The existing Arthur House is nestled within a lush deciduous forest community providing natural wellness and lifestyle benefits, natural shade and wind protection as well as extensive views within and through the forest, fully experiencing the changing with the seasons.
The renovation proposal focuses on opening up the living spaces on the ground floor, creating a light, bright palette and celebrating the rustic beam construction. Opening up the kitchen and lounge area, together with a new open structure for the stair creates a flow of space and natural light that brings the forest into and through-out the spaces. The benefits of a modern open-plan living arrangement sits comfortably with the traditional rustic charm of the existing structure which is highlighted through the simple use of the white walls and ceiling.
The upper floor within the pitched roofs requires a re-imagining the space to create a full family bathroom and two double bedrooms ensuring good headspace through-out. Additional storage opportunities are developed within the lower height areas of the plan.
The Indiana climate experiences cold winters and hot, humid summers such that some element of active heating and cooling will be required at the extreme times of the year, however passive systems are optimised to reduce energy consumption as much as possible. The deciduous forest offers shading in the summer and the potential for passive solar gains in the winter as the tree canopy changes with the seasons. Opening up the central stair to all levels, allowing for maximum natural ventilation and use of the stack-effect provides good natural cooling for much of the warmer parts of the year, which is assisted using an attic fan system, with only the hottest and most humid days likely to require the assistance of air conditioning.
Heating in the winter is provided via the double burning wood fire with air movement occurring naturally though the building using the central stair and stack-effect as assisted with heat powered fans mounted on the stove. An arrangement of floor registers between the ground floor and upper floor assist to distribute the warm air to all bedroom spaces.
View of the Lounge looking towards the Kitchen
View from the Entrance looking towards the Living Spaces
View from the Kitchen looking towards the Stair and Living Spaces
View of the Stair and Kitchen
View of the Kitchen
View of Bedroom 1
View of Bedroom 2
View of the Family Bathroom
Rendered plan of the Ground Floor
