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Alternative Home Designs - Atriums
Building a home for yourself is the American
Dream. For some people, it is important to build something unique.
Alternative Home Designs
You’ve worked your rear end off and reached a financial status where
you can do some dreaming. One dream is to buy some land and build a
home on it. You’ve found the perfect plot, and now you’re wondering
about different styles of homes. Here are some alternative designs
to get the creative thoughts flowing.
A very unique home design is the atrium home. An atrium home is
designed to emphasize an open middle area, not an exterior
appearance. If you’ve been to Europe, you’ve seen this design in
larger cities. You’ll be walking down a street lined with bland
looking windows. You pop into one of the buildings to find a
bathroom and it is like entering another world. The exterior of the
building is no great shakes, but the interior is a slice of atrium
heaven with an open area covered in a lattice or left wide open. The
interior is a collection of sitting areas, plants and perhaps small
pools for fish. Not a bad idea, eh?
Taking the design to its full scope, the home is
designed…underground. The design can be done in a variety of ways,
but it is built below ground to take advantage of geothermal
concepts. The primary idea is to use the constant temperature of the
ground to regulate the climate in the home. The top of the roof is
flush with the level of the ground and everything else is below
level. For practically purposes, picture an oasis in the desert, but
dug into the ground.
In these modern times, the below ground design has some excellent
energy options. You can put solar panels across the top of the roof
to generate power and most people will be none the wiser. By being
out of the wind, you also cut down on wasted energy.
Going below ground with your atrium home is a pool of creative
opportunity. As long as you take care of drainage issues, the design
parameters are pretty much wide open.
When space is at a premium or privacy is vital, atrium homes are
often the answer. In a large city, an atrium design can help you
create an oasis from the noise and madness of daily life.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
are distributors of
Qmark Heaters,
electric tankless water heaters,
bathroom heaters,
patio heaters, electric heaters,
portable air
conditioners & electric towel warmers. Shop on line at
www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.
Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to
Innovative Air Products located in historical Exeter, NH. We are a 2nd
generation manufacturers’ rep firm dedicated to providing residential &
commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment. We offer
a great selection online at the lowest prices anywhere. We can also be
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