BASEMENT is excavated to eight feet below the 75' above-sea-level first floor. A. A cylindrical reservoir 50' diameter is dug ten feet deeper and contains 150,000 gallons of water-- about a half year residential supply. It is replenished from rooftop and water main along the northwest wall. This immense thermal mass moderates seasonal temperature swings. B. Nearby is mushroom cultivation. C. 20,000 cubic feet of general storage are available for personal goods, and for industrial raw materials and parts used directly above. Access is by dumbwaiter. D. Excavations labeled B are carousel compost toilets using excreta, kitchen scraps & leaves. E. 30,000 cubic feet of food storage hold several months' supply. A hoist serves all kitchens and doubles as an elevator for the infirm. Solar powered fans can be used to move cool air up. F. A spiral staircase goes to the roof. It works as a vent, too. G. The auditorium floor slopes to five feet depth below its stage. H. A second water reservoir of 94,000 gallons is an emergency supply for the hydrant cannon (third floor). It can vent cool air up. FIRST FLOOR A. 52 residents occupy 17 subdivisible units, according to numbers in rooms. Solitary, nuclear family, neofamily and extended family lifestyles are accommodated. They have access to shared areas. Walls (8 feet tall) and ceilings are completely soundproofed to protect privacy. There are places to be alone, to be quiet with others, to talk or work with friends, to party and to meet people. The northeast wall is mostly underground. B. The atrium is a sun lounge which catches cool nighttime air for release to first and second floors during summer days. Its winter roof is rolled back to take daylight and heat to underground units. Vertical louvres and shades help regulate temperature. One inch of rain in this area collects 880 gallons, which pass through a filter before entering storage tank below. C.. The auditorium's sliding inner walls permit several meetings at once. Meetings of the full house make this the home of direct democracy. Theatre and music are also performed. It is soundproofed. D. An industrial space is soundproofed. It is powered by rooftop solar furnaces or turbines. Storage places are supplemented by basement areas accessible by ramp. E. Although each unit has its own kitchen, all can share meals from the large kitchen. It doubles as a restaurant for crosstown & cross-country travelers. Tables in the eating area are sectioned for easy rearrangement. F. The recreation room also stores outdoor game equipment. G. Free childcare frees parents. Kids learn about
plants and greenhousing, solar machinery, crafts and cooperative games. H. Private doors open inward except on northeast wall; house doors open outward. I. Large wall areas are used for posting notice of meetings, presentations, dances, special work, and for announcing love, complaint, need. J. Compartments labeled T are vents letting warm air out and pulling cool air from the basement in summer. K. Patterns of little circles are photovoltaic arrays at base of greenhouse glazing. L. Greenhouse windows slide down and aside during the summer. Their walls are reflective rather than absorptive. Direct solar heat in winter comes through windows. SECOND FLOOR A. 34 people occupy eight subdivisible units. B. The library is well lit by the atrium. Agriculture and craft are important collections. C. A heavily soundproofed meditation and worship room has double-walled entrance. D. The main lounge is a dance floor and exhibit hall. E. The large skylight illuminates and vents the first floor dining area. F. Greenhouse hallways (greenhalls) are nurseries for rooftop gardens. Glass floors admit light to first floor. G. Earth berms are terraced and gardened. H. Trough solar concentrator heats water for bath lounge and charges batteries for the hydrant pump. Solar cells on the central pipe face the trough to generate additional electricity for living space at this end. I. Railings border the roof above grade. Wheelchairs have access to first floor. J. Solar cells shade first floor greenhouses from highest sun. K. Pumphouse boosts power of hydrant cannon mounted above it. Trough collector and solar cell batteries are within. Garden tool storage here. L. Compartments labeled S and SV are skylights and skylight vents. THIRD FLOOR A. Eight people occupy two subdivisible units. B. South end of atrium is sloped to let low winter sun enter. C. Fire hydrant cannon protects a 320-degree range, reaching 200 feet away when aimed 31 degrees up. The rear of the house is covered by the Food Mast fire tower. ROOF A. Three large disc collectors focus the sun to power industrial machines and furnaces. They are mounted in geodesic domes. A boiler and generator are nearby. B. Solar hot water collectors heat showers. Filtered greywater is used for roof crops. C. Vents, windscoops, skylights and vents exit here.