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This
plan is drafted to meet the New Mexico 2003 Earthen Building
Materials Code. Also see Plan
1576 on this site, which
is the "mirror plan" for this home, designed
for traditional
adobe or compressed earth block.
The "1680" stands for the total home "footprint,
that is, including all walls, exterior and interior.
The objective: a more affordable, energy-saving home
with two bedrooms, two baths and several noticeably nice
features. We wanted an adequate, but attractive home,
without a lot of high-cost options tacked on. As a result,
1680 is drafted without vigas and exposed wood deck,
and instead with a truss system, metal roof and sheetrock
ceiling inside. This provides a ceiling height of about
8 feet as drafted. If a higher ceiling is desired, the
rammer may set up an additional 2 feet of forming for
a 10 foot ceiling. The builder may vary his/her choice
of interior ceiling material or roof covering.
A list of attractive features includes:
1. Sufficient interior mass walls of rammed earth to
help moderate interior temperatures. All exterior
walls are 18" thick and most interior walls are 16" thick.
2. Plenty of Direct Gain and Trombe wall windows
on the south, making 1680 a true passive solar design,
when built as presented.
3. Two nice adobe or compressed earth block arches,
set into the rammed earth walls where they can be enjoyed~
a four foot wide arch between Foyer and Livingroom
and another between Kitchen and Laundry. By building
the arches, the expense of doors and wood lintels are
saved, while contributing to airflow in these non-private
rooms.
4. An underfloor hydronic heating system.
5. An artistic, stepping half-wall of rammed earth
with decorative rejas (spindles) between Livingroom
and Kitchen.
6. Room for a custom tub in the Master Bath.
7. A Kitchen measuring 10' x 22' 4", with 48 sq.
ft. of space for a dining table.
8. A Livingroom measuring 16' 0" x 15' 8" with
a rammed earth (or adobe) fireplace in its NE corner.
9. A Master Bedroom measuring over 12' x 15' 2" with
a large, walk-in closet.
10. A more than adequate closet in the Entry Foyer.
11. Five massive Rammed Earth buttresses at key exterior
lateral support points. These are anti-seismic features,
but they also add to the attractiveness of the home.
The second Bath serves two needs; guests as well as
BR #2. This Bath has two doors, one to Bedroom #2 (BR
#2 measures 10' 6" x 12' 1" + 4' 2" x
8' 7" closet), and the other to the Entry Foyer.
There is also a 5' 10" x 5' 10" Utility closet
off the foyer, which houses hot water tank and boiler
unit, as well as the underfloor heating zone controls.
To leave your cost options open, 1680 shows simply a
concrete slab floor. You might stain the concrete (including
dyeing and stamping it in a tile-like pattern), or cover
it with Saltillo or Italian tile.
Plan 1680 is drafted showing a 1" insulating wall
cover on the exterior. This is a "generic" reference
that could mean a 1" insulating board, covered by
typical stucco finishes, or a more "organic" insulating
plaster consisting of stabilizer, recycled newspaper
and a hard color coat finish, or even a "furred-out" system,
using Light Clay fill. If you build in an area where
your walls are stabilized and you wish to "show
off" the Rammed Earth "lifts", this protective
layer may be omitted, providing you are not required
to meet a cold weather energy code. If you are, readers
should know that Plan 1680 as drafted, will pass NM's
new 2003 Energy Conservation code in most climate areas
of the state. Performance can be enhanced in winter areas
above 6000 degree heating days with an additional insulating
wall cover. Doing this will enhance the solar performance
of the home.
Plan 1680 is priced at 10¢ per sq. ft. of drafted
area. It comes to you in a sturdy tube at $168
for one set of 8 sheets (ea. sheet is 18" x
24"),
or three sets at $186. As
always, your order is filled and sent priority mail as
soon as we receive it, with a delivery confirm sticker.
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