Re: [GBlist] Small cabin suggestion

[Speireag Alden <Joshua.M.Alden.91@alum.dartmouth.org>]

Sgrìobh Craig Cyr:

>My elderly mother might move to our home. However, we don't have 
>enough room and will need to construct a detached dwelling somewhere 
>on our 5 acres (or whatever you want to call it) of about 250-300 
>sq. ft. No kitchen will be required.
>
>Some questions:
>
>1) Recommendation on a style of construction? (panelized yurt, etc.)

     Based on the information you've given, I can't recommend a single 
style, just some criteria.  It should be easy for her to use.  This 
includes familiarity, so perhaps a visually unusual building would 
not be best, particularly as viewed from the interior.  It should be 
easily converted to another use productive use, after your family's 
circumstances change again.  You should study accessibility and make 
it as accessible as possible.  That includes handrails for the toilet 
and bathtub, low-slope ramps, smooth thresholds (for wheelchairs and 
freedom from tripping).

     Given your later message, it should be as fireproof as possible, 
including furnishings.  You might consider a sprinkler.  For a space 
that size, you might only need one or two sprinkler heads.

     Hope this helps.

     Concerning your later message:

>I was looking for some suggestions on environmentally responsible 
>designs and building systems. I thought the list would have some 
>helpful suggestions. I thought wrong.

     Well, as you pointed out:

>I need some advice and this list is never short on advice ;-)

     You also said:

>All input GREATLY received.

     By which I thought you meant "gratefully".

     You asked for free advice from a group of people with a wide 
diversity of experience and opinions.  Two of them happened to see 
what they thought could be a crucial flaw in your planning.  It 
turned out not to be helpful because of circumstances which they 
could not know.  However, their advice was well-intended, with your 
mother's welfare in mind.  Perhaps you would find it less stressful 
to permit gratitude to shape your response, rather than frustration.

     The people here donate significant amounts of time and energy for 
no direct compensation.  I, for one, am very grateful for this list; 
without the tireless assistance of people here, including one of 
those who responded to you, I would have made many more mistakes in 
building my first house than I did.  Sometimes when I asked questions 
I got direct responses which were immediately helpful.  Sometimes I 
didn't.  Sometimes I didn't get any reply at all, and I had to go 
elsewhere for advice.  Sometimes I received a reply which alerted me 
to something I had not considered.

     On this Thanksgiving weekend, remember to look for the things to 
be thankful for.  Particularly when they're gifts.

-Speireag.
-- 
To face death, live.

______________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
Solstice http://www.crest.org, and BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of
Environmental Building News and GreenSpec http://www.BuildingGreen.com
______________________________________________________________________