Barn House 1
VELD architect is excited to be part of reclaiming a bit of history with a home constructed from an old bank barn. The Owner’s decided the existing farmhouse was not in sufficient good shape to renovate for their growing family. However, they will reclaim as many viable materials as possible for use in their new home. VELD architect has assisted in obtaining a local barn and contractor who specializes in barn reclamation. In this unique project the design could not start until a frame was found.
The house is aiming to meet passive house standards, where insulation levels and air-tightness only requires 6 hair dryers to heat the house! The house is estimated to use about 1/2 the energy of a typical house in Ontario. The House has R50 walls and R70 in the roof. The house was built to be 6 times more air tight that the typical new houses on the market as it leaks at a rate of only 0.6 air changes per house vs. 2-12 air changes per house form typical houses in Ontario. The house is heated with radiant floor heating space 18″ o.c. as opposed to the typical 8″ using propane water heat with the potential to switch over to geothermal. The house is oriented to face South and takes in 11,000kWh of free heat each year.
The house is for themselves and their two children with the possibility for growth. The design concept is to maintain the character of the barn on the exterior while infilling with the home necessities, and creating a modern, clean style. the layout is an open loft style to emphasize the timber frame, adding colour and brightness throughout the house.
