Architectural Education Portal

This is a just a drop in the bucket of our forthcoming training material. Each title will be linked as it is uploaded.

Repairing your community

links coming soon!

Preserving your historic buildings

links coming soon!

Designing your own Home

Home Design with YOU in Mind

Sustainable Home

Working towards a Better Definition of Sustainability

Cost Effective Sustainable Features    

Minimizing Waste and Pollution

From Vision to Reality

Where You Live Now

Wish List

Setting a Vision

Idea Book

Site Diagram

Where is the Money?  How to Afford to Pay Cash for Your Home

Mortgage Financing

Tools to Facilitate Financing

Creative Funding Solutions      

Pick the Right Materials

Homeowners Bill of Rights

Tax Incentives for Green Design

Budgeting for a Contractor      

Deciding Factors

Insurance for the Non-Traditional Home

Planning a Build

Getting it Built: Managing Volunteers

Regulatory Forces –The Code

Design

The Building’s Context and Site

Land Uses       

The Best Design of All: At the Intersection of Two Ecosystems

Choosing a Building Site

Geography     

Topography and Climate

Working with Microclimates

General Site Design Criteria

Landscaping

Growing your Own: Dan’s EPIC Garden

Outdoor Living

Fire-Wise Design

Vernacular Design Principals

       North Pacific Vernacular Zone

       Rocky Mountain Vernacular Zone

       Southwest Vernacular Zone

       Great Plains / Prairie Vernacular Zone

       Lakes Vernacular Zone

       Northeast Vernacular Zone              

       Southeast Mountain Vernacular Zone

       Southeast Coastal Vernacular Zone

Designing for Thermal Comfort

Passive Solar Design

Ultra-Tight Construction

Other Ways of Staying Cool     

Other Ways of Staying Warm

Thermal Mass versus Insulation

Thermal Mass for Heating

Thermal Mass for Cooling

Earth-Coupling and Earth-Sheltering  

Natural Ventilation Strategies and Indoor Air Quality

       Using Windows for Ventilation
       Other Means of Ventilation
       Indoor Air Quality
        Humidification Matters

Thermal and Moisture Protection

Roof Thermal Performance Improvements

Framing for Thermal Performance

Thermal Bridging

Choosing Insulation

Acoustics - Sound Insulation

The Structural System

Foundations

Rubble Trench Foundations

Floor Structures

Framing

The Enclosure System

       Secrets of Great Curb Appeal

Walls

Natural versus Sustainable Materials

Insulating Versus Thermal Mass Building Materials

Strawbale vs. Cob

Glass Block and Bottle Walls

Can Walls

Other Types of Walls

Soil Factors for Rammed Earth, Adobe, Cob, and Earthbag Construction             

       Expansion and Control Joints
       Adobe
       Cob
       Rammed Earth  
       Earthbags
       Wood Block Concrete Forms

Wood and Log Construction

Timber frame

Log Buildings

Cordwood

Strawbale

Stone

Concrete

Roofing

Roof Structure

Roofing Types

Doors and Windows

Doors

Windows

Rooms, Spaces, Colors, & Textures

Create an Efficient Floorplan

Starting Small

Easy Spaces

What about All My Stuff?

Living Simply with Less

Other Interior Considerations

EntranceCourtyards   

Hallways & Hidden Hallways   

Living Room   

Dining Rooms

Great Room   

Kitchens and Baths     

Kitchens          

Bathrooms     

Bedrooms       

Second Floors and Lofts            

Storage            

Laundry Room              

Garage             

Root Cellar      

Stairs and Towers        

Standard Furniture Dimensions             

Details of Design          

Planning for the Long Game   

Universal Design          

Finishes     

Glues

Paints and stains          

Wall Coverings              

Floor Coverings            

Mechanical Systems            

Mechanical Heating and Cooling           

Mechanical Rooms      

Mechanical Heating    

Fireplaces and Stoves

Mechanical Cooling & Air Conditioning               

Electrical Systems  

Lighting            

Power              

The Art and Science of Outlets and Switching 

Appliances      

Plumbing         

Water Flow    

Water Heaters              

Waste Management  

Rainwater Harvesting and Collection   

Greywater      

Maximizing Efficiency in Water Use     

Final Notes on Mechanical Systems     

Imbuing Space with Spirit  

What is Happy, Anyway?          

Your Core Desired Feelings     

Locating “Power Spots"            

Creating Sacred Spaces             

Correct timing               

Vaastu & Feng Shui     

Vaastu              

Feng Shui        

     

Hiring an Architect or Designer        

Stages of Design    

APPENDICES            

       New Home Design Worksheet        

       Site Design Checklist            

       Suggested Reading