Speculate with me - a house without exterior walls

[cathmom]

My dh has a thing about exterior walls - honestly, you'd think we lived in Alaska instead of the Southeast. :lol: He is always going on and on about the cold seeping in. So, today, sort of joking, I said that one day I was going to build him a house with no exterior walls.

 

I was thinking about it while driving to the store. I'm sort of seeing a rectangular house with all the passageways and storage against the exterior walls, and all the actual rooms in the middle. What do you think?

[sbgrace]

I taught in a school with an interior classroom (no windows). I didn't think it would be a big deal but it actually did affect me to have no window light day in and out practically all day. How about just good insulation and windows? Or maybe I'm misunderstanding completely! I'd also want to be able to get out easily from a bedroom in a fire. Without a window I'm going out one door and to a passageway? I know fires are rare but we had one growing up and they do happen so that would bug me.

Edited December 14, 2010 by sbgrace

[AuntieM]

This was not uncommon in the upscale homes I visited in Brazil. Of course, you have to have some exterior walls to support the roof! But one wall entirely open? Bedrooms that opened into an open courtyard? Very common. And vey beautiful.

[Amy loves Bud]

What do you think?

 

I think I can't breathe! What about windows? I would run outside screaming in about 30 seconds from the claustrophobia.

 

But, not everyone wants to claw out of an elevator if it has to travel more than about three floors, so maybe you two won't have the same issues as I.

[Mrs Mungo]

HA!When I read the title, I thought you meant something like this, walls that slide to open up a space to the outdoors are common in fancy houses here. But, that's the opposite of what you meant. :D

[cathmom]

Hmm...I hadn't thought about the window issue. Although I guess you could have an interior courtyard, like in Spain, and have windows to that. It would be a lot more protected, and so not as cold.

[cathmom]

HA!When I read the title, I thought you meant something like this, walls that slide to open up a space to the outdoors are common in fancy houses here. But, that's the opposite of what you meant. :D

 

That's cool! My dh wouldn't like it though. His other big thing is security! :tongue_smilie:

[cathmom]

I taught in a school with an interior classroom (no windows). I didn't think it would be a big deal but it actually did affect me to have no window light day in and out practically all day. How about just good insulation and windows? Or maybe I'm misunderstanding completely! I'd also want to be able to get out easily from a bedroom in a fire. Without a window I'm going out one door and to a passageway? I know fires are rare but we had one growing up and they do happen so that would bug me.

 

I've also taught in an interior classroom. You're right, it's much nicer with windows.

[AuntieM]

HA!When I read the title, I thought you meant something like this, walls that slide to open up a space to the outdoors are common in fancy houses here. But, that's the opposite of what you meant. :D

 

Oh, I guess I was thinking likewise!

 

No windows! AAACK! I could not stand it!

[mcconnellboys]

I think I'd be very claustrophobic with no windows! At first I thought you meant a house that was all glass for the exterior walls, but I guess not, LOL....

[Laura Corin]

I'm still getting used to having a free-standing house - it's much harder to keep warm. This is the street I grew up on, although our house was plainer, being slightly older.

 

Laura

[Ravin]

Maybe you need an Earthship.

[lionfamily1999]

You could look into hurricane houses. Poured concrete walls, that's good insulation.

 

No windows means smelly, musty interior. You could always buy some rolls of plastic and let your dh insulate the windows and doors. :D

[SonshineLearner]

I always wanted something like a Roman Courtyard. I use to babysit at a house that had one :)

[fairfarmhand]

my family lived in an apartment built into a warehouse. Not windows, except for the entry windows.

 

Dark and gloomy. Awesome pillow fights in the dark though.

 

I'd invest in fabulous new windows.

 

ETA: this is what I was picturing

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Glass_House_2006.jpg

Edited December 14, 2010 by fairfarmhand

[Garga]

I taught 3 back-to-back 6 week classes in a windowless training room (18 weeks total).

 

I wasn't quite "right" when it was all done. I vowed I'd never go without windows for so long again.

[K-FL]

That's cool! My dh wouldn't like it though. His other big thing is security! :tongue_smilie:

He needs the Impact Resistant windows They're the thing here in hurricane-land. Bad part is the firemen can't just bust the glass to get in; they have to cut through a wall.

[DarlaS]

I think in most areas, building code requires a bedroom to have an egress to the outside.

 

I do love the idea of a berm house though. Even partially covering walls (like this one which looks pretty normal), and using smaller windows saves a lot of energy.

[stripe]

I once saw on TV a couple who'd bought an old underground bomb shelter.

[In the Rain]

The lack of windows would be a serious issue for me. A courtyard would be pretty though.

[Halftime Hope]

one option for him would be to build a house from extruded polystyrene (foam) blocks. They are the "form" into which you pour a solid concrete filling, so they form a solid--no leaks--layer with insulation on the inside and on the outside. It's a marvelous technology, soundproof, fireproof, wind resistant, labor saving, fast, and inexpensive. Insurance companies will usually insure a foam block home at a lower cost because their risk is smaller than in a conventional stick frame building.

 

Just a thought...

 

If we ever build one, dh wants to build the foam block structure into a hillside or grade, with transom windows on one side, and an open wall on the opposite side, with earth above us for earth insulation.

[gardening momma]

You could look into hurricane houses. Poured concrete walls, that's good insulation.

 

No windows means smelly, musty interior. You could always buy some rolls of plastic and let your dh insulate the windows and doors. :D

I knew a family who lived in a house that was poured concrete. It was a common design at the time the house was built. I didn't mind it when I visited, but later learned from my mom that they always had problems with mold & mildew behind anything they hung on the walls (pictures, etc).

[gardening momma]

I couldn't live in a house with rooms without windows. I'm not at all claustrophobic, but I'd become depressed without windows.