DIRT ROAD HOUSE

A SMALL HOUSE IN A FOREST GARDEN.

As monoculture food manufacturing is seen as the norm in our culture now, our client bought an abandoned orchard with the intention of creating a forest garden to help sustain their family and community in a more sustainable and creative way. They hired us to build a small multi-functional house that celebrates the abundance of nature, food and family.

A forest garden is made up of multiple canopy layers of tall growth trees, fruit and nut trees, edible shrubs, berries and companion crops with an underlayer of perennial plants and fungi, most of which are edible or medicinal. The property already had several heirloom apple and plum trees, blueberries, raspberries and wild blackberries growing amongst the wild weeds, natural and invasive species. A perfect place to start.

The house is designed and sited to encourage immediate access to the land and garden from all spaces. The enlarged deck platforms extend the living space and also provide room for potted herbs, flowers and kitchen garden plants. The orientation allows for full sun exposure in the winter and passive cooling in the summer via strategically placed high and low awning windows. These high windows also flood the bathroom and large working hallway with indirect light.

The spaces are flexible and multi-functional with movable walls as doors, and one large open space for cooking, gathering and working. The traditional hallway becomes the storage and laundry room. The main sleeping area has an option to open to the secondary sleeping or flexible family space.

Total Area / 960 SF