Stonehaven – Julian, California
Stone Haven is a 3,800 square foot, four- bedroom, zero-carbon footprint, poured-in-place stratified concrete, foam-core, single family dwelling located on fourteen acres in Julian, California in the mountains east of San Diego (elevation 4200’).
Architectural Features:
- Landscape Sensitivity in shape, the main theme of the house being modeled after the general profile of nearby Volcan Mountain, visible to the North of the site.
- Geological Sensitivity in colors using stratified concrete.
- Monolithic concrete construction using Type K expansive concrete to make the 100% concrete roof waterproof and preclude the necessity for roofing of any kind.
- Solid concrete portico roof with protruding veins of exposed rock, pockets of crystal and 300 fiber-optic lights invisible unless powered. The portico was formed and poured in compound curves but without any visible form marks.
- 40’ long tunnel leading to a downstairs garage carefully fit into the original landscape of the lot (to minimize grading).
- In wall sound system with no visible speakers.
- Central tower made of a ¼” Corten steel water tank with treads welded directly to the tank to allow minimal visible support
- Custom made LED lights in tower staircase as a nod to the intense night skies in Julian.
- Openable Tower skylight for star gazing and ventilation (see green features below)
- Concrete tilt-up tower roof and front door frames.
Green Features
- Thin film photovoltaic solar array to conform to the curved surface of the roof.
- Helical Wind generator creating power out of wind from any point of the compass.
- Heating: Careful Azimuth calculations. Thermal mass. Solar Thermal Hot water used for floor heat and hot water.
- Cooling: Earth tubes run 10’ underground and 200’ out to a nearby canyon for passive cooling. The use of well water to cool the under floor circulation system; a 6’ x 6’ openable skylight in the tower to suck air out of the house passively.
- Automation: Floor heat/cool systems, door locks, window blinds, sound systems, and security are all controlled via smart-phone.
- Pervious pavement driveway and concrete roofs designed to capture, filter and collect rainwater. The rainwater is used for flushing toilets and for irrigation
- Phase change insulation material in interior partitions.
- Grey water system
- Double paned, Low-E glass and glazing designed for maximum solar gain in winter on the south side, but minimum heat/cold transfer on the north.
- Native landscaping. Picnic tables and benches cut out of former casting slabs and shaped and assembled on site.
- Whole House Tesla battery in place of a generator for perpetual, solar-powered, off grid power.