Meet the Builder

I'm very happy to introduce Porter and Sons Construction located in Walla Walla, Washington to the building project. I met Mark and Ben Porter for the 1st time in 2006 while consulting on a Passive Solar Home project they built on the adjacent property. I learned from that experience that Mark and Ben Porter were very detailed and meticulous builders, and they are really good folks! Their building skills and personality are ideally suited for the challenges that lie ahead for building a Passive House Project. My clients, Craig and Ursula Volwiler agreed and felt they would be in good hands trusting Porter and Sons Construction in building their new home.

Mark has been my main point man and has been very receptive and eager to learn about Passive House building strategies, high performance envelope assemblies and the Passive House Energy Standard.

We have been spending much of our time determining the best approach for how the house will be built from an ease of construction and construction sequencing approach, while still striving to meet the requirements for a Passive House. Look for future posts that present a look at the construction technologies we are intending to utilize for the project.

Here's a link to their website: http://www.porterandsonsconstruction.com/

South Elevation Rendering and Project Description

I took about a month but we finished conceptual design and are moving through design development. I thought I would share the first rendering of the project and give a more detailed description of the project.

This barn influenced style home is 2,152 square feet with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and a small loft office. The design echoes the vernacular architecture of farm buildings and vineyards in the region. The home will be optimized for passive solar gain and views of the Blue Mountains. A wrap around covered deck and porch area will create an outdoor living space that connects inside spaces with outdoors. The owners will have a large garden to grow most of their food and have incorporated a root and wine cellar for winter food storage in the detached garage. Reclaimed exposed structural beams and posts will be used to visually divide the large southern open space that occupies the kitchen, dining and living room. The central dining area will reach two stories, and window seat nooks on both sides of a very small wood stove will be a focal point at the south end of the dining area.

The second floor landing/common space features a vaulted ceiling composed of reclaimed tongue and groove pine, provides for mountains views through large southern windows, and visually connects with the dining space at a centrally located handrail.