Solar Work 1983-1995
Andover Ridge, Foundation House
Although a plain looking gabled house from the road, this large vacation house high above Weston,VT shows its real intent on the south facade. The southwest corner is a vertical aluminum and glass tube of sunspace which is allowed to cycle thermally. The other half of the facade is a large solar hot-air collector. In heating mode, air is circulated between glass layers on the south of the sunspace that have a grille of thin black coated aluminum to absorb some of the heat. Next, the air then passes into the bottom of the collector, where it is heated even more, and then passes through various hollow brick walls, situated throughout the house, filled with round rock. Later the heat radiates out from the walls. This system is a type of active feed and passive release. The view is spectacular to the west, and the night insulated-windows are strategically placed to maximize it, while minimizing heat loss.
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The greenhouse trusses were fabricated on site to create the most lace-like texture in counterpart to the weight of the brick, and to minimize mullion size and maximize glass area. The roof, which collects water for household use and as thermal mass, is shaped as a funnel, and was extended later to increase water quantity stored for winter months. The black water tower and glazed with insulating glass on the southeast and southwest sides. As it is located inside the greenhouse area, additional night insulation can be manipulated to maximize performance. Another sunspace occupies the south side of the office, along the edge of which a ramp leads from the entrance drum to the office, then a bridge to the greenhouse and main section of the house. Heated air from this sunspace is ducted to spaces behind it.