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This new home project is wrapping up with just a few punch list items remaining along with spring touchups when the weather becomes more suitable.  Finish landscaping, prairie restoration and the pool are slated for ’21 by others.  For now, occupancy has been granted and move-in has commenced right on the heels of our field staff packing out.  Inside is cheerful and comforting thanks to the snow-reflected sunlight (daylighting), geothermal heat pump, the solar array and the occasional wood stove fire.  Personal possessions are completing the setting.  An outside sauna, a great method of dealing with an upper midwest winter, is a short dash away from the master bedroom and is awaiting its maiden run.  Drywall-bucket break seats are being replaced by the homeowners furnishings but the views down the valley and of the rolling countryside are expansive regardless of ones perch.  This home is now ready to start collecting memories of its occupants.

Our new home project is progressing nicely with the exterior massing now clearly evident.  One can also see how the architecture (floor plans, 3D shape) reacts to the home’s setting capturing exposures and views as the first hint of fall color starts to show in the background foliage.

Except for one rainy week (which we needed) the weather has been facilitating and now that we’re dried-in we’re less susceptible to weather interference.  The outer weather resistant barriers are very visible at this stage;  the flat black roofs are 60 mil EPDM rubber, the pitched blue roof is high temperature roof underlayment soon to be covered with standing seam metal roofing, and the blue walls are a fully adhered weather resistive barrier and air barrier combination.  The drainage plane firring strips install is underway and visible from the 47s point.  The highly efficient triple pane windows and entries are installed and the mechanical rough-ins are nearly complete.  Next up is the interior air sealing and insulation and then our first blower door test of the air-tightness of the home.

From the 10s point to 26s point, and again at the end,  the geothermal excavation out into the prairie is visible.  This area is to be restored to prairie as is much of the site except as necessary to provide a fire barrier.  On the opposite side of the house the solar PV masts ready for panel installation can be seen between the two driveways from the 38s point to the 56s point.  Very tight with efficient mechanicals and site generated electricity; this should be a very low cost home to operate.

Yes, very blue now without the exterior cladding (masonry, cement board and metal)!

Crisp, contemporary farmhouse hugging the topography.