Creating the design of the Sedona Red Brick House (SRBH) we were guided primarily by the customer's task, as well as the initial data for the design, including topographic survey of the site, photo / video analysis of the territory. We also got acquainted with the city history of Sedona and West Sedona, and carefully studied the physical and geographical features in terms of temperature differences (minimum in winter and maximum in summer), air humidity, wind strength and direction, etc.
Based on the topographic survey of the site, the elevation difference is between 4370 - 4352 feet above sea level and is 18 feet. At the same time, the customer prefers a one-story house, with a minimum number of steps in the middle of the house, and flat or single-pitched roofs. Also, the City building department has a height restriction of 22 feet, but can go up to 27 feet with massing variations and by using darker colors on the exterior.
So, we managed to design a one-story house on one level, taking into account the planning restrictions. At the same time, the floor in the house is at the 4357 feet above sea level, the entrance to the garage is designed with a slope of 1:12, which makes it inclusive. Instead, in the North and West along the site boundary, we have a retaining wall up to 9 feet 6 inches high at the highest point. This solution allows you to get a backyard shaded on one side by the house, and with a retaining wall on the other, which in our opinion is very comfortable considering the summer heat in Arizona.
Volumetric and spatial solutions provide for the maximum integration of the architecture of the house into the environment, that is why we wanted the house to be faced with red brick as close as possible in tone to the surrounding mountains, and the green inserts on the main facade and the terrace were as close as possible to the existing green plantations in tone.
Planning decisions. The entrance to the house and the gate to the garage for 2 cars is provided from ROLLS ROAD street. We designed a porch in front of the entrance. The entrance group is formed by a spacious hall, which flows into a living room with an atrium. It is worth noting that the ceiling height throughout the house is - 10 feet 10 inches, except for the living room, where due to the second light, the ceiling height is - 15 feet 9 inches. This solution allows you to fill the living room with daylight without overheating it with the hot Arizona sun. The windows in the living room face the West, East and North, but there are no windows to the South. In addition, the house has 3 bedrooms, one of which is a master bedroom with a private bathroom and a spacious wardrobeIn general, according to the task, there are 2.5 bathrooms in the house. All bedrooms and the living room have access to the terrace, which is designed on the north side and is closed by the walls of the house and the roof, in our opinion, this will also create a comfortable environment for relaxation.
Technological solutions. In our opinion, the Sedona Red Brick House (SRBH) could be built in wood-frame technology with ceramic brick cladding. Such a decision involves the implementation of a monolithic foundation, the depth and type of which depends on engineering and geological investigations. We also believe that it is necessary to provide a forced ventilation and air conditioning system, the air ducts of which could be placed under the ceiling of the house. A flat roof with a total area of 2,700 sq ft will allow the placement of a solar power plant with a capacity of up to 20 kW, which will ensure the functioning of all household appliances in the house, as well as the ventilation and air conditioning systems. And with competent subsequent design with a rational approach to consumption, it is quite possible to achieve Passive House indicators.