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The Darby House represents Chuck Johnson's vision of a
state-of-the-art eco-house. It has been fashioned as a
fusion of contemporary and arts & crafts styles. Designed
by Chuck Johnson, and wife Carolyn McAleavy collaborating
with Ken O'Connor.
ENTRANCE
The home is set on a south-facing hillside, with a
sunken northern entry courtyard that provides protection from the
prevailing westerly winds, and has a cool microclimate with plants
and a pond.The south walls feature extensive glass for passive solar gain.
Walking down the steps into the sunken northern entry courtyard, you will
experience one of the first micro-climates of the Darby Residence. This shaded,
moist area has been cut into the hillside and is flourishing with plant life.
This coolness function is depended on for hot summer days when the houseneeds a
cool air source.
At the bottom of the courtyard stairs, you will enter a custom door made with
reclaimed old-growth redwood.
CENTRAL ATRIUM
This opens up to the central atrium of the house, which is
complete with a water feature. To the left, you will see a helical, spiral staircase
constructed with black walnut treads, quilted blue eucalyptus risers, and redwood
stringers and railing.
KITCHEN
The kitchen is oriented east to have a morning sun advantage. The
cabinets in the kitchen are made from reclaimed Douglas fir boasting lovely golden
and red hues. The house features a slab-on-grade main floor with integral-colored
concrete as the finished flooring with radiant heat tubing.
LIVING ROOM
What may catch your attention more, however, is the 14' wall
of operable glass in the living room. A European masonry heater is central focus of
the room. Skylights and glass brilliantly light this main area of the house. From the
living room, the "Nana" glass door system bi-folds open the entire fourteen feet length
onto the acid-stained concrete patio with gorgeous panoramic views. The walls are
artistically uplifted with the Lazuring process, a multi-color glazing from the
Anthroposophical tradition.
BACK PATIO
The landscaping planting comes right up to the edge of the house,
blending the house with its surroundings. This is accomplished with a 3' stem wall
base around the whole house constructed with the "Insteel 3-D" panel system. This
provides a virtually maintenance-free function to an area that is easily damaged by
sun and water when it is constructed with wood.
EL GROTTO
The Grotto wine cellar and office provides a cool, dry space to take
a nice afternoon nap in the summer. The wainscoting is made of recycled fir. The deep
forest green glazed walls create a soothing, healing atmosphere.
BEDROOMS
All of the bedrooms have wool carpeting, to enhance indoor air quality.
The master bedroom has Old World plaster wainscoting.
BATHROOMS
The bathroom counters are all done with the Cement Plus Plaster
System -- there is a custom shade of color for each situation. The cabinetry is
made of recycled fir.
HEATING & COOLING
The house is heated by passive solar as the first tier
level, comfortable from late spring to early autumn. We then utilize the second
tier of heating, with the European Masonry Heater. As a back-up and low-effort
option, we have radiant floor heating on the third tier. The convective cooling
system for the house involves a function where cool air entering north side windows
forces hot air up and out of the operable Ellis skylights.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
For the health of the workers and residents, indoor air quality
was taken into high consideration during this project, Air-borne particulate have been
kept to a minimum with a central vacuum, wool throw rugs, and radiant heating. Our
initial toxic input was also curbed by the use of low-toxic paints and finishes, and
the absence of particle board. Both a solar photovoltaic electric system and a solar
water heater will be used for domestic needs and space heating.
ELEMENTAL BUILDING
The house is appraise example of what we call Elemental
Construction, that is to say it is integrated with the elements of earth, air,
fire and water.
Earth - The north side of the house is embraced by an earth berm. It is the
base or root of the house, and there is even a hole in the bottom of the house
that taps directly into the soil for planting a tree to exemplify this connection.
Fire - This house abounds with warmth from the sun and masonry hearth.
Air - The flow of air through the house has a dynamic and healthy recirculation,
yet there is protection from the more severe westerly winds.
Water - There are multiple water features designed into the home. We
have channeled the water to maintain the integrity of the soil and have a
waterfall that provides sound wildlife cultivation.
FIGURES
Two-thirds of siding of the house is constructed from salvaged logs.
Two-thirds of roofing material is reused, salvaged lumber. The house is laid out
in a butterfly floor plan, with two wings facing south for maximum solar gain in
the winter months. There are generous three-foot overhangs that keep the house cool
in the heat of summer.
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