By wasted space, do you mean the space in the turrets? The idea is there will be windows all around the top of the turret, not really shown in the 3d shots, but you can see it with the rafter image. They will essentially be large hole through the roof/ceiling to let in light. The problem is what to do about the the existing roof trusses that pass through that area. They can’t really have the middle cut out with no compensation for the lost structure.
The turret could replace the trusses gap structuraly I guess…
You almost need the turret to become one with the trusses it truncates, with a vertical going up and angles/flats passing through the turret roof/ceiling back to verticals connecting to the other side of the interrupted truss. It essentially becomes a truss that looks like the cross section of roofs/ceilings/turret walls.
You would be forced to have a series of windows a little less than the width of the truss spacing instead of one continuous window, so maybe try to center up so the end windows are the same size.
I would perhaps leave the trusses as they are. They might filter the light nicely. I do have these brutalist tendencies and I like the very early work of Gehry…
I was joking. The plan says “wasted space”….a space where I guess, one might get wasted?
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I’m really curious what you use the “wasted space” for….
That’s good question (FYI wasted space is existing), and partly the reason I’m having so much trouble with the floor layout redesign. Currently, it has a dining table placed in it but we never use, it’s too small for a 10 seater and it has a strange feel to it.
The current design is really really bad, with so much wasted space & no natural light in Winter, I put up with it for 3 years (the wife nagging that is) and it’ 's time to fix it.
Can the turrets have rafters/ridge beams running through the open light well area? .obviously nice hardwood which could look okay in a tropical sort of house
Maybe that could open up some different placement options.
I have been collecting large section hardwood timbers for some time now. I have 8 6metre 250x200 ( Hardwood bridge timbers) AND 4X300x300MM@3.6M these will be incorporated into the turret and outdoor area.
By wasted space, do you mean the space in the turrets?
Not on the original drawing yet I will explore a way to utilise the turret space as the design progresses as the view from the roof is great, maybe a rusted metal perforated floor like they use in factories. This would allow a nice filtered light yet also the ability to enjoy a coldy…
a space where I guess, one might get wasted
I most definitely would if they were nice enough, unfortunately, they are Pine trusses at 900mm (3ft) spacings and they are uuuuggggly.
Hey guys, I did this last night; it is very rough as I am still undecided on details.
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I do like the Master bedroom in the new position, and access is through the old robe; it enables me to utilize the old bedroom as a living room and get the view from the kitchen, living and outdoor area.
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After some thought, the symmetry was messing with my A.D.D. so I decided to centre the kitchen with the “gross” outdoor area and use a coffered ceiling to reinforce or define the space
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The walls in that area are required to support the turret and existing truss load, so I removed the door and added a Teppanyaki bar indoor outdoor area
I managed to keep the majority of walls to reduce time/cost in construction, waste and mess whilst keeping the bracing required to keep the house plumb.
The existing entry in incipid= problem
I am playing with the idea of a more modern entry with a cantilevering roof, yet I am not sure about this yet.
Here is a quick screenshot of the trusses and Turret interaction:
Here is an overlay plan in S.U. after site measure:
As you probably all know, I am primarily a builder, so I am happy for constructive criticism; design is tough for me, it plays third or fourth fiddle in my business. Although I must say I do enjoy it, the help so far ignites enthusiasm. Thanks.
I would be interested in opinions on the modern entry versus the traditional entry. From a builders standpoint, the hip entry is easier to flash, less likely to leak and fits in with the theme.
The question is: Should I step outside my comfort zone and design with a bit more risk?? Sometimes design needs Kahunas to be special, yes I know this isn’t the opera house yet I still want it to be as good as it can be.
HIP roof entry
Modern entry
Or are they both bad and, is there a better solution?
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JQL, sorry I missed this one. I did mess with diagonals with the turret, unfortunately, the engineering associated with running the turret at 45 degree added another realm of complexity
In Summer we do
Yes, but at least one space to sit in the direct winter sunlight would be ideal. I will get this with the Cabana to the south east.
in this house the cars ar e on the north yet the view is south-west, so living with the view is optimal
Yes I want my cake, and I also want to eat it, what’s the point of having cake if you can’t eat it. LOL
Exactly. That is what I meant by my Brutalist tendencies… 
Downside and plus side of the Modern is you lose sight line of entry way from the interior of the home. I like them both but lean more toward the modern, partly because it’s unexpected.
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The upper image to me is 100% better than the modern entry. It suits the whole house better, particularly the outdoor flow and entertaining aspects.
If you incorporate a variety of styles (eg modern+traditional), it’s often much more difficult to get everything (interior/exterior/landscape) looking elegant.
…unless of course you go with an avant garde clash of styles, like adding a post modern entrance something made of pink chrome and mirrors.
If you’re worried about precise turret placement due to roof symmetry (when viewed from the exterior), then I think the hip roofed entry and pavilion will solve that because they visually counterbalance the central turret.
The only thing that seems a tiny bit odd to me is that the turret would usually have posts on each corner extending to the floor below, even if it results in some columns within the room.
