tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post8810557090819382083..comments2023-11-05T06:16:56.961-05:00Comments on the Carpentry Way: Enter the Octagon (III)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14328401081765407624noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-68948137450686829932015-03-19T18:19:38.703-04:002015-03-19T18:19:38.703-04:00While I like the light from a cupola or clerestory...While I like the light from a cupola or clerestory, I think it is a poor choice for a cold climate for the reason you mentioned: heat loss, in the very portion of the structure that should have the highest thermal efficiency. And you're right otherwise, it is largely a matter of taste.<br /><br />~CAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328401081765407624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-71031085193977724592015-03-19T15:42:37.910-04:002015-03-19T15:42:37.910-04:00Chris:
I live in an octagon house, and wouldn'...Chris:<br />I live in an octagon house, and wouldn't have it any other way. I have thought of making a one-story sun room off the back (the house is two-stories). I am guessing that would alter somewhat the "perfect octagon", although the addition would angle in so as to conform to the octagon shape. I do not share your dislike of cupolas and wish my house had one, although, I do agree that the mansard roof is more suitable to an octagon house. I could find so many uses for a cupola: meditation room, art room, small library, or just to have a magnificent view of the town. The down side of a cupola is that unless the windows are really tight and double paned, and the room itself is insulated, it would lose a lot of heat in the winter time. Still, I would find it impractical to try to add one on my house, as well as historically untrue to how my house was built in 1860. I won't dispute something that, in the end, is a matter of taste, but, no, I go for those cupolas, even if I can't add one to my house.Michael Sheridanhttp://www.octagonguesthouse.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-11019201648589160142014-02-12T09:14:47.280-05:002014-02-12T09:14:47.280-05:00Potomacker,
thanks for your comment and I think t...Potomacker,<br /><br />thanks for your comment and I think that's a good point about any future expansion of an octagonal building - the shape is already a way of enclosing a lot of floor area for a minimal amount of wall, but should someone later want to expand the space they either can add a floor, if that is an option, or have to expand in ways similar to conventionally-shaped buildings, with ells, wings, bump outs, etc., all of which move away from the 'perfect octagon'. I think the beauty of the shape though lies less with the overall geometric form than what it means in terms of efficient use of materials. <br /><br />As for whether the octagon house is simply a series of giant bay windows from eight perspectives, well, why would anyone put identical windows on every face of a floor? You need a door somewhere, and the north side of the building (or wind -exposed side if there is a steady breeze from some direction) should have minimized glass/openings so I don't see every face of the building looking the same. <br /><br />~CAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328401081765407624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-88933962377796594602014-02-12T01:05:27.518-05:002014-02-12T01:05:27.518-05:00I recall reading that octagonal outline require mo...I recall reading that octagonal outline require more difficulty if ever one wants to expand the dimensions. The perfect octagon, therefore, is loss whenever a new room is added on. Yet is two parallel side are expanded, do we not simply end up with a basilica layout? Is not the octagon house simply a series of giant bay windows seen from 8 different perspectives? Potomackerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02047837559244141708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-50039006473416397252011-09-15T14:50:37.956-04:002011-09-15T14:50:37.956-04:00Adam,
thanks for your comment - I understand that...Adam,<br /><br />thanks for your comment - I understand that the picture might not be the most convincing demonstration of how octagonal interior spaces may be used. I think the point of that diagram, looking back to the Japanese site I pinched the picture from, was not well represented by my writing. In that section they are talking about the advantages in a space which combines right angled corner and wider angled corners in terms of flexibility in placing things. For showers, for instance, they mention it is easier to clean an interior 135˚ face than a 90˚ corner. <br /><br />The room space they were illustrating there is meant to be a den, and they mention that the long wide desk allows two school students to use it at the same tome, and for material to be laid out over a long surface. Those are advantages in certain contexts.<br /><br />Square interior corners do tend to narrow the possibilities of use I tend to think, and the point about interior 90˚ corners being largely dead space is a valid one. A desk placed into a corner is less accessible - only two sides are usable. It's better if it were in the middle of a wall. In the octagon space shown, you could put that desk easily along the long wall and access three sides. <br /><br />Of course, rooms can be configured in various ways. Looking at plans for octagon houses I note dozens and dozens of variations. I guess the point is that an octagonal interior space does not suffer from any clear shortcomings as compared to a rectilinear interior space - and offers certain benefits. Keep in mind that the interior of an octagonal space can be partitioned so as to have several rectangular or square rooms as well, if a room with 90˚ interior corners is what you want.