TINY OFF-GRID HOUSE OPEN FLOOR PLAN
Image courtesy of Inc Magazine
WHAT IS AN OPEN FLOOR PLAN? An open floor house plan does not have walls or boundaries separating rooms or spaces which have different functions. Each space is conjoined with unrestricted movement when transitioning from one space to the next.
PROS The Tiny Off-Grid House open floor plan will allow easier traffic flow between spaces that have unrelated functions. Also, allowing these spaces to benefit from the same resources; like shared heat, cooling and light. The large open living space is framed by the main door, a single-wall kitchen, loft stairs, an office and the picture window dining area. The unconfined living space, with the obvious exception of the bathroom, will have an appearance of openness; often achieved with the use of bright color paints or mirrors.
Depending on the scenery, the large picture window dining area will allow for spectacuar views outside for persons eating or working at the long horizontal bar table with two stools. The bar table is positioned at a height to dine or perform task while seated on a stool or while standing. The picture window will pour sunlight inside filling the open living space with illumination. Another benefit is the natural radiant sunlight heating the floor mass in the living space during the daylight which will act as a thermal energy reserve slowly releasing the stored heat during the cooler nights. If necessary, vertical blinds can block the sunlight or provide privacy.
EFFICIENT VENTILATION & HEATING Since less dense hot air rises, a strategically located mini split positioned lower than the lofts, inaddition to the stored solar heat emanating from the floor mass will first warm the living space before rising freely up the vaulted ceiling where it will warm the sleeping lofts. A floor above the living space would block the warm air from rising and reaching its true potential.
In designing the Tiny Off-Grid House care was taken to maintain the goal of minimalism and not become burdened with the need for storage spaces; which has the potential to create clutter in new innovative ways by the desire to fill empty nooks and crannies with stuff. To help prevent this unintended consequence, household supplies will be stored in their areas of intended use. Also, by reducing the excesses of consumerism the need for extra storage space will be eliminated.
Instead of creating potential storage cabinets or drawers in the valuable real estate under the stairs leading to the main loft, the space will remain open with floating stairs above. The floating stair steps will cantilever, like ribs, from the skeletal steel frame hidden in the body of the wall. The use of floating stairs creates an open appearance that allows for an unobstructed: view, light, heat and ventilation to flow in between the steps. The floating stairs will visualize freedom with no constraints from the forces of gravity or weighed down with the burden of having to fill empty spaces underneath.
FLEXIBLE LAYOUT An open floor design provides for multifunctional spaces by providing options to redecorate when the desire or need arises. Entertaining can be easier with movabe table and chairs. A children play area allows a person to perform task while still keeping an eye on the children. Also, communication can be made easier with no barriers to block sound.
CONS Yet, it’s maybe some of the aforementioned benefits that can make an open floor plan prohibitive for some. The absence of physical boundaries does not allow for privacy. No barriers allow noise to travel freely from one space to another. However, these inconveniences can be mitigated with modular acoustic panels, mobile furniture or curtains.
The absence of load bearing walls or a post will require reinforced ceiling rafters to manage the weight of the Tiny Off-Grid House roof.
PROS The above mentioned practical benefits of an open floor plan far outweigh any inconveniences, if any, which can be easily remediated.
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