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Unfolded is a modern house built using simplified poured concrete thermal mass walls on three sides and opens to the East and South views down the ravine to Lake Superior. The house sits on 2 city lots in the town of Bayfield. The site has robust topography and lent itself to the idea of walking down into an abode which unfolds to the the view.
The Land Parts
The Water Rakes
And the Breeze Unfolds with the View
Ready to dig!
The images below show a progression from when we first broke ground in June 2021 to when we were substantially completed in late December 2021.
The design employs the use of concrete walls on three sides, slab on grade and close-cell spray insulation to create a tight envelope.
There is not a single door inside the house (there are 4 doors to outside).
There is no gypboard in the house; exposed concrete walls on 3 of the outside walls and all inside walls along with the south wall is walnut.
The pad was dug to bottom of footing.
Footing forms being put in place. Note the through footing sleeves which work well for utilities and allowing hydrostatic pressure from inside the foundation tub to drain out.
Beautiful old school wooden forms, which will telegraph as beautiful concrete finish. Note the back walls are to an 8’ height and where the low forms are, is where the south window wall will be.
Forms removed. I love the texture of the break-bar nipples. They get knocked off with a hammer.
Adding the terrace footing forms. The terrace had to be done separately due to me paying for it outside of the construction loan (takes a lot of creative juggling to make it all happen).
Note perimeter drain tile running inside the footing as well as outside. This is before the foundation tub gets filled with sand.
Sand filled foundation tub for both house and terrace before pouring 5” concrete slab. Note 6” studs on window wall which will also use close-cell spray foam insulation.
Entrance from the street steps down into the house using 7 steps, which leads to a moat to step over. The moat is filled with crushed stone and a 6” drain tile rakes water to the east and down the alley valley.
Getting the roof on. We had to change from A grade lumber to B in order to stay on budget, which meant we got to sand all of the ceiling SYP decking and Doug Fir glulams.
EPDM (rubber membrane) being placed on roof. Note the 2x furring being placed on the concrete walls which will be sprayed with close-cell spray foam insulation and covered with Cor-ten siding (ASTM A606-4).
Zip system is an OSB sheathing that is covered with green building wrap on one side when manufactured.
Next is the installation of the Pella Impervia fiberglass windows. Very strong and energy efficient. Sailors love fiberglass windows…..we still don’t know how strong this stuff is as the first used in the 40-50s is still curing!
The south glass wall starting to take shape. Note the taller transom windows at the main French doors. This becomes the specular device of unfolding.
Starting to install the Cor-ten siding. We have poured concrete wall, 2x furring, close-cell spray insulation, Zip systems sheathing and finally the Cor-ten siding.
Family helping sand the glulams and decking.
Entrance processional down and across the moat to where the view unfolds!
All interior walls and the inside of the south window wall are all 3/4” walnut plywood.
Utility room with older second hand washer/dryer and a black paint job.
Started out with 1” thick walnut counter for the island but it was too thin so we added another 1-1/2” walnut slab.
Our Jotul GF160. There are 3 separate radiant stoves in the house; Klander, Jotul and Little Empire.
Studio No-Yes
Dan Noyes
Q.arma Building
Studio 220
1224 Quincy Street NE
Mpls MN 55413
612-750-9538
dan@no-yes.space