Dream House on piles showing louvered panels
Study originally prepared for Mr. & Mrs. Hassel
In areas that have active flood plains or are FEMA regulated, it is possible to raise the house to the height required by code.
It will not be possible to build the Dream House in brick if it is to sit on piles. It is never a good idea to support masonry with wood especially when there is a presence of a great deal of water.
The garage will have to be unattached and a separate pavilion built or the cars can be parked under the house (Please check with your local building code, sometimes they allow it, sometimes not).
The first important thing to do is to bring the siding down so it covers the 2x12 structure and is hidden from view. Then it is highly recommended that you hide the piles by attaching swinging louvered panels. FEMA and other codes have a requirement for these because water has to be able to wash under the building in case of a "water event". (Consult your architect or builder for this). It is also important for fresh air to circulate to prevent mildew and mold from growing under your house.
For a house in a sunny climate (preferably in the south), Bermuda Shutters can be used. These are ideal for allowing cool breezes to blow through the house and to keep the solar load down. It is also recommended that these be used with vertical board and batten siding rather than horizontal siding. This is more traditional for beach and Caribbean housing.(See below)
Bermuda Shutters with Louvered panels below.
For a DXF file of the façade above, e-mail Simon Jacobsen.
