North, East, South, West
In one of our first posts (Walking with Jack) we shared what we learned about water run-off and soil depth on the property. Our learnings led us to a possible house site near the top of the property and a 1/2 mile from the county road. This option was not as ideal because bringing electricity, building a road, and navigating a steep driveway all became more expensive and would draw out our timeline considerably. But the site came with stunning views of the Green Mountains and the river valley, and this factor along with other requirements, deemed the location was worth it. So out the window went “practical,” but these were the sacrifices we were willing to make for the end goal of building a forever home and legacy for our family.
To get a better understanding of where ‘exactly’ we intended to build, we outlined site plans that would possibly capture the view, sunrise and sunsets, and offer southern exposure to most of the house, and future landscape considerations:
-We followed the sun’s path over the property through 4 seasons; where it rises and sets and how sunlight impacts passive solar, natural melting of snow for a long driveway, and potential gardens and fruit trees.
-We want the house to fit and blend into the landscape, not to stand out and above it. So we walked the land from every angle to know the slopes, dips, and natural grade.
-We purchased a larger scale topographical map that included property boundaries so we could clearly see where the house would lie in relations to other homes and also to get an idea of positioning to the surrounding valley and views beyond.
Lastly, we spent time at the property, sitting, walking, and just being still and listening. My family and I have camped on a few occasions, enjoying the nights and silence of the woods. At this moment, we are not in a hurry to build; we are fortunate to have some time on our hands and that we were able to take these preliminary steps to determine the position of our house. Time isn’t a luxury for every home builder, but if you have it, try to ‘experience’ the property before building, understand the cycle of seasons, and be present with the rhythm of the land if at all possible. It can make an impact on how much your house will feel like a home once you build it.
Tenir Bon House 