Windcatcher House 2010
Date: 8/8/2016
Others Involved: Christopher O’Hara
Principal
Studio NYL Structural Engineers
Student Researchers: Amber Danzl
Amy Beresford
Cayla McConnell
Dominic Herrera
Emily Martin
Eric Sechrist
George Kincaid
Jessica Garfin
Jocelyn Turkowski
Jonah Rogin
Joshua Paulsen Katie Carleo
Lisa Robins
Matthew Joiner
Matthew Rennert
Mike Sullivan
Mark Olsen
Nik Rael
Nina Afshar
Peter Lutz
Tina Pruett
Wren Hoffmann
Faculty Advisor: University of Colorado Faculty:
Rick Sommerfeld
Rob Pyatt
DesignBuildBLUFF at the University of Utah:
Hank Louis
Mitch McCombs
Andrew Foster
Cynthia Bithell
Atsushi Yamamoto
Rick Sommerfeld
Rob Pyatt
DesignBuildBLUFF at the University of Utah:
Hank Louis
Mitch McCombs
Andrew Foster
Cynthia Bithell
Atsushi Yamamoto
“Windcatcher House” was designed for a single mother and her son in Southeastern Utah. The design aims to protect from the harsh desert climate, while utilizing the beneficial attributes of the natural elements. This manifests itself in the focal point of residence, the central hearth, or “windcatcher.” The hearth naturally acts as both the primary cooling and heating source for the home, utilizing passive evaporative cooling through wetted media within the tower, and a wood stove at its base. Thermal mass is utilized through compressed earth blocks surrounding the stove and rammed earth walls, protecting the home from harsh winds and the intense summer sun.