Sam, you always have great advice, thanks so much.
Do you think the method I am using with hardwood timber beams (to hold the corners) will detract from the turret? The reason I added the turret was to add natural light and define the space. The kitchen is large as we have a large family and we regularly have friends over, I feel the posts would divide the space and almost become an obstacle?
I could make the turret bigger so it lines up with the hall wall which will make the post another 500 (20in) back yet that obstructs the walkway.
In an ideal world, the bench is lined up with the post yet the centre of the roof dictates the centre of the turret and the working distance in the kitchen become too far.
Man, this makes it easier to understand why architects and designers deserve to charge more… Hold on, did I just say that? I’ll Give myself a slap… LOL
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I wouldn’t use posts in this case — way too obstructive for the utilization of your space. (I’m assuming you can size the beams to avoid needing posts for load paths)
I did a timber frame design for a turret over a mezzanine (no posts) in an existing cross-vaulted roof and it looked fine. Totally different style but same aesthetic principle. In our case it wasn’t structural, though it was meant to look it.
What I would do though is size the depth of the main load beams so that there’s a 1 or 2" reveal below where the cross beams connect into them. Nicer look for a timber frame.
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Thanks happy to help - its a cool project.
I’ve designed a kitchens with a long island bench but posts/columns at each end. Ill try to get a photo, one project is just finishing up right now a sit happens. Visually the posts can help to ‘frame’ the seating area (and if attractive can even add character to the room), which is quite nice… but functionality does have to come first in kitchens!
You dont necessarily need the posts on each corner, but I think the proportion of the popup area relative to the internal room is quite important. Otherwise it will look like the turret doesnt fit the room. Can it be shifted a bit? eg:
Here’s a snapshot from the sort of idea i mean - note how the placement makes sense in the room, proportionally and through styling of columns/corners in other parts of the room.
https://youtu.be/9H76b7fS6q0?t=23
I understand you wanted symmetry in the roof position when viewing the house from the exterior, but i guess i would rethink whether symmetry outside is worth giving up alignment on the interior.
As mentioned above there might be a way to make an asymmetrically placed turret look just as elegant if it can be balanced with other turrets/roof forms.
“Modern Tropical” style houses celebrate the informality of the building forms.
Is there any reason you’re not going with a glazed roof? (aka skylight) Glazed roof gives great impact since you see blue sky or stars above… Though I’d recommend arcylic or polycarbonate to save the weight of glass. (Safety regs these days demand 9mm toughened and laminated glass overhead, which weighs a tonne and costs a lot).
I know you don’t depend on internet advice for your construction, so I’d suggest discussing this with your engineer before you get too far. What do you save by keeping the trusses in that section? I did a similar skylight shaft with all engineered trusses. You double the side trusses and have cross trusses along the shaft to carry the intermediate trusses, That’s just for a skylight, but your roof and clerestory adds much more weight to be carried by the structure below.
I think in your plan it’s more work. All you save (perhaps) is the current roof sheathing by cutting the trusses and nailing plywood and additional chords to every truss (shoring it all up meanwhile) instead of just putting in new trusses and sheathing designed for the job.
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My OPINION on the entry. I kind of like it The side wall helps make sense of the block roof.
I wonder if it should also be a hip roof, as it’s adding an eclectic element on top of an already complex hip roof.
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For thermal performance have you considered Passive House design? It’s a proven method to deliver great indoor air quality, performance and low energy for heating and cooling. There is a plugin called DesignPH that is used with SU for early modelling and energy balance work. Worth a look if these things are important to you?
Hi Guys, thanks for responding, you all have good points that I am considering as I design. Sorry for the delay in response, life has been throwing me a few curveballs.
I believe the first principle of a passive home must be the aspect, in this case, I have very little say over the aspect. I do have a lot of clients who design and build Passive homes (in the southern states of Australia), however, this project is a remodel, besides this, the cost to create the project as a passive home would be a waste of money, it’s an existing brick veneer project. In areas where they have larger fluctuations in temperature, yep/maybe, but not here, it is a similar latitude to Hawaii yet in the southern hemisphere.
Yes agreed, I need to be happy with the design before I go there, I do understand the basic principles of engineering and the implications, well enough to get through the initial design anyway. . You are right with the trusses, however, the beams are doing the majority of work as far as the load requirements, the ply is more for bracing yet removing the trusses is an option, it’s not a cost thing it is more of a time thing, the plan is/was to build the turret on the ground and crane it in to limit exposure to the weather… I may be dreaming here, I won’t know until I finalise the design.
This is where I was at yesterday… Spin the turret 45 deg & turn the entry I like it from the outside yet from the inside… terrible
There is satisfaction in designing your own home, there is also as a significant amount of frustration.
Yes, I know my renderings are bad, they are 3-5 click Vray renders, one day I’ll spend the time to learn it.
You are right, I actually sighed as I typed that.
Hi Sam, I was trying to avoid the summer sun yet capture the Winter sun, the eave overhangs and window placement enable me to have slightly more control, yet I am not winning really…
It is hard to polish a turd. LOL