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WINDCATCHER HOUSE | 2010

Windcatcher House

“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.

in collaboration with DesignBuildBLUFF at the University of Utah

2011 AIA Colorado YAAG Built Project of the Year
2011 AIA Colorado YAAG People’s Choice Award
2011 TreeHugger Magazine, Best Student Architecture Work
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

University of Colorado Denver:
Rick Sommerfeld
Rob Pyatt

DesignBuildBLUFF at the University of Utah:
Hank Louis
Mitch McCombs

Structural Engineer:
Christopher O’Hara - Principal
Studio NYL Structural Engineers

Big D Construction
Simpson Strong-Tie
National Park Service
3 Form

College of Architecture and Planning

CU Denver

CU Denver Building

1250 14th Street

2000

Denver, CO 80202


303-315-1000

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