Forest Hamlet Design Guildelines

A HOME AS TIMELESS
AS t FOREST IT SAVES.
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
My very best friend is a tree
She’s always glad to see me
She rustles her leaves
As I roll up my sleeves
And climb up her trunk to the top
She likes me sitting up here
With the birds and the bees and the air
And all of our troubles
Disappear just like bubbles
And together we always feel better
Oh, it’s nice to be loved by a tree
And she loves to be loved by me
Our love is unique
Because we don’t have to speak
We just care to share time together
-Ann Mortifee
PHOTO BY GARTH LENZ
INDEX
“ There is a dawning awakening that is beginning to
change the way we live in, work with and appreciate our world.
It is becoming obvious that if we do not support a conscious
interdependent relationship with Nature, Nature will no longer
support us. As more and more of our forest lands are falling to
industrial deforestation, many of us are hungry for an alternative to the ways we develop land, work in the woods and value
the beauty and productivity of our forests. It is time for us to
learn to live sustainably in every possibly way that we can. Our
vision is in response to this rising urge.
Living FOrest Communities are proposing small hamlet communities nestled within growing, healthy, productive forests. The
hamlets will cover no more than 5-15% of the land and will be designed to capture a sense of natural beauty and timeless grace
with an emphasis on longevity and sustainability. The design
guidelines are intended to create a community so pleasing that
the next generations will be thrilled to inherit it.
system, will have little work in the coming years. This will further
serve to create small value-added, wood-related businesses
(milling, doors, furniture, etc.) helping to re-invigorate our local
economies and take the stress off government subsidies and
unemployment insurance.
The majority of the land will reflect our overarching commitment
to support a large scale transition from industrial deforestation
to light on the land eco-system based forestry, ensuring that the
community members can live in a park like setting in perpetuity. Not only will the vast majority of trees remain standing to
mature and produce more wood over time, our vision will also
create thousands of jobs for loggers, who, under the present
The vision for Living Forest Communities is further intended to
protect habitat for woodland creatures, and assure the health
of our streams, lakes, and underground water. And, in the case
of Elkington Forest, it will grow local food from its own orchards
and gardens. We feel we have created a wonderful vision whose
time has come, lest we forget that our forests are the lungs of
our planet.”
Ann Mortifee, CM, Chair and Co-Founder
The Trust for Sustainable Forestry
PHOTO BY GARTH LENZ
We claim this land
f planet Earth
Th e l i v i n g f o r e s t c o mmu n i t y m o d e l
A 1000 acre eco-forest conservation community with 85% protected forest and just 77 homes
clustered in three mixed-use hamlets. This is Elkington Forest, one giant leap for sustainability.
In total, the settlement areas, food production areas and connecting roads will not constitute
more than 15% of the site.The rest of the land will be placed in conservation covenants (plant and
wildlife protection) and ecosystem-based forestry operations.
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Genesis of the design vernacular: The Hamlet
The buildings at Elkington Forest will be very workmanlike.
The pioneers who built the first houses in rural communities,
did the obvious thing, with the materials they found at hand.
Pioneer simplicity was no accident. They worked with a
reduced kit of parts which helped to create a simple, well
proportioned aesthetic.
One example of a hamlet is a small cluster of houses
surrounding a village green. Similar to European villages, each
hamlet in Elkington Forest will feature homes and shops
fronting onto a landscaped, community green space.
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Of special note, our hamlet vernacular is not influenced by
temporary traditional work camps but exhibits the longevity
and integrity of traditional European hamlets. In pioneer
days, people were drawn together in small villages that were
primarily focused around work: agriculture, mining, fishing,
forestry, logging. The homes were typically clustered together
as a nucleus, offering protection, efficiency and a social life.
Within the Elkington Forest community, the desire to come
together will be for similar reasons. However, instead of a
common work-related industry to draw people together, the
new rationale for buying and living in the Elkington Forest
community is more complex and based on a sense of shared
values, particularly the sustainable goals of the living forest.
