B - Y - O - C

I had originally planned on this area for Emergency and Disaster relief (let's face it, people should know by now that mobile homes in this area just can't outlast a tornado - especially on top of a hill) as the grants involved with such make it a worthy project just the same! So we had to incorporate a few walled areas to keep food stores from plunder, as well as, give additional support and also hide a few necessities. This area is accessible by 4 spiral staircases (2 front & rear) and hidden elevator and will consist of: Mecanical, personal and seasonal storage (locked) Buttery (wine and mead), cold and dry storage (WI cold storage units) - locked Open (center)…

Accessible by 4 spiral staircases (two front / rear) or hidden elevator, will consist of private family living quarters. Master suite & bath (in tower) Laundry and storage 2 children's suites w/ full baths (towers) Rec room (children's) Family room Personal resource library (tower) Personal office space with 1/2 bath Misc. storage and etc. Arched windows overlooking interior courtyard. (measurements and plans will be posted soon - overall main castle approx.20,000sf)

accessible by four sets of spiral staircases (two front & rear) or hidden elevator, and will consist of 7 public use units : 2 open solars (front & rear) 4 tower guest suites w/ full, private baths 3 other guest suites with full private baths (one with adjoining rooms) Open archways balcony overlooking interior courtyard below public laundry facilities / linen storage (measurements and plans will be posted soon - overall main castle approx.20,000sf)

After entering through 20' double oak doors and into a raised solar, the main level will consist of: 2 open solars (sitting areas) Public resource library (tower) 1-3 private meeting (2 private dining) rooms (located in towers) 2 (gender friendly) bathrooms with 5 stalls ea. In-house chapel (weddings, etc.) Great hall with raised platform 2 walk-in fire places (on either side of great hall) Hidden elevator (handicapped accessibility) Main commercial kitchen with walk in open hearth , prep islands Inerior courtyard with fruit trees, fountain, benches, etc. (measurements plans will be posted soon -overall approx 20,000sf total for main castle)

If you had any doubts about how your images in the calender will go over take a look at how many views the lurkers have gave each one, not bad!

I have have spent long hours on this stuff before I went with the traditional approach and your right, doing something one way leads to other deviations on others. If I remember right I was going to use the in the wall, cealings, with small rooms to do the heat/air units. The exposed beam cealings did pose the hardest problems but whoops gotta go for now back in a bit.

I have been researching a bit online lately on construction methods that are more ecologically friendly and a bit more cost reductive. The traditional block and stone is great, but I am having a problem as to wether or not to do it this way - cost reasons and resource consumption my primary concerns. One idea I had come up with (due to friend's suggestions) was to go with an insulated concrete form, reinforced with steel to give great strength, durability and ungodly insulating factors. Granted, it would be lined on the exterior and some interior with a thinner stone facade, but was curious how others may be solving this problem? One good thing is that I don't have to …

This home is some where in Oklahoma, I don't know the owner but he was nice enough to let me take a few pictures from his drive way. If he or someone he knows wishes to have me put up more details I will be more then happy too.

Museum Hosts Translucent Concrete Display 2 hours, 10 minutes ago By CARL HARTMAN, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - It used to be only Superman who could see through concrete walls, but an exhibit at the National Building Museum shows mere mortals can do it too. AP Photo Called "Liquid Stone," the show features variations of translucent concrete, a newfangled version of the old construction standby that offers a combination of aesthetics and practicality. One display is a wall of translucent concrete blocks. When someone stands in front of it and light is shone from behind, the person's shadow can be seen clearly on the other side. "I thi…

Will someone please post in your home forum or at least let me know that you can? Please????