<br /><br />~ChrisAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328401081765407624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-5846349433697236282011-09-14T09:48:19.338-04:002011-09-14T09:48:19.338-04:00Sorry, I don't buy the more efficient office d...Sorry, I don't buy the more efficient office diagram - the desk is almost unuseably narrow and by switching the desk and the shelves, rotating it 90º and putting the desk with its back against against the right wall you end up with a similarly useful space.. and another window could be put in the right wall for that panoramic view.. Just saying like..Adam Macernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-42418863538506206392011-09-07T08:47:56.946-04:002011-09-07T08:47:56.946-04:00Julie,
thanks for posting. I would think that pen...Julie,<br /><br />thanks for posting. I would think that pentagonal structures generally are quite rare, and I have never come across a pentagonal barn. I would be delighted to see a picture if you have a moment. Thank you for offering!<br /><br />I think that for woodworking, given the machine orientations required for the efficient movement of materials through the space, that square and rectangular buildings might make the most sense, though I suspect Fowler would still argue for the octagon.Most of what i have read on shop design discusses the matter in terms of the type of materials one works with and how to move them from their unmodified state to the finished product in a smooth path of movement. This sort of thing might not be particularly relevant to the one-person artisan studio of course.<br /><br />ChrisAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328401081765407624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-66190649459490790182011-09-06T18:18:03.313-04:002011-09-06T18:18:03.313-04:00Interesting reading, as usual. I have a log barn ...Interesting reading, as usual. I have a log barn which is a pentagon. Each side is approx. 20' long when measured from the outside. The dividers for horse stalls come out from the five "corners" towards the middle, making each of the four stalls and one front entrance area pie shaped. (although not quite meeting in the middle, because that is the center walkway) For awhile I took down the dividers and used the barn as my workshop. Surprisingly, although not large I would get lost as to what section I was in, or what way the front door was, I think because of the angles of the outer walls. Placement of woodworking tools was also awkward, but it's a beautiful building (I can email you a picture if you're interested)Julie @ followyourheartwoodworkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12186806888262891917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-70232757693183443392011-09-05T09:35:11.271-04:002011-09-05T09:35:11.271-04:00Tom,
I would look to the 'Greek Revival' ...Tom,<br /><br />I would look to the 'Greek Revival' houses which dot the landscape of the US, in answer to your question...<br /><br />Thanks for your comment!<br /><br />~ChrisAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328401081765407624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-7435869627165598612011-09-05T07:20:11.842-04:002011-09-05T07:20:11.842-04:00Chris
The roof on the cover of Fowler's book ...Chris<br /><br />The roof on the cover of Fowler's book is too little, too low. I'm not a big fan of the mansard, but its a step in the right direction. The temple roofs are just gorgeous. If a man's home is his castle, couldn't it be his temple, too?<br /><br />Tomtomausmichigannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-69317857565906399262011-09-03T15:02:13.307-04:002011-09-03T15:02:13.307-04:00JG Gerth,
yes, quite right in regards to geodesic...JG Gerth,<br /><br />yes, quite right in regards to geodesic domes, however they are otherwise poor in a number of respects - please see the comment section from post II in this series:<br /><br />(http://thecarpentryway.blogspot.com/2011/08/enter-octagon-ii.html)<br /><br />Thanks for your comment!<br /><br />~ChrisAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328401081765407624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-2542754193659830562011-09-03T14:49:15.884-04:002011-09-03T14:49:15.884-04:00It's probably worth noting that the efficiency...It's probably worth noting that the efficiency gains claimed for an octagonal structure are met or exceeded with a geodesic dome. Here in south Georgia, heating efficiency is not that big a deal, reducing heat gain is.<br /><br />I do however, prefer straight walls -- easier to hang pictures if nothing else.<br /><br />JG GerthAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6261993076995357307.post-87591102056603274052011-09-02T16:00:18.055-04:002011-09-02T16:00:18.055-04:00there's a bunch in Michigan :http://www.octago...there's a bunch in Michigan :http://www.octagon.bobanna.com/MI.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com