I just wanted to say that I recently found your Substack and have been really enjoying it. My wife and I have been looking at buying some land with family and this has provided plenty of food for thought.
We hope to build a passive solar home in southern Portugal in the next few years, so I’m soaking up as much information as I can on basic design principles: solar, aesthetic, architectural - thanks for sharing what informs your practice! (I too love Sarah Susankah’s books - she has made architectural principles accessible: “Home by Design” is my go-to as I think things through, with 6 chapters on light alone.) Walking around many of the monasteries in Portugal was highly instructive as well when it came to outdoor and in-between spaces - coming from Canada, it’s hard to imagine being able to use outdoor spaces year-round, but I’m really looking forward to it! I tend to think from the inside-out: what makes a room beautiful, comfortable, inviting, and functional? I will definitely incorporate these circadian ideas, some of which I hadn’t considered, particularly re Mediterranean climate outdoor living spaces.
What is your take on using ICF’s? Wood being more problematic due to both insects and forest fires in Portugal? Personally, I’d go with straw-bale SIPs or rammed earth (I too read Wrath of Gnon!) but we have to consider costs and labour availability, and the notorious bureaucracy… still researching!
Well done for this post. I didn't know about John Perlin, thanks! I've recently come across a fantastic book on the subject of natural lighting in architecture called Visual delight in architecture, by Lisa Heschong. I think you'll like it: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57521525-visual-delight-in-architecture
Hello,
I just wanted to say that I recently found your Substack and have been really enjoying it. My wife and I have been looking at buying some land with family and this has provided plenty of food for thought.
We hope to build a passive solar home in southern Portugal in the next few years, so I’m soaking up as much information as I can on basic design principles: solar, aesthetic, architectural - thanks for sharing what informs your practice! (I too love Sarah Susankah’s books - she has made architectural principles accessible: “Home by Design” is my go-to as I think things through, with 6 chapters on light alone.) Walking around many of the monasteries in Portugal was highly instructive as well when it came to outdoor and in-between spaces - coming from Canada, it’s hard to imagine being able to use outdoor spaces year-round, but I’m really looking forward to it! I tend to think from the inside-out: what makes a room beautiful, comfortable, inviting, and functional? I will definitely incorporate these circadian ideas, some of which I hadn’t considered, particularly re Mediterranean climate outdoor living spaces.
What is your take on using ICF’s? Wood being more problematic due to both insects and forest fires in Portugal? Personally, I’d go with straw-bale SIPs or rammed earth (I too read Wrath of Gnon!) but we have to consider costs and labour availability, and the notorious bureaucracy… still researching!
Would love to see a list of your favourite books!
Well done for this post. I didn't know about John Perlin, thanks! I've recently come across a fantastic book on the subject of natural lighting in architecture called Visual delight in architecture, by Lisa Heschong. I think you'll like it: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57521525-visual-delight-in-architecture