A desire to live in a beautiful, sustainable environment with
others sharing this vision will be a strong draw to form the
community. This vision provides an immediate ‘something
in common’ with all your neighbors, and the differences
in life paths will provide a cross fertilization of ideas and
conversations that will provide a rich and diverse sense
of community. While the design of the hamlets will foster
neighborhood interaction, providing a real alternative to the
often sterile neighborhoods of suburbia.
Habitat Clustering
Clustering of Buildings
Massing of Buildings
Habitat clustering establishes boundaries for the wild habitat
corridors, so that the natural indigenous ecosystems flourish
as wild areas outside of the hamlet areas. Conversely, the
interconnection of fences, gates, buildings and cattle guards at
the borders of the hamlet areas will establish boundaries that
exclude deer, and other non-domestic animals, protecting the
urban and food production areas.
The clustering of buildings and the appropriate placement of
street walls will also establish defined human scale gathering
spaces that encourage a greater sense of community and face
to face interaction. Hamlets work well when houses, shops and
community facilities are built with a ‘build to’ line, so that the
frontages of the structures create an interesting “street wall”.
The massing of buildings is intended to be primarily, simple
rectangular or geometric shapes, typical of Arts & Crafts style homes with floor plans that help define courtyards or
positive space to create opportunities for private outdoor
living. “The presence of the building if properly oriented to
sun, shade and wind can create a microclimate and temper the
outdoor room, making it all the more appealing.” 1
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1
Taken from “Patterns of Home”, Jacobsen, Silverstein, Winslow
Verticality
Windows, doors, balcony railings, garage doors and other
architectural features are to be constructed with primarily
vertical proportions. Traditionally, windows and openings
were designed to represent the human body. Vitruvius (The
Roman Architect) talked about architecture as an imitation of
Nature. The Vitruvian man (famously drawn by Leonardo Da
Vinci), represents perfect human proportions and fundamental
geometric patterns of the cosmic order. Openings, therefore,
should be taller than wider and it is preferable that the front
façade of the building be of vertical proportions.
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Verticality continued
Vertically proportioned windows may be ‘ganged up’ in twos or
more to give the effect of a large glazed area without the use
of picture windows. i.e. Solariums and Conservatories must
be made up of a series of vertically proportioned windows,
mullions and muntins. No butted glass is allowed for solariums
or corner windows.
For porches and pergolas, where columns are employed, the
vertical elements should beseparated with a space no larger
than the length of the same column height. The intent is to
maintain the traditional feeling and look of solid walls with
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framed window and door openings however more extensive
use of glass may be used in areas where there are views and/or
potential solar gains.
Openings on a building façade should account for no more than
50% of the totalbuilding wall area. Too many openings make
walls appear weak and ill proportioned. When doors are wider
than a single door panel, they must be French doors rather
thanPatio doors. Open able window walls are not allowed.
Garage doors can be horizontalroll up doors, but must be made up
so that the horizontal panels are not dominant. Morelike a Carriage
Door than a typical suburban garage door. There are several
instances where a horizontal proportion is appropriate in a window.
They are in clerestory windows where two roofs meet with a
small vertical separationbetween them, on a pop up roof top
element that will function to let natural light in fromabove. And
on small roof elements such as cupolas and occuli. It is also
acceptable tohave horizontal windows on garage doors to break
up the mass of the door. Vinyl garage doors are not allowed.
Outbuildings
Outbuildings such as carports, garages, greenhouses, storage
sheds etc. must be separated from the main house such that
the space between becomes a positive space, that is, a space
that “…. can be thought of as areas that have enough definition
– from walls, fences, steps, trees and edges of all kinds – to
be seen and experienced as coherent, nameable places”. In
suburban residential development there is often no outside
space that feels completely private, without being overlooked
from neighbours abutting ‘back yards’.
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Obvious Main Entry
These spaces don’t need to be large, only visually protected
by virtue of the correct location of buildings and wings of
buildings in relation to each other. Cruciform or ‘H’ shaped floor
plans and groupings help to establish these kinds of intimate
and useable outdoor spaces. The buildings can be connected
with breezeways,pergolas, decks etc.
The main entry should notbe hidden from view or around a
corner. The front door to the house should be obvious from the
Street. It should send a messageof welcoming and accessibility,
de-marked by a front porch, portico or verandah thatprovides
shelter and brings the visual focus to the front door.
