The first floor ICF system is in place and cores are filled with 30 or so yards of concrete. Was a good day to visit the site yesterday. The ICF system is most amazing in terms of ease of construction, cleanliness, and addressing all of the structural and environmental issues, which we tend to constantly look for better ways to address...this just may be the answer. Time will tell how the cost compares with other more traditional methods of construction, which for here in Florida would be CMU with applied interior rigid insulation and gyp board. The best guess from the contractor at this point is that the big picture will proove ICF to be a more viable system, in all aspects...I'll save the real answer for Jon to disclose later.

I was pleased to see the interior space and how the visualization is really taking shape. One big open space with no interior bearing walls or columns. The first floor will be very "loft- like" in terms of openness, flexibility and free-flowing spaces. It is also encouraging just to see how clean the site stays with the ICF system...suppose I can give Jon some credit there as well...

I have attached a couple of photos from yesterday's visit....enjoy...

   

   

Can I really do this myself?...

For several months I have avoided trying to post my blog without assistance, for I am not the most technically advanced in this area...and maybe after this one, GBM will unteach me...but let's see what happens.

Oh yeah, I also (think) I posted the VISION House 2011 floor plans...check them out...

 
I am pleased to have been selected as the architect for the 2011 VISION House for Green Builder Magazine. I have been involved with several show homes through the years and all have offered very unique and challenging design opportunities…and a forum to explore new design solutions and products in an arena of teamwork and common goals.

The VISION House is a special project to me because we are showcasing a home that can truly be considered mainstream. It is a home that is affordable to a majority of the masses, fits well within the community fabric, utilizes systems that enable the home to operate very efficiently and economically, and above all is very livable for today’s lifestyle.

The 2400 sf home will rest on a 50’ x 165’ urban fringe infill lot in a historic community called College Park adjacent to Orlando, Florida.

From the street the home looks like many of the homes that adorn the community, narrow house with rear detached garage, double front porch, center entry door…very typical “kit of parts”. The interior however is where the home “unplugs” and opens up. Many homes of this style have small chopped up floor plans that are difficult to furnish and difficult to comfortably live in. And the thing that really gets me is so many new models of this style are left unfurnished simply because the homes don’t show well when furnished…there are no obvious solutions.

The VISION House 2011 offers a wide open plan that stretches the entire length of the home, the dining and chat room is up front, the kitchen and stair way is the heart, and the living room opens to the rear covered outdoor living room with bbq area, fireplace and cocktail pool. From there is stair access to the additional game room/guest quarters above the oversized two car garage. There is also a side entry from the driveway that includes the powder and mud rooms.

Upstairs are three bedrooms, each with direct access to the front or rear balcony, two baths, and a mid level laundry/hobby room, which is a place where multi tasking can easily take place with the inclusion of areas for computer, homework, art projects, gift wrapping etc…with abundant natural day lighting it truly becomes a family center within the home.

The “loft like character”, use of interior windows to borrow daylight, an “industrial farmhouse” character, and the use of materials and products in unexpected ways all add to the uniqueness of the home.

I will add images of the on the next blog…but for now hopefully I have stirred your interest…