contemporary ranch house plans

contemporary ranch house plans

The architectural design presents an award winning solar passive design across two storys. The architectural space relationships create room big enough for any rural retreat.  The residence incorporates three independent living spaces and seven bedrooms.  The architectural design encloses 4,305 square feet/400 square meter gross floor area – not including external terrace and alfresco areas.

architectural elements

The architectural layout creates a stable ambient air temperature across four seasons with little need for artificial heating or cooling.  A Chazelle wood fuel firebox that heats both the living and solar hot water unit during the cooler winter months. The single lock standing seam parapets of the bedroom wing discretely obscure an optional electricity generating photovoltaic array.  Current Federal Government and State government tax incentive rebates are currently at 26%.

architectural aesthetics

The architectural design achieves a coherent solar passive design principles through a generous allocation of south orientated glazing. The deep penetration of the lower azimuth winter sun for heat gain over the cooler winter months.  Generous skillion eaves exclude direct sunlight from the fenestration during the hot summer months. The highlight glass louvres create stack effect ventilation in living areas to contribute to internal ambient air temperature summer. Depending on site, property owners can also choose to incorporate air conditioning in the solar passive design.

The residence also features operable glass louvres to the underside of roof eaves on the shaded elevation.  The louvers generate cross ventilation for hot summer months for the cooling of the open-plan kitchen, living and dining. The contemporary ranch house plans boast direct sunlight spilling across the open plan living black oxide burnished concrete floor.The radiant energy of the direct sunlight is captured during the cooler winter months during daylight hours. The radiant heat is released from the building’s thermal mass heat sink throughout winter evenings. The operable windows and louvers to the living areas of the contemporary ranch house plans maximizes winter solar heat gain. The solar passive design during winter reduces the need for artificial heating and on-going utility costs.