3599 Hector Road
Newcastle, CA 95658

The Shipwreck House:

Located on the shores of beautiful Folsom Lake near Sacramento CA, with spectacular lake and mountain views. This house pushes the limit of green technology using architecturally incorporated dual axis tracking arrays affording a nearly 40% increase in efficiency to the 5KW grid tied power generating/storing system.

Direct gain passive solar heating with 128'+ of window wall, constructed with German-made  9'x4' fixed windows in combination with  identical 9'x4' tilt/turn 'windoors' for a seamless appearance.  DIrect gain is mitigated by a ten inch thick structural cantilevered concrete slab.

The lower level plan, 128+’ x 25+’, which houses the public functions of the house as well as the Master Bedroom, is as open as possible: the  partitions that exist are held to the North side and are at seven feet in height, allowing the roof structure (cable-suspended, twisting, fluted steel deck over glu-lam rafters and seprentine 'valley' beam) to be a very dynamic and fluid feature, viewable without obstruction from anywhere inside the house at that level.

The general lighting for the lower level works in concert with the serpentine twisting roof form.

Twice per year the roof performs a solar trick unique in all the world where the normally serpentine profiled shadow-line of the South roof overhang becomes a perfectly straight line across the 128'+ feet of unobstructed South window wall for a moment in time before it warps into a serpentine shadow for six more months. (see Architectural Concept below for more info)

The butterfly roof profile facilitates water collection and the house is piped and ready for bladder tank rain-water storage. Transparent 6" dia. PVC interior drains at the kitchen and den, plus two additional exterior 4" dia. clear PVC drains, highlight this feature.

5KW dual axis tracking photovoltaic arrays for a 38% increase in production at this latitude over a fixed roof-mounted system.

24V DC lighting, 24V refrigeration, 24V on-demand water pressure and 24V space cooling maximize the efficiency of the system by eliminating the need for inverting power to AC which ultimately taxes the power production by approximately 30%.

The house is currently grid-interconnected and selling power every sunny day with an annual credit balance.

Custom made crescent shaped stainless steel kitchen with built-in sink, and 5 built in burners with grates set flush to the counter-top surface for safe handling of large pots. This built in cooktop is unique in all the world.

Years in the making this is a house unlike any on the planet.