The Longhouse is exactly that – long. At 150 feet long and 24 feet wide, the south-facing home exemplifies solar passive design: a large overhanging roof protects the home from the hot summer sun, but lets sunlight warm the interior spaces in the winter. Shades on the windows limit heat gain and help bounce light into the space. The home backs up to a brome field on the north side, which is twelve feet higher than the foundation of the house. This change in elevation helps protect the home from the blustery north Kansas winds, which can be especially chilly in the winter.
A detached garage is separated by a patio from the main house, which includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms with open kitchen, dining and living area. A large sod green roof covers both buildings and the patio, increasing the thermal performance of the home. The home’s exterior is clad in maintenance-free corrugated metal and native limestone that is screwed into the frame of the building.
[...] The Pierre is a breathtaking home tucked away in a cluster of rocks it was named after (“Pierre” means “Stone” in French). Olsen Kundig Architects designed the hideaway for the owner, who was inspired by the lovely views from the property of the archipelago of the San Juan Islands. The bunker-like villa was built using largely local materials, and its green roof and rocky color cause it to melt away into its peaceful surroundings. [...]