Expert: Richard Taylor, AIA - 6/4/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi, Richard
I own a 2000 SF 2-story pitched-roof adobe (in Santa Fe area) that is sited near a sloping away hillside (about 8-foot drop but I can't tell you the degree of slope). I want to add a new wing that would be perpendicular to the main house and linked to it by existing porch that would act as a breezeway. My question is this: where can I go to research design ideas and solutions for suspending a simple rectangle on steel footings to get new wing even with grade and suspended over my slope? I'm open to prefab.

Many thanks!

Mary in Rio

ANSWER: Hi Mary - thanks for your question!  I need a little more info - what exactly to you mean by "suspending" the room addition and why do you want to use steel footings (never heard of that before)?

Do you mean cantilevered with a steel structure?  If so, there's no "resource" on this other than a professional structural engineer or Architect.  There are examples of similar kinds of things now and then in the architectural press, but I couldn't tell you how to start searching for more info about it.

It's an unusual (but exciting!) design idea; might be time to get a pro involved.

Richard Taylor, AIA
President
Richard Taylor Architects, LLC
www.rtastudio.com
www.rtaplans.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi, Richard-
To follow up, I am envisioning a shoebox (contemporary style) that will sit on the ground but about half of which will have to be suspended over the drop. I though engineered steel posts would be necessary to hold up the suspended end but maybe this can be done with wood piling. The other part of my question is: to gain about 400 SF of new studio space (no plumbing) how do you like the idea of a preengineered solution (a la Dwell)? I've even thought of craning in a RR car...

Not wealthy but creative in New Mexico
Mary

Answer
Mary - that makes more sense.  I suspected you meant a "cantilevered" building addition.  Steel would likey be the best material for the structure (you'd said "footings" which threw me off).

I'm sure there's a pre-engineered unit out there somewhere that would work for you.  The RR car is an intriguing idea also!  I do wonder whether either of those solutions would get you more bang for the buck than something custom-designed, however.

Why don't you start checking out Architects in your area and get some ideas about feasibility from them before you make a decision?

Hope this helps!

Richard Taylor, AIA
Richard Taylor Architects, LLC
www.rtastudio.com
www.rtaplans.com