This passive solar caretaker's house was constructed in Cherry Hills, CO in 1985 and has since been torn down to make way for a McMansion. The sun's heat was absorbed by the black tiled concrete stairs and the black tiled concrete wall from which the stairs cantilevered. At night the stairs and concrete wall would radiate their heat back into the house. The stair enclosure could be ventilated by opening the low awning windows and the operable skylights on the roof. Additional sun heat was absorbed by the Trombe wall located to the left of the stairway. The house totaled 3000 square feet including the basement. This caretaker's house was designed to match the style of the client's main house.
All renderings by Robert R. Larsen