Taliesin Prefab Studio Update 5

View looking from the living room to the bedroom. The skylight, pictured above will provide daylight for the bathroom, once the area is enclosed.

Last week the sliding doors were installed for the Prefabrication Prototype; moving the prototype one step closer to being "dried in". Cecil and Rick, the installation team from Milgard installed the doors in the living area. Then the students, with Rick and Cecil's help installed the bedroom doors; providing a great hands on learning opportunity. The project team would like to thank Milgard and their representative Mark Jacobson for providing the doors at a discounted price and the installation for free. We would also like to thank Cecil and Rick, Milgard's installation team.

Next week I will be migrating across the country for the start of the summer season, at Taliesin East (Wisconsin). In two weeks I will post an update on the progress of the project, the learning that has occurred and the intentions for the completed project.

Below are some images of the installation in progress. The end of this post contains links to all the previous posts.

Christian installing flashing to receive the sliding door frame.


Laying down silicone to seal the door to the flashing

The final result, looking from the bedroom to the living room

Introduction Post

Update #1

Update #2

Update #3

Update #4

Images copyright Christian Butler and Ryan Hewson

Comments

[Marco Gennari]

Hello,
I am writing from Italy, and I would like to congratulate you on your work and thank you for posting reports about it. I've been interested in the type of wood enclosing panels, so these blogs have been very interesting and useful.
I would like to ask: how thick are the panels you used for the walls? And how thick, also, are the floor and the roof?
Thank you for the attention, and keep up the good work!
Marco Gennari.

[Marco Gennari]

Hello, again,
there is something else I feel curious about, if you don't mind. I have looked at your drawings, but I haven't found any clues about the measures of the house, and I was wondering what the width and the height of it might be.
Thank you so much again, if you will take the time to answer.
I send you my best regards,
Marco Gennari.

[Eugen Il]

Hi Marco!

I see you do not get any answer.
I guess the bedroom is about 3,6 x 3,6,
you see the panels in a pic.
They might be afraid for copycats.
I wouldnt bother:)

[sergio aceves]

I'am an mexican architect----56 years old---

CONGRATULATIONS......................

[Marco Gennari]

Hello, Mr. Eugen II,
I don't know whether this is a coincidence or you guys just planned it together, but no-one else has written since August, and today I received a very useful e-mail from Ryan Hewson about some construction details, and two different comments have come in. Nice surprise!
However, Ryan Hewson actually wrote that the width of the building is 12', so your supposition is fairly correct.
Best regards,
Marco.

[Eugen Il]

Hi guys,

I like the work but I am not sure I would feel OK with the height of the bedroom, it seems to be about 2 meters.
I'm afraid that it can feel claustrophobic and very warm. Have you used it for a couple of days to test it?

Anyway, I like the concept, but I'm considering the details too:)

[Eugen Il]

Oh Marco,

I am not in the team and did not plan anything:)
Just a coincidence, believe it or not:)
If you add 2 x 20 cm walls you have like 12'.
But the walls are not so thick in this case,
I guess again they are like 12 cm.
my best,
Eugen

[Marco Gennari]

Hello, again,
well your supposition is very close again, the walls being 4 and 1/2 in. thick, which is about 11.5 cm. The bed-room is 6'8 (approximately 200 cm.), but I feel it should be just fine, as long as one's height isn't greater than that. I love places that are usefully measured, as well as a double-height in the living-room, for instance. I wouldn't know about the warmth, but that is a another question, isn't it?
Bye-bye,
Marco.

[Marco Gennari]

P.S.:
About the 12 feet, I suppose it depends what the 'foot' equals to exactly, if it is 30 cm., as I calculated it, 12' is 360 cm. If you count it for more, 33 cm. or so, as it is sometimes, 12' actually equals more. I read it ranges between 30 and 33 cm. or so, it depends.
Best regards and wishes.
Marco

[Don De Armond]

No mention of solar panels manufacturer. I would like
to know whether separate off-the-roof solar panel usage has been tested and approved for use by the
industry. What might be efficiency compared to roof
solar panels?

[Marco]

As long as they are exposed to the sunlight, and correctly hooked up, it shouldn't make any difference where they are located, should it?

[David Beltz]

For an Oregon climate can you offer a general construction cost without furnashings? Include all Green code uses--water conservation measures,roof water for toilets and garden etc. saver toilets, passive heating, but not solar panels. Any ideas on this?

[ad]

Hello,

Nice Design. Would be nice to see a material list/cost break down, or How much does this cost? Are the plan in the public domain?

Thanks
AD

[Doris J Nicholson]

I am looking into building a small solar home near my grandaughter.
I am aged and retired and love the idea of a solar all green home.
I would like it to be between 500 and 1,00 sq feet and
would love to have it as a demonstration model, if there is such a need.
I really don't know how to go about this so HELP ME OUT!!

[Katherine Kittrell]

What are the plans to commercialize (mass produce and sell) units?

Katherine Kittrell
PhD Student, ASU School of Sustainability