I am in the planning stages of a large two story addition to my small San Diego 1950’s ranch style house. Due to the angled placement of the house on the corner lot and the setback requirements, the addition needs to be at approximately a 30 degree angle to the house. I would like to find some architectural references that deal with “non-square” houses so that I could attempt to make the finished house plus addition look better than just a house with a large box stuck to it. I don’t plan on hiring an architect for the preliminary design work because I am a mechanical designer by trade and would like to work out the overall layout and feel myself using my own CAD software. When I am closer to the time when I can afford to do the addition I may or may not consult an architect depending on my level of satisfaction with the design. I do plan on consulting with a structural engineer (I’ll have to for code anyway) before I start building.
Thanks in advance.
Replies
As a mechanical designer, just think in terms of 360 degrees and the relative divisions thereof. I'm always a little taken aback by some builders who are intimidated by odd angles (and I mean no disrespect here). It's just a matter of thinking out of the box a little. Speed squares and angle charts in most building books deal mostly with 90 and 45 degree applications so they have a somewhat limited use unless you can utilize their function with sliding T-bevels or some basic geometry. It's really not all that difficult...just apply yourself to the problem and before long, you'll see the light and be one step ahead of a lot of people!
Good luck!!!
Some people would bitch even if they were hung with a new rope.
It's not terribly difficult, especialy with new power mitre boxes etc. But it is more wasteful of time and materials and the upcharge for it is an unknown for bidders who haven't done much of it. I think the original poster is looking for design thoughts though, like yes you can get toilets with angled tanks to fit into a corner, and please help me avoid planning a doorway that won't open far enuf to let a human pass through.
Excellence is its own reward!
For a 50's ranch house, offhand I'd say take a look at Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian houses, designed and built from the 30's until his death. The Usonian house is by and large what your typical ranch house is derived from--trickle down architecture.
Wright and his apprentices loved to build single story houses with all kinds of angles in them. Houses based on modules of equilateral triangles, hexagons, parallelograms...lots and lots of 30-degree and 60-degree angles.
Almost every Usonian house has separate wings--sometimes placed at seemingly arbitrary angles. Any Wrightian examples will have the flowing, open spaces we associate with 50's ranch houses.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Companion by William Allin Storrer is the best resource--it has floorplans and photos of every Wright house ever built. You can get it through interlibrary loan.
Take a close look at the Palmer residence of 1950--it's an absolute gem of a little house--as near perfection as any human achievement. And it has one bathroom that's a true hexagon.
Tellurian,
Thanks for the tip. I will look into Frank Loyd Wright's works that you suggested. Did he and his apprentices also do multi-story houses with all the different angles? I know the basic layout of the addition that I would like to do. It is dictated by the existing house, the placement of the house on the lot, required setbacks, and trying to maximize the interior space. I would like to do some research into different architectural treatments so that the finished product is attractive and maybe even worthy of FHB.
Notchman and Piffin,
I know that what I am planning will be more difficult to construct than most houses with all right angles. I am keeping in mind how to minimize the need for strange angles while still getting the floorplan that I need. Any tips for making the guys that are actually going to build this happy? (Detailed drawings, instructions, catered breakfasts?)
Thanks everyone, Happy Friday!
Check references to find a framer who is very capable of the job. Then get way out of his way. There are plenty of complexities that work themselves into a complicated plan that don't show up on paper. They need to be figured out on site in three dimensions. The last thing I need is an owner looking over my shoulder to second guess me or worse, to "help" me. Those interuptions cause errors. So communicate your concerns and priorities up front, then let him do the juggling.
Excellence is its own reward!
Good points and very true.
I've done trusses on a ton of angled houses/buildings over the years. The worst part of it is that it's difficult to get accurate measurements and build the trusses to fit well. Somehting about the angles sems to keep the concrete guys from getting the foiundation walls in straight. It does take a lot of extra labor and materials, and so is more expensive.
A couple of things come to mind -
First, avoid trying to match up ridges that turn corners. It makes things a bit easier if you don't have to do that. Especially if you don't have to match a new ridge to an existing ridge.
Second - try to minimize the area that butts up against the existing house at an angle. If you can connect the addition with a smaller section, you'll have less problems.
that's all I can think of for the moment.......
What is the probability that something will happen according to the odds?