03-05-2011, 06:10 PM
A recent post stated that A-frames, being designed with a steep pitch to shed snow and being all roof, had absolutely no business in Hawaii. Another post followed closely that listed some conditions under which an A-frame might not be a total waste of time, including being built on stilts, but nevertheless made it clear that that poster also thought A-frames were a poor fit. This got me wondering, as it seems many of the pictures I recall of ancient hawaiian houses had extremely steep roof pitches and very low walls. By looking up "ancient Hawaiian house" I found a book titled "The Ancient Hawaiian House" that finally got around to talking about hawaiian houses after discussing all the houses in the rest of Oceania. Darned if the vast majority of them didn't look exactly like A-frames on stilts! In one picture the house appeared to be about 7 feet wide and 20 feet tall!
I think it is true that A-frames as we know them are associated with mountain or lakeside cabins from North America, where it snows, and it is definitely true that they shed snow, but it does not follow that because they are good where it snows, they must be bad in the tropics. I don't believe that the A-frame concept is driven by the need to shed snow, since more conventional cabin shapes have been routinely built in these same regions, as much as it is driven by the sheer simplicity and strength of a design based on triangles. Against this simplicity is balanced the poor use of space, but everything made or done by man is a compromise. My point is that based on my admittedly cursory research, the profile of an A-frame house would not have been out of place in the polynesia of 500 years ago.
What are the benefits of an A-frame design?
1. Simplicity. In ancient times joining logs was not as easy as it is today with Simpson brackets and stainless fasteners, so the fewer the joints the better and a triangle is inherently strong. This simplicity would not be nearly as important today but nevertheless it is a merit of the design.
2. Steepness of the roof. Ancient thatch was pretty neat but I doubt it was 100% effective and its effectiveness would depend largely on the steepness of the roof. Again, not nearly so important today but a good friend of mine, a carpenter for thirty years, stated that a benefit of a steep roof is that there is less corrosion of the roofing steel since the water drains and the roof dries quickly. In Puna we have to contend with lots of rain so in fact a steep roof does have some merit. Ya gotta admit it is the ultimate in having the roof extend far enough to completely shield the walls, at least on the sides.
3. Height of interior space. Among the faults often listed for A-frames is that they are difficult to heat. All the heat goes to the top. In my opinion this is because part of the mystique of the A-frame cabin by the lake is the enormous bank of windows from floor to peak on at least one end of the structure, coupled with the half loft design that is almost always chosen, creating a dramatic "great room" effect. Remember though, this is typically in snow country. This is exactly what you would want in the tropics, and what you should avoid in snow country. I bet that some of the negativity towards the A-frame stems from this and other foolish compromises made on behalf of style. Ironically this concession to style, so foolish in cold climates, has tarnished the image of A-frames for critical thinkers to the point that they are not taking the time to reevaluate and see that it is actually a benefit in warm climates.
4. Low maintenance supposedly because it is mostly roof.
5. It's a mystique thing. It pleases me.
What are the disadvantages?
1. Poor/weird use of floor space. Gotta admit this is true.
2. Tallness means lots of stairs. Yup.
3. Dark in the middle unless you build dormers. Guilty as charged. I would not put dormers in myself because then you give up simplicity. That was one of the main reasons for going with the A-frame right? All roof, no wall except on the end. No roof penetrations except up near the peak so there is less chance of leaking. Simple, clean, effective if you can live with it. This might limit the size of an A-frame so that you have one room on each end with windows and doors, and only non-habitable spaces like toilets and laundry rooms in the middle.
4. Roof is more expensive than wall. This may be true. I haven't crunched the numbers myself but I can believe it.
5. It's a mystique thing. Silly dreamers. Wouldn't want to be one of them.
So in short I can see putting a small A-frame up on stilts about 7' off the ground so you could park underneath and otherwise repel invaders. It would be about 20' wide which depending on the angles would also make it about 20' high. It would have the typical half loft. This being Hawaii all the heat migrating to the top would usually be a good thing, although there have been times I have frozen my butt off in Eden Roc. Well that was when I was trying to sleep. The loft would be for sleeping so it seems that would all work out. Have a deck at one end where the entrance would be, nothing at the other end. You enter into the main living area. The kitchen would be back and to one side, the bathroom back and to the other side, the loft over the kitchen and bath. A real stair, not a ladder, to the loft.
