While scroll through Tumblr the other day, I saw a floor plan for a renovated miners cabin. I went and made my own alterations and ideas for this cabin. My first thought was to keep it as passive and off grid as possible, updating old with modern tech. Second was to keep the period look, so custom/retrofitted everything. Let's take a look!
So here you see a mostly open floor plan with exception for a pantry and bathroom. A tiny nook in the back for your bed, which will hinge up for storage underneath. The bathroom itself is a wet bath, so the entire enclosure is water tight and serves as a shower. The software I'm using has no image for a woodstove, which will be located where you see the fireplace. The pantry will consist of a cabinet for dry storage and an old style ice chest, retrofitted with modern passive cooling tech. Finally a dresser in the living room, hey it's had to go somewhere.
So for passive temperature regulation I envisioned using an earth tube and solar chimney. How this works is an air intake tube is buried at a depth where the temperature is constant year round. Air enters the tube and a heat exchange takes place before exiting inside the house. To keep the flow passive and going, the house is fitted with a solar chimney. The sun warms the air in the chimney and simple physics takes over. The rising heat exits the house causing cooler air to be pulled in from the earth tube. See diagram below.
For the pantry I want a separate earth tube at a much lower, cooler depth. 50° - 40° ideally. This tube will be key to keeping the ice chest cool enough for perishable goods.
For the cooler months and for cooking, I'm picturing old school wood fire oven and stove. Antique if I could get one. Cooking, heating and fitted with a water block, will provide the house with hot water. While not suitable for the warmer months, an outdoor kitchen will be required. With that thought, a solar water heater will also need to be rigged up as well.
For the final touches, no off grid house would be complete without some form of power. Solar panels and battery system will cover lights, water pump, t.v .and a laptop/tablet/phone. Large farm sink in the kitchen can help do laundry, by hand, in the colder months. If the world ever suffers a stone age reset, this house could keep you living comfortably.
As for one final optional configuration, you could add a loft space for an office or more sleeping space for families. With a retractable attic ladder access, here's one possible layout for a loft.
Thanks for reading, please enjoy and share!
