BLOGGING A SEATTLE BACKYARD COTTAGE – DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
a CAST architecture case study project

February 1, 2010 in Architecture, Backyard Cottages, CAST Projects by Tim Hammer | 3 comments

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We’ve completed the second round of design on our CAST architecture case study backyard cottage.

The plan has been fine tuned to optimize it for advanced framing. We adjusted the spaces to work better with Kate and Ric’s needs and have started looking at potential materials and finishes.

We’ve also started talking about systems – at this point everything is on the table, solar hot water, energy efficient boiler, hydronic floor heating systems, rainwater cistern for flushing the toilets and watering the yard, super insulated walls…

I suspect that our choices will narrow as the reality of our budget forces us to separate the wheat from the chaff. Right now however, the possibilities seem limitless!

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  1. mike’s avatar

    mike on February 16, 2010 at 2:01 pm

    speaking of systems, have you guys kicked around the idea of passivhaus for this project? or going completely passive and skipping mech. altogethor?

  2. Ric Cochrane’s avatar

    Ric Cochrane on March 16, 2010 at 4:08 pm

    Mike — Glad you mention it. We’ve had discussions with James Jenkins of Passive House Northwest, and Passive House seems not only desirable but achievable. Current plan is to build super tight with radiant wall units for heat, possibly coupled to a central boiler for the main house as well. Thanks! Ric

  3. mike’s avatar

    mike on March 17, 2010 at 1:03 am

    i know james from my volunteering w/ PHnw. glad to hear you guys are looking into it.