Architectural Features
Adding to the traditional character of the
homes within the forest hamlet vernacular
will be the use of dormers, gables, bay and box
windows, projecting balconies, recessed decks
and doors, and covered porches.
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Roofs
Roofs are to be non combustible, standing seam metal, rusted
steel, copper or slate. Concrete, clay, wood, and synthetic
materials are not approved materials for sloped roofs. Flat
roofs and decks over living space may be torch on, fiberglass
or otherwaterproof membranes. Where flat roofs or decks
are viewed from above, they must be clad in a decking system
or be a ‘green roof’. The ‘main roof’ of the house is a gable roof
which must have a minimum of a 12/12 roofslope. No hipped
roofs are allowed. This roof is the dominant architectural
element of thehouse and all other roofs and projections are
secondary to it. This means that thesecondary roofs and
projections will typically have a shallower slope (minimum of
3/12)and be lower than the ‘main roof’, except for ‘main roof’
projections such as cupolas,occuli, etc. Secondary roofs can
be gables or shed roofs. Roof pitch changes onsecondary roofs
will give the effect of ‘cascading roofs’. Other roof forms such
as Dutchhip, or gambrel roofs are not allowed. This simple
palette of roof forms will help to insurethe continuity of the
pioneer simplicity feel to the hamlets.
Timber Frame
Timber frame construction is a ‘signature’ of the Elkington
Forest homes. It is required that the ‘main roof’ building be of
timber frame construction. While most of the timber frame
used in the house is hidden from view (because of SIPS panel
wall panels covering the exterior), it is important that the
exterior elevations convey an expression of the timber frame
motif that carries the interior structure to the outside.
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Dormers
Areas where timber frame can be successfully used on the
exterior include main entry porches, overhangs, bay window
supports and other cantilevers, carports, pergolas, decks
and outbuildings. Timber can also be used to separate glazing
elements, one from the other instead of standard ‘stick framing’.
Dormers are encouraged, to break up the mass of the ‘main
roof’. Dormers can be shed, gable or other shapes at the
discretion of the Design Review Committee (i.e. ‘eyebrow’
orcurved). Dormers can be flush with the exterior wall of the
main building, with the roofeaves of the ‘main roof’ broken
at the intersection of the dormers, inset into the main roof,or
cantilevered past the main building wall, with timber frame
supports.
Cupolas, Occuli and Roof Ridge Projections
Overhangs and Soffits
Roof projections can extend beyond the ridge of the main roof,
as long as they express the same character as the main roof in
finishes. This is one instance where windows may be square or
even horizontally proportioned, as is the case of a clerestory.
Because of the precipitation inherent in the Rain Forest, roof
overhangs must be minimum of two (2) feet past the exterior
wall. Overhangs over three (3) feet, measured horizontally,
must be supported by timber frame knee braces or other
approved methods (i.e. timber frame outlooks). This is an ideal
application for the use of timber frame elements. The ‘main
roof’ should have a larger overhang than the secondary roofs.
Soffits can be exposed or built in, either on the flat or on
the slope. Instead of vinyl or aluminum, in order to meet fire
protection measures, the approved soffit materials are firerated wood siding or Hardsoffit.
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Decks and Balconies
Another good application for timber frame details is on decks
and balconies. Verticalsupports of decks should be a full
dimensioned 6 x 6 or 8 x 8, so as not to appearspindly. Decks
should have vertical balusters with a minimum of 2 x 2 full
dimensionedwood elements. Glass panels are permitted with
consideration to verticality. Aluminum or vinyl is not allowed
as a material for the construction of decks. If decks areto be
impermeable, i.e. over living spaces below, they must be colour
matched to theexterior colour of the house. The underside of
decks must be fireproofed.
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Natural Materials
Use of natural materials is encouraged, including exposed
timber framing and bracing, wood siding, wood shingles or
non combustible equivalents, earth plasters, cob/straw/clay
infill walls, rammed earth walls, and natural stone walls. For
exterior areas and landscaping a predominance of local stone
is encouraged for retaining walls with a combination of natural
stone, thin veneer stone, pavers, brick, permeable stone
pathways, stacked block walls and some concrete stacked
wall (Allan Block) permitted. All transitions in grade should be
demarcated through the use of natural stone.
