Eric, our tastes must be very similar. I still prefer a modest ranch style home with flat 10’ ceilings. When I see vaulted or cathedral ceilings it pains me because my mind keeps thinking about the wasted space and the lost HVAC performance. On the other hand, passive house standard homes almost always turn me off. They are often just too ugly to love no matter how well they perform. I just can't imagine anyone living in them for too long without dying from boredom. I also prefer lots of acreage with no neighbors in sight and a garage/shop that is larger than the house…

True Passive solar homes are not Passive hauses... lets just remember that.   Passive Haus lean towards hyper insulation, smaller windows, and tight building envelops that require HRV and tend to be more technical.  Passive Haus is  rather a misnomer because they are actually active houses with needed mechanical.  And for passive solar homes to perform in cooling vaulting helps.... especially if the high point has exhaust venting operable windows.   Flat ceilings unfortunately do not give a good convective loop.  Often the air in such spaces is stagnant.    So I definitely dont agree on HVAC working better in flat ceiling homes.  A lot depends on climate.   Here in Montana there is no need for air conditioning with the correct  window layout, some high and some low, and preferably some vaulting.   A venturi effect is set up when low windows to the cool side and high windows to the hot side are open.... this sets up a pressure difference across the volume that creates air flow and thus since our air is dry here ... evaporative cooling. A natural form of air conditioning.   I have been in many ranch style homes in this area that feel stagnant, some of the better views are cropped off.  We have incredible sky views, mtn views, that vaulting make possible here in Montana.    As far as Ranch style goes... suum cuique.   

I think you've misunderstood the "Passive House" standard. They can look like anything the designer wants them to look like. All PH cares about is the energy useage & carbon footopringt - design never enters the calculation.

Who misunderstood.... Bob.  I agree that a passive haus could look like anything you wanted. 

Yes, Passive House (PH), or retaining the original German name “Passivhaus” to pay respect and properly reference the origins of this concept, is likely the opposite of a passive solar house with regard active/passive and complexity/simplicity.

I just can’t say that I have ever seen an attractive PH building. It seems like most of the budget gets spent on meeting the extreme PH standards and the expensive PH certification costs, and the architecture and finish gets badly sacrificed in the process. If anyone has photos of a PH building that costs less than 2 times that of well insulated/sealed newly constructed building that they think is actually attractive both inside and outside, please post the photos.

Kind of like LEED certified .... but millionaires can afford it.  You can have the highest standards and make it attractive with enough money.

I've never been a fan of modern looking houses. The house I am currently building is essentially a rectangular ranch, but I added a low shed roof front porch, and I'm doing Craftsman detailing to the exterior to dress it up a bit. Rather than do 'Craftsman inspired' like many tract homes, I studied and photographed local original Craftsman homes to get the details right. The interior, however, is wide open, instead of a warren of small rooms like older homes had.

Since we are poor, and building out-of-pocket, I had to keep the envelope simple to be able to afford making it energy efficient. The dress-up details aren't expensive if you discount your own labor. When we're done, I'll have a vintage looking home that is far more efficient than the 'real thing'. That way, I can scratch two different itches at the same time.

People will never agree on what makes a good-looking house. The designs of Frank Lloyd Wright never did anything for me. I do admire a well-designed house that complements its surroundings, even if I'm not crazy about the house. FLW did accomplish that. I like historic districts; if you don't, don't live there. It does get a bit ridiculous when every little detail has to be authentic. Then it becomes a museum, not a neighborhood.

Posted By sailawayrb on 02 May 2014 04:10 PM
Eric, our tastes must be very similar. I still prefer a modest ranch style home with flat 10’ ceilings. When I see vaulted or cathedral ceilings it pains me because my mind keeps thinking about the wasted space and the lost HVAC performance. On the other hand, passive house standard homes almost always turn me off. They are often just too ugly to love no matter how well they perform. I just can't imagine anyone living in them for too long without dying from boredom. I also prefer lots of acreage with no neighbors in sight and a garage/shop that is larger than the house…

Finally, something we agree on. It pays to start with a mountain, a lake or stream and no neighbors... Like passive houses, not very practical, but no harm in dreaming or redefining perfection!

keep and open mind is tough.  Humans are creates of habit and familiarity.  We tend to like things that we are comfortable in, comfort is often subjective to real living experiences.  I bet both of you guys if you lived in one of my homes for a few weeks even better a whole year would love the experience, comfort, performance, and feeling of tranquility.  I find often older folks who have lived in a variety of homes are more likely to experiment as they already know what gloomy, compartmental, inefficient, and boring already is.  I find young families are the least likely to experiment as they are concerned with the kids, and often replicate how they themselves were raised.  That's why housing is stylized, to fit categorize of recognition.   I put a lot of though into a home before I go into final drawing.   I try to find out the habits and preferences of each possible tenant. 

Most houses today is typified in order to sell.  3 baths, 4 bedroom... a craftsman style, or colonial... its about market.  I really feel we need to start making home for specifics, individuals rather than a market.... Housing boom, housing bust, housing boom, housing bust... Maybe you might thing I am egotistical in thinking I can change the way you think, not so, we can all change, and sometimes the changes we make might not seem at first to be good, but down the road you realize , this is actually real nice, better for me. 

Maybe you would have a good winter if you lived in snowpod for a winter!  With nothing to do but sit around the woodstove, drinking your favorite beverage in the evening as the alpen glow illuminates the mountains around.  Then waking to have a day out exploring by ski or snowshoe.  Then coming home to a warm and comfortable place.  Sit out on the wind sheltered deck have a beer absorbing the afternoon sun.   I know a hard sell after such a long winter...