Project Description
A clean, mid-century modern design built on the Iowa prairie. Modular home design.
MAHARISHI VASTU ARCHITECTURE:
– Ancient system of natural law-based architecture that creates influences of health, happiness, and enlightenment, and a profound integration with the environment.
– Elements of the house using this system include its orientation, proportions, measurements, room placement, building elements, siting, and more.
– All the electrical wires shielding and kill circuit set up to greatly reduce electrosmog (EMF and electrical radiation).
– No microwave oven
CONSTRUCTION:
– 1500 s.f.—sized for energy efficiency
– Modular, minimizing construction waste
– Fiber-cement panel with aluminum flashing cladding system
– Universal (aging in place) design
– The finishing and built-ins are by local artists/artisans, and family artists
– Save for those pieces that were newly made by local master craftsmen, all furniture is the family’s.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN:
– Highly insulated building envelope (8” insulated wall cavity)
– All LED lighting
– Five solar tubes to completely eliminate dependence on artificial lighting during daylight hours
– Net-zero energy (subject to results of data tracking) from garage-roof photovoltaic solar panels
– No freezer
– Non-toxic construction materials
– All organic wool or cotton in new furnishings, including mattress pads, pillows, duvets, sheets, and rugs
SITE DESIGN:
– All plantings are native garden or regional prairie species
– All exterior lighting is Dark Skies Initiative compliant
– Registered wildlife habitat designed to support pollinators
– Fruit trees and bushes for nourishment of occupant, neighbors, and wildlife
– Verandahs or screen porches along most of the perimeter of the house providing ability to live close to garden and wildlife most of the year
– Client recently took a bio-nutrient workshop for soil health and plans to use the information in it to add bio-nutrients to the soil on her site.
– Two rain gardens and rill to responsibly divert run-off from storm sewers into local aquifer
– Patio & other hardscape are permeable