Doctors Lake Cottage 2

While the first version of the flying cottage was steel and glass with concrete shear walls, this second version seeks a simpler way to build.

As such, the precast scheme was born.

This version retains almost the exact same interior layout, with the addition of a roof deck and the requisite stairs to access the roof. A bit more entertainment oriented, but the real purpose of exploring this scheme was to figure out what the challenges would be with developing a precast system that allows floors to span from exterior to exterior, thus eliminating the need for columns. It goes without saying that the foundation system for all these cottages (thus far) would require friction piles and pile caps. This one in particular is very heavy.

Each opening in the precast is the same, so pan forms can be fabricated and reused by the precast fabricator. End conditions vary and would require special form-making, but overall, each single floor height section of precast would be brought on site, secured, spanned by the floor system, and then continue upwards. The structural skeleton of the house could go up very quickly.

Since the slabs span between the precast walls, a simple beam system could include outriggers for the balconies, which I couldn’t resist showing. Cottage 2 has at least 1,000 SF of exterior space, including the roof deck.

Where cottage 1 utilizes shear walls, cottage 2′s exterior precast walls are its shear walls. Therefore, the interior walls can become aesthetic only, shown here in a stained cedar siding. It makes for a very warm interior. Again, because of the sparse plan and open living areas, funds can be spent on higher end interior finishes.

Stay tuned for cottage 3. What should it have?