Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
and bath upstairs, and the lean-to contains the spa-
cious kitchen and dining room with a view of the lake
and backyard. Neither structure dominates the origi-
nal tall two-story building, with its nine-foot ceilings,
yet both complement the old house and the site. Hewn
overhead beams and antique wood tie the sections of
the house visually. The unusual design paid tribute to
the evolution of the house and also resulted in a har-
monious whole. Captain Beadle's historic house had
been documented by the Daughters of the American
Revolution (he's buried close by). The National Reg-
ister of Historic Places required that we document
each replacement and addition for its registration.
We solved the space problem in our Virginia house
by adding a one-and-a-half-story stone section to one
end of the two-story log original. Then we attached
a two-story post-and-beam addition to the other end.
So now we have a tall, skinny, long house with lots of
sun gain to the south, small windows on the north,
but, at only 18 feet deep, not too many square feet.
A two-story covered porch shades the front in sum-
mer but lets the low winter sun in the big windows.
We did have to build two stairways to avoid going
through rooms on the way to somewhere else, but it
all works.
And even though there's more post-and-beam and
stone than logs, people still call ours a log house.
That's sort of a key. When we design and build more
than the basic cabin, we make it the focal point, fla-
voring additions with the influence of the logs.
So your log section might be a great room (living
room with fireplace at one end and kitchen at the
other), with sleeping room or rooms above. Additional
rooms could be in an addition of stone, post-and-
beam, or even stud-wall construction.
Basements were common in East Coast houses,
because cool storage was a necessity before refrigera-
tion. We still do a lot of basements on hillside sites, but
I discourage the practice on level ground. Where a
high foundation is necessary anyway and drainage is
good, a basement makes sense. But it must be sealed
well, insulated, accessed, and often plumbed. All this
makes it an expensive space. The dampness that's a
continuing aspect of basements threatens to decay
wood, invites boring insects, and is usually pretty dis-
mal. They tend to be dark as well. I prefer lofts and
additions. A loft lets you see out at eyeball level with
the birds and lets in light and sun.
Whatever your design, let your log house building
be a refuge for you and your family and an exercise in
reverence — for the priceless land, for the traditions
of craftsmanship, and for your pioneer heritage, no
matter how many generations gone. Not everyone is
privileged to feel the weight of an axe helve in his hand
and his feet on his own ground. Go quietly into the
woods and work in harmony with the trees, resisting
the impulse to change and brand the earth.
Design Checklist
Make your house design a personal
statement and a harmonious com-
plement to its setting.
Keep the historic integrity of the
traditional log house.
Plan your design based on your
family's needs and the site on
which you'll build.
Choose historically authentic uses
of space, details, and materials.
