The main feature in this design is the pentagonal living room with sloped
ceiling and covered veranda off the living room - with access doors from the
dining room and bed #1.
In
the large drawing on the right the living room CONCRETE roof has been removed
but the CONCRETE support strips have been left in place. These concrete strips
(with rebar) add strength to prevent veranda roof uplift in hurricane winds
and provide visual depth - shadows and profile. Notice the air vent at the
high point of the sloped roof - hot air will naturally convect up the sloped
ceiling an exit through the 'air vent' into the 3rd floor landing space and
out the windows directly above the air vent. Notice too that the living room
roof slopes from 7' at the low peak to 8'3" where the front wall joins
the ceiling then up to 11' 6" at the high point just above the air vent.
Thick wooden shutters - which latch open against the
outside walls - provide protection during high winds and hurricanes. It would
be more functional to have shutters that hinged at the top and pushed outwards
to 90 degrees (horizontal) because that would provide some shade and rain
cover for the windows - but these shutters might be too heavy.
The
suites are comfortable enough to be permanent residences for tenants if necessary,
and access to the suites from the main living space is through closets with
shelves at the base of the stairs when the suites are used by family members.
The
recessed 'kitchen' spaces in the suites have under counter fridges with plenty
of storage in the upper kitchen cabinets.
The
roof decks are both accessible without passing through the 3rd floor rooms
(bedrooms for visitors?) The toilet and shower are separated so that there's
an effective bathroom on the third level.