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The use of cultured stone (composite, manmade) is not allowed.
For stonework, a dry stacked look is preferable to the heavy
use of mortared joints. Mortar joints should be recessed rather
than pointed and made proud of the masonry. An organic
quality to the stonework is encouraged, rather than a highly
refined urban look. Less straight lines and square cuts There is
an abundance of stone on site and its use is encouraged. Stone
with a non indigenous colour palette is discouraged.
Artisanal Construction
It is encouraged to use materials in an Artisanal way that
will create a sense of beautyand individuality in the homes.
From sculpted shingles, to rustic stonework, to stainedglass
windows, and the artistic use of timber frame (carved and
sculpted rafter tails forexample) every material can be used
in a unique and artistic way, to highlight a part ofthe building
- to make that part of the house special. This application of
artisanalworkmanship hearkens back to an earlier time when
mass production had less of a stampon the way things looked
and felt. It is required that front doors and garage doors
bevisually different from each other on neighboring houses.
Structural Authenticity
Overhanging structures, balconies, decks, bay windows,
or other appurtenances that extend more than three (3)
feet beyond the plane of the building must be supported
by visible means of support, knee braces, columns, pilings
or other traditional construction methods. Buildings will
not be permitted to rely only on the use of modern building
technologies such as steel “I” beams, or cantilevered reinforced
concrete. A heavier material cannot appear to be supported on
a lighter support system i.e. a rock faced beam supported on
wooden clad posts.
The juxtaposition of different materials on a building façade
is encouraged. For example, using a tripartite division of the
elevation (base, middle, top) a harmonious composition can be
achieved by using a heavier base (stone), then vertical or
horizontal siding, and then shingles in the gable. Barge boards
of a suitable width should be used to separate one material
from another. Trim work is encouraged to be at least 2” thick
for material separations and a full dimensioned 1” for window
and door trim.Where support posts are used to support upper
floors on sloping sites, they should be of sufficient size to give
a sense of solidity.
It is encouraged for houses to be built on pilings leaving the
understorey undisturbed. Where concrete foundations are
used the amount of exposed concrete should be minimized,
with the building ‘skin’ coming down to within 6 inches of the
surrounding grade. On steeply sloping sites it is encouraged to
create a useable space below the main living floor to get closer
to the grade. A stone base can help to visually anchor the house
to the slope.
Landscaping, Fencing and Walls
in “Protected Zones”
Landscaping, Fencing and Walls
in the “Building Zone”
Natural and indigenous landscaping will be encouraged in the
“protected zones” or those portions of the lot identified as such
on the building envelope plan, and generally lying more than
15 feet from the back of the house. No fences or impermeable
walls will be permitted in these “protected zones”. No cosmetic
toxic chemicals, or pesticides will be allowed anywhere within
Elkington Forest.
Within all front and side yards located within the “Building
Zone”, as identified in the building envelope plan, nonindigenous landscaping and plantings will be encouraged.
Fencing, walls, structures or hard landscaping features may
be built from any natural wood, stone or earth based cob
materials, subject to approval by Design Review Committee.
No cosmetic toxic chemicals, or pesticides will be allowed
anywhere within Elkington Forest.
Energy
In order to improve energy performance of the homes,
Living Forest Communities will assist the homeowners with
undertaking energy modeling simulations. Energy auditing
will be a portion of the design and orientation process for all
Custom and model homes in order to identify the cost benefit
measures relative to the following:
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Solar orientation and passive heating/cooling
Massing and insulation
Glazing and overhangs
Natural vegetation and shading
Predominant wind patterns and cooling
Energy performance modeling and design alternatives
will need to be ground proofed through observations of
seasonal climatic conditions and balanced with other design
considerations such as the creation of street walls, and
verticality of proportions.
Design Review Process
A Building Design Advisory Committee will be established
to provide direction to designers and architects so as to
encourage a unifying vernacular Forest Hamlet aesthetic
for Homes in the Hamlet areas. The principles of the Design
Guidelines and the direction of the Committee will be flexible
enough to respect personal tastes and architectural creativity.
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