I think it is true that A-frames as we know them are associated with mountain or lakeside cabins from North America, where it snows, and it is definitely true that they shed snow, but it does not follow that because they are good where it snows, they must be bad in the tropics. I don't believe that the A-frame concept is driven by the need to shed snow, since more conventional cabin shapes have been routinely built in these same regions, as much as it is driven by the sheer simplicity and strength of a design based on triangles. Against this simplicity is balanced the poor use of space, but everything made or done by man is a compromise. My point is that based on my admittedly cursory research, the profile of an A-frame house would not have been out of place in the polynesia of 500 years ago.
What are the benefits of an A-frame design?
1. Simplicity. In ancient times joining logs was not as easy as it is today with Simpson brackets and stainless fasteners, so the fewer the joints the better and a triangle is inherently strong. This simplicity would not be nearly as important today but nevertheless it is a merit of the design.
2. Steepness of the roof. Ancient thatch was pretty neat but I doubt it was 100% effective and its effectiveness would depend largely on the steepness of the roof. Again, not nearly so important today but a good friend of mine, a carpenter for thirty years, stated that a benefit of a steep roof is that there is less corrosion of the roofing steel since the water drains and the roof dries quickly. In Puna we have to contend with lots of rain so in fact a steep roof does have some merit. Ya gotta admit it is the ultimate in having the roof extend far enough to completely shield the walls, at least on the sides.
3. Height of interior space. Among the faults often listed for A-frames is that they are difficult to heat. All the heat goes to the top. In my opinion this is because part of the mystique of the A-frame cabin by the lake is the enormous bank of windows from floor to peak on at least one end of the structure, coupled with the half loft design that is almost always chosen, creating a dramatic "great room" effect. Remember though, this is typically in snow country. This is exactly what you would want in the tropics, and what you should avoid in snow country. I bet that some of the negativity towards the A-frame stems from this and other foolish compromises made on behalf of style. Ironically this concession to style, so foolish in cold climates, has tarnished the image of A-frames for critical thinkers to the point that they are not taking the time to reevaluate and see that it is actually a benefit in warm climates.
4. Low maintenance supposedly because it is mostly roof.
5. It's a mystique thing. It pleases me.
What are the disadvantages?
1. Poor/weird use of floor space. Gotta admit this is true.
2. Tallness means lots of stairs. Yup.
3. Dark in the middle unless you build dormers. Guilty as charged. I would not put dormers in myself because then you give up simplicity. That was one of the main reasons for going with the A-frame right? All roof, no wall except on the end. No roof penetrations except up near the peak so there is less chance of leaking. Simple, clean, effective if you can live with it. This might limit the size of an A-frame so that you have one room on each end with windows and doors, and only non-habitable spaces like toilets and laundry rooms in the middle.
4. Roof is more expensive than wall. This may be true. I haven't crunched the numbers myself but I can believe it.
5. It's a mystique thing. Silly dreamers. Wouldn't want to be one of them.
So in short I can see putting a small A-frame up on stilts about 7' off the ground so you could park underneath and otherwise repel invaders. It would be about 20' wide which depending on the angles would also make it about 20' high. It would have the typical half loft. This being Hawaii all the heat migrating to the top would usually be a good thing, although there have been times I have frozen my butt off in Eden Roc. Well that was when I was trying to sleep. The loft would be for sleeping so it seems that would all work out. Have a deck at one end where the entrance would be, nothing at the other end. You enter into the main living area. The kitchen would be back and to one side, the bathroom back and to the other side, the loft over the kitchen and bath. A real stair, not a ladder, to the loft.
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