Images of the Prototype: the "front" and side of the house the rear and side which would face a view, and or private outdoor space the side entry garage, 3 spaces, and the entry side again the ground floor plan (by others) the second floor plan (by others) Images of the Design Study based on same pre engineered structural frame below: the rear side facing view and/or private outdoor space, this view shows the 2nd level outdoor terrace above the story and a half tall living space this end of the house contains the master bedroom in a high loft like space, above the kitchen the entry side utilizes the garages, and the secondary bedrooms to build a buffer between the living space and the outside world ground floor plan sketch shows the flexible loft like layout of this suburban industrial space second floor plan sketch shows the layout of the 4 bedrooms and the upper level terrace which alternatively could be used as a loft family room if enclosed

Number: 0492 The 6040 House Prototype and Design Study Images

Update: The 6040 House now has a dedicated web site at: 6040House.com Two designs are presented on this page. The first is the design of the prototype for a new line of prefabricated steel homes, and the second a design study created to explore the potential of this new product line. Both of these are designed to be built within the standard frame work of a 60ft by 40ft pre-engineered building, hence the name. A pre-engineered building is a generic industrial building made by many manufacturers, Butler perhaps being the most recognizable brand name. These buildings are pre-designed and engineered, fabricated to order, delivered and installed on your site built foundation. The prototype illustrated here will be built in 2005 on a site in Delaware and soon after should be available nationwide. The prototype is serving two purposes, first as a proof of concept, and second as a the introductory product for the new line. The line will utilize the existing industrial infrastructure, manufacturing and installation network, and economy of scale of the pre-engineered building industry. We are working as a design consultant to Northern Steel, the international metal building manufacturer behind this effort. Northern Steel has taken the initiative to adapt metal building conventions to residential design. Their "EcoSteel" system as it is called leverages standard metal building construction for use in the relatively light residential construction setting. This allows them to extend the efficiency that is practiced in this kind of commercial construction. In their words: Northern Steel has recently launched their new patent pending EcoSteel Building System, which utilizes pre-engineered commercial materials in the design. The new EcoSteel System is best used in contemporary or "loft style" projects where there is no need to cover up the steel structure. The benefits over traditional lumber construction are compelling. Cutting down trees to build homes is an outdated and unsustainable method of building. Not only is the construction time reduced with an all steel residence, you eliminate termites and exterior maintenance. Toxic Mold and Home Fires are virtually eliminated. This all adds up to a more balanced environment with a higher interior air quality. I am collaborating with Northern to develop modern designs utilizing the EcoSteel system as we all agree that it is a natural for the given construction aesthetic of the system. This is an extension of the metal cottage business that they already have under way here http://www.ecocottages.com We don't have all the details yet as we are still working through this. Browse through the rest of their site and I think you will get a feeling for their business. This is a unique entry into the modern prefab movement. They already prefabricate and erect metal buildings nationwide so there is no warm-up period. Everything is in place and it should scale up immediately as demand warrants. The Prototype The prototype is a large four bedroom house with two master bedrooms. My involvement in this initial prototype has been in the design of the facades. It has been an exercise in leveraging the off the shelf palette of materials used in the industry to make a pleasing and compelling composition. The floor plan is the legacy of a previous design effort so I can not speak to it but the plans are here for your consideration. The house contains 4 bedrooms, with a ground level master suite. The master suite contains its own second floor loft accessed by a spiral staircase. There is a second master bedroom with its own master bath as well. The ground level public spaces are open to the full height of the structure and circulation space from the bedrooms above overlook these spaces. If you study the plan and the elevations you can begin to read the spacial organization of the house on the facades with two story spaces taking on one "language", and the two level portions of the house taking on another. The stone sections of the facade are unique to the prototype as the material is dictated by building site covenants. The Design Study This study was completed in the course of exploring the compositions possible within the modules dictated by these industrial building systems. They are eminently feasible, but not suitable for the initial prototype. They are offered here to demonstrate the wide range of possibilities that this system offers. We are confident that compelling designs can be created with this building medium and we look forward to developing them. The study house follows the program established in the prototype but attempts to leverage the available space in the building frame more completely. The great height of the structure permits an upper level space above the ground level living area while still maintaining a loft like ceiling height in the lower spaces. This additional space provides the alternate living space that a house with a four bedroom program deserves, in the form of a family room or outdoor terrace. The overall planning of the house differs as it strives to align the living spaces and the master bedroom along the private side of the house where they can enjoy views and private outdoor space adjacent, and utilizes the garages and secondary bedrooms as a buffer between the living space and the public side of the house.