Developed by DesignBuildBLUFF, a non-profit organization, with a team of 8 University of Colorado students that had tiny to no construction knowledge, the Nakai House was built over the course of 80 days on a price range of $25,000. The residence was constructed for a Navajo lady who is an avid collector of books, memorabilia, mementos, and so on. and it was crucial to her to have a spot to show her collections, as each and every piece represents a element of who she is. The client brief also contained a request for a non-traditional bedroom, preferring to have a space that represented “an enfolding womb” as properly as a location of singular value for the fireplace considering that it is an integral part of the Navajo culture. The final style is this amazing 50′ extended bookshelf that stretches the length of the property, transforming the interior into a diverse exhibition space, each from the wall of shelving, and from the views beyond the windows.
The place of the property was partially determined by the pre-existence of 3 existing structures and a single singular tree, the building was situated to generate an outdoor communal courtyard that opens to the south, enabling the cool summer time breezes to pass by way of while at the identical time making use of the volume of the creating to shield the courtyard from the frigid western winds in the winter.
The orientation of the property is in direct response to the extremities of the desert climate. The buildings massive south opening provides porosity to the east even though the detailing of doorstops allows for cross ventilation. The residence is clad in reclaimed spandrel glass, which is detailed to hang 2″ proud of the exterior walls to preserve the harsh sun, and frigid winter winds from coming in direct make contact with with the walls of the residence. This keeps the interior zone cool and quiet in the summer time, and warm in the winter.
The deciduous tree creates a location of shade in the summer time, while in the winter the leafless limbs enables the sun to continue through.
The entry to the residence is positioned on the south finish and the soft sloping roof extends into a protective overhang, generating a moment of shelter when entering or exiting. A singular outside sconce lights the way.
The north end of the house functions a big picture window with a window seat to take pleasure in the views. The roofs overhang shades whomever is reclining there.
The window seat is designed by a 24″ bump out in the wall.
The east side of the home is also clad in glass. Right here, the overhang is maximized by the use of 4 steel columns set into concrete footings.
On the interior, the wall of shelving is each a showcase of books and mementos and a separation among the public and private zones. Right here two recessed niches are in fact the doorways to the washroom places.
The major washroom is kept simple with a wall mounted shower tucked beside a privacy wall from the floor to ceiling window.
The client’;s bedroom is developed to be centrally located inside the wall of her collections. Referred to as her enfolding womb, the thought is that the collections quietly envelope her as she rests. The niche is deceptively big and vibrant as it tucks in behind the shelving, hiding a window view of the surrounding landscape.
With a tiny 745sqft footprint the house increases its usable area with the addition of storage lofts, and of course, the bookshelf itself. The addition of the vertical spaces creates an added 355sqft of usable space. As per the client’;s request, there are no true bedrooms in the home, but there are two defined sleeping zones, one in the bookshelf and one in the loft. There is also the window seat if need to have be. The stepping of the floor program makes it possible for for the desert vistas and views to the mountains several miles north to permeate the interior volume for a true sense of outdoor connection.
The height of the undulating roof – and as a result ceiling line, creates a natural division of the 3 zones inside the property.
The reflective high quality of the windows keeps the property wrapped in privacy, but privacy is also a factor of the place.
The home is, right after all, surrounded by uninterrupted desert landscape.
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