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Architects: Jon Anderson Architecture
- Area: 4590 m²
- Year: 2008
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Photographs: Kirk Gittings Photography
Text description provided by the architects. The Flyway View House, designed by the office of Jon Anderson Architecture, rests on a site bordering the 160 acre Rio Grande Nature Center to the south and the Rio Grande River corridor to the West. The wildfowl habitat is on a major migratory flyway hosting snow geese, sand hill cranes and the occasional endangered whooping crane. Designed to maximize views of the bird habitat and to take advantage of solar exposure and passive ventilation, the design hosts simple sustainable materials and the thoughtful use of glass blends the indoor and outdoor living spaces. The major living areas align the Southern exposure and view windows. Overhangs protect these areas from the high summer sun but exploit the low winter sun for passive heat gain. The house sits below the ancient cottonwoods with distant views of the Sandia mountain range to the East, the Rio Grande Bosque to the West and abundant migratory wildfowl to the South.
The land to the North and East were part of a large land holding by the family that historically was flood irrigated farm land. A lap swimming pool and outdoor living areas are also on this South side and are designed to maximize the seasonal use.
The perimeter walls are load bearing masonry with conventional spread footings. The roof structure is steel beams and tubes with a galvanized steel roof deck. The ceiling over the bedrooms is conventional wood framing as are the interior walls.
All exterior walls are reinforced concrete block with a honed face. All empty cells are foam filled and the block is furred-out on the inside and insulated with batt insulation. The roof deck is acoustic galvanized steel deck with a high efficiency rigid insulation system and standing seam galvalume roof. The steel roof structure and columns at the glass face are painted with black epoxy paint.
All connections were field welded to eliminate bolts and plate interference with the glazing systems. The large glass areas are built from storefront components with a black anodized finish and 1” solorban 60 glass units. The floor is a concrete slab with saw-cut joints and a dyed finish. Heating is under floor radiant zoned to take advantage of the solar gain. The roof over hang is based on solstice angles to limit gain in the summer and maximize gain in the winter. The house has a forced air cooling system along with passive ventilation.
