Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Knowing when to protect the forest and when to celebrate the sun...


Living in the NW can be a challenge of protecting our forests -- celebrating our trees -- on the one hand and having enough sun around our homes to protect against dreary, depressing dark sunless days. It's also a challenge to love the rain yet provide spaces to be out of the rain. To create transitions between indoors and outdoors that can be enjoyed year around is all too often ignored in the NW home.

This hole-in-the-ground photo (below) is preparing the way for the support of a small roof at a double glass door, with small deck, on the south side of Lois' home. On sunny days, as well as overcast days, this spot, with a glass roof porch, will always be full of light. Because this door and deck are off Lois' studio, it will also be a spot to recapture creative juices when they're running low.

Although it isn't "solar energy" as we've come to think of it, it's using the sun for warmth and light. A "hot" spot, created by the glass roof, providing light even on a cool winter's day.







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