Louis
This project is a vacation house at The Sea Ranch in Sonoma County, California. The program called for an 1850 square foot passive solar house with a solarium, island kitchen, and interior spa. The lot is on the edge between a young Douglas fir forest and an open, sloping meadow. A patch of ocean is visible from the highest part of the property.
A triangular solarium is oriented towards the ocean view with two wings of the house extending from this focus at 90 degree angles. Three thermal chimneys echo the rising tree line and cool the solarium by bleeding off heat, thereby allowing the solarium to be contiguous with the other spaces. The two roof forms are long/low and visually sympathize with the sloping land.
Harmony with the natural landscape is inherent in my architectural thinking and this was my first use of a green roof. I have been thinking about green roofs since becoming familiar with Malcolm Wells many years ago. To draw out the lines of the house the side walls were extended to create a contained planter. This works well for drainage because it eliminates down slope parapet walls and scuppers, and allows roof water to run directly down the waterproof retaining wall between the interior space and planter.
This roof was built prior to becoming familiar with the numerous high-tech products available today. Even so, the roof has never leaked. The roof system consists of Douglas fir beams and decking over laid with structural plywood and conventional built-up roofing. For drainage two inches of gravel are placed with a cap sheet below and filter fabric above. The finished roof consists of about ten inches of top soil from the foundation excavation, mixed with sand and perlite. This is seeded with a native meadow mix fortified with red fescue (for its low water tolerance). Because the roof grass will turn brown sooner than the meadow grass (which has more soil and moisture available to it), sprinklers are added. The sprinklers also add a measure of fire protection.
With the devastation that each new building project brings to the natural environment it is a little consoling that this green roof continues to provide habitat for a number of plant and animal species.
A triangular solarium is oriented towards the ocean view with two wings of the house extending from this focus at 90 degree angles. Three thermal chimneys echo the rising tree line and cool the solarium by bleeding off heat, thereby allowing the solarium to be contiguous with the other spaces. The two roof forms are long/low and visually sympathize with the sloping land.
Harmony with the natural landscape is inherent in my architectural thinking and this was my first use of a green roof. I have been thinking about green roofs since becoming familiar with Malcolm Wells many years ago. To draw out the lines of the house the side walls were extended to create a contained planter. This works well for drainage because it eliminates down slope parapet walls and scuppers, and allows roof water to run directly down the waterproof retaining wall between the interior space and planter.
This roof was built prior to becoming familiar with the numerous high-tech products available today. Even so, the roof has never leaked. The roof system consists of Douglas fir beams and decking over laid with structural plywood and conventional built-up roofing. For drainage two inches of gravel are placed with a cap sheet below and filter fabric above. The finished roof consists of about ten inches of top soil from the foundation excavation, mixed with sand and perlite. This is seeded with a native meadow mix fortified with red fescue (for its low water tolerance). Because the roof grass will turn brown sooner than the meadow grass (which has more soil and moisture available to it), sprinklers are added. The sprinklers also add a measure of fire protection.
With the devastation that each new building project brings to the natural environment it is a little consoling that this green roof continues to provide habitat for a number of plant and animal species.
Country: United States
Zip Code: 95480
