedrooms
#2 and #3 have 5 ft. closets - each with corner hand basins to reduce bathroom
congestion. Entrance hall has coat closet and hot water tank under stairs.
Stairs are 3.5 ft. wide with 12 inch steps and 7 inch risers - safe and comfortable
to navigate. Glass door leads to privacy deck. Stacked washer and drier are
concealed behind dual use passage door.
click
drawings to enlarge and explore
Second
floor details: The extravagant stairwell is open to the L-shaped living/dining
area - provides appearance of spaciousness. But the dramatic emphasis comes
from the turreted clerestorey windows and the 10 ft. high ceilings in the
living room and kitchen. A glass door leads onto the cantilevered dining deck.
Note the recessed telephone desk and shelves. The 4 ft. wide access to the
kitchen is arched. Storage in small houses is critical - hence the kitchen
pantry and the closet at the top of the stairs. Beams and raised ceilings
are shown in the next set of drawings below.
Box
beam details below:
Add
Garage
Designer's
comments : All windows and doors are stock items. Bedroom, kitchen and stairwell
windows are 4 ft. high and 3 ft. wide. Dining and living room windows are
6 ft. high by 3 ft. wide. Corner windows make small rooms feel expansive.
Changing the 12 ft. square towers to 14 ft. square towers will increase the
house size from 1280 sq. ft. to 1696 sq. ft. - and the first floor layout
could be considerably improved with the size increase.
Small
houses eventually require additional storage. Add a large (24'x24'x9') affordable
garage - doubles as rec room - table tennis or billiards?
The
4 box beams shown above are 12 ft. long by 2 ft. high. Box beams are constructed
using 2x4s with half inch plywood nailed or screwed to both sides.
Notice the 2 ft. wall extensions on the kitchen and living room exterior walls
- giving these rooms 10 ft. ceiling heights - compared with 8 ft. ceilings
over the dining and stairwell spaces.
Drawing three shows how the turret walls fit above the box beams.
