Architecture and Design (2010)

Anne is an energy efficiency specialist (and a designer and a physicist and a engineer) and I am an engineer (and a photographer and a writer). So, needless to say, we have some creative bones in our bodies. We tried our best to make sure everyone knew that we wanted collaboration throughout the design phase.

In the February and March timeframe we had a few visits with the architects and builders, including one on-site meeting. At this time we made the final decision to separate the modules, and shortly after I suggested a simplified connector that we came to loving call the “spine”.

The design at the top of this blog entry is credited to balance associates architects. If you’ve looked at Method’s website, you’ll note that we ventured pretty far away from the standard cabin 3. The front and back module, along with the roof, will be build in the factory, while the spine will be site-built. So, while we are doing some site building and we got to permitting later that expected 21-Jun-2010, we are still targeting a move in date of 15-Dec-2010. This is predicated on receiving the go-ahead from the county permitting folks by mid-August. Still, that’s impressive.

Water availability was also interesting for this project. When we purchased the property we were “promised” water rights – in writing. The quote from 2006 was that water would be available in three to six months. Funny part is that when we asked for a water availability certificate in 2010, we got the same answer. Luckily, I had made the executive decision to get a water catchment design from Ken Blair at Rain Bank. He’s the foremost authority on catchment on the San Juan Islands. He had the paper work ready in two weeks and it was approved in ONE DAY. That was money well spent.

I had modeled the worst 3 year period of rainfall over the past 125 years and determined that based on our water usage we would need 12,000 gallons of water storage to get us through the summer months of the worst drought years on record. All of our appliances will be super water and energy efficient, and we’ve incorporated other water saving ideas in the home: circulating water back the water heater until it gets hot, instead of letting it flow down the drain. The four three-thousand gallon tanks will fit under the forward module with very little excavation. The water from the roof will be filtered for large particulate before it goes in the eves. Then further filtering occurs before the tanks. Once, the water comes out of the tanks it goes through two more particulate filters and a UV filter. This will be far cleaner than any water from a utility.

Feasibility (2009)

When my wife accepted a job on Orcas Island in November of 2009, the sense of urgency became real. We had had a few casual conversations with Method, but it was time for a feasibility study. Mark Rylant (co-owner of Method Homes) ventured to the island to ensure it was feasible to build the modules and roof in Bellingham, transport them down the road on specially designed trailer, load them on the ferry, transport them from the island ferry landing to the land, and finally crane them onto the foundation. Needless to say this was a little more complicated than the standard build.

Turns out it was feasible and not all that expensive for the transportation.

Builder Choice (2009)

Originally, at the time we purchased the land, Anne and I had chosen the Glide-House, designed and built by Michelle Kauffman. She is an excellent architect in the sustainable realm. Alas, by the time we needed a builder that company had gone through several changes, and we were no longer comfortable with the product. Of note, it was a modular home created and built by an architect.

After a little more research, Anne found Method Homes (http://www.methodhomes.net/). One key difference is that the owners of this company are builders. That practical aspect was key to our decision. The design itself was created by balance associated architects (http://www.balanceassociates.com/). They are known for their open and sustainable designs.

Anne and I chose the Method’s Cabin 3 design as the starting point. With the finish choices, we’re confident we can create the home we want. As it turns out, our lot isn’t suited for a standard Cabin 3. So, we made changes in collaboration with the builder and architects while preserving the 2 main modules.

Why Modular (2008)

Anne and I knew we would choose a sustainable way to build a home. The energy used and waste generated by typical stick built homes was unacceptable. Additionally, projects on Orcas Island tend to get drawn out over long durations, subjecting delicate parts of the building to the elements.

In modular construction, much of the building is done in controlled environments in a factory. Not only is the building protected from the elements, but work is easier because jigs are used to ensure level and square construction. It’s also remarkable how quickly the modules can be built in a factory.

The modular style we chose creates sections of the home and installs sheet rock, cabinets, windows, some floors, and some siding in the factory. The bonus is that the home is built stronger in order to sustain travel.

To this day, I still believe that it will also be cheaper to build a modular home due to the timeframe of the build and process for the decisions.

The Search for Land (Apr-2006)

Now that we’ve established we belonged on the island, we thought we’d plan for the future. Being the resourceful individuals we are, we researched the web for listings on Orcas Island and found the prices to be rather agreeable. Of course, we got a dose of reality when we started to view the properties with a realtor.

Despite the relatively small size of the island, there is quite a range of quality in the land that is available for purchase. First, location is key for several reasons: water availability and rain fall varies wildly, building restrictions are sometimes too tight and sometimes too loose, and distance from the ferry landing (this may seem odd on an island, but the highest speed limit is 40mph and it can take over an hour to reach some properties). So those lots we had researched were not desirable for one reason or another.

Needless to say, sticker shot set in. After two trips to Orcas to specifically look for land, we came up empty. Along the way we found a realtor we trusted (who's no longer on the island) and that turned out to be the key. A piece of property in the Rosario area ticked down in price. This was unheard of in 2006. So, the realtor gave us call, described the property to us, and we ended up buying the property sight unseen, with the contingency that we could back out after a site visit. It all worked out and we became the proud owners of Orcas Island property in April of 2006.

The land we purchased has a slope to it and that will come into play when we start to describe construction planning and site costs.

First Visit (2002)

Anne and I visited Orcas Island together for the first time in September of 2002. We stayed at a bed and breakfast called Otter’s Pond. The owners did a great job welcoming us to the island and immersing us in Island life and what it had to offer. Subsequently, we stayed there many times over the next seven years as our plan came together.

We were immediately drawn to the island and people we met there. Beyond a basic sense of well being, we felt like we belonged.