This is a 28 ft all concrete square design - based on four 14 ft squares -
simple to build and inexpensive. Below are four houses - well, it's the same
house floor plan with four different external treatments. First floor = 784
sq.ft. Second floor = 784 sq.ft. Roof deck room =196 sq.ft. Total square footage
= 1764 sq.ft.
House
#1, #2 and #3 have the same floor plan. #4 is slightly different. The first
floor doors are drawn slightly ajar, but the second and third floor doors
(and windows) are drawn open and latched back against the outside walls. There's
a 16 inch strip of glass blocks above each door and window, with a one foot
beam/lintel/header above - 9 ft ceilings. Front door is 8 ft., other doors
are standard 6'8".
The 1st floor could have breezeblocks along the perimeter of the verandah
for privacy and security.
SW
perspective
SE
perspective
SW
bird's eye view
SE
bird's eye view
NE
view
NW
view
#2
is identical to #1 except that the concrete verandah overhang has been replaced
with an awning. The drawing on the right shows the metal frame attached to
the house. The awning can be made up from sections of metal or aluminum sheet
material, or perhaps a canvass type tarp material that can be attached to
the metal frame and removed when high winds are expected. The 3rd floor peaked
roof is attached to a metal frame that rests on top of (and is attached to)
the flat concrete 3rd floor roof - it can blow away in a hurricane without
seriously affecting the integrity of the concrete structure.
SW
perspective
SE
perspective
SW
view
SE
view
NE
view
NW
view
#3
is different only in that the verandah is rounded.
#4
is a less expensive version - eliminated all that extra concrete - pushed
the doors out onto a small 'deck' but with the doors opening inwards that
'deck' space is inside space. The 1 ft beam remains along the primary wall
and the glass blocks above the doors increase in height from 16" to 28".
There are metal railings - deck railngs - on the outside of the doors.
