The Ideal "Puna" House Design

[FNG]

I desined my house for maximum cross ventilation. I live on the 2nd floor with two 8 foot sliding glass doors and a four foot slider between them; this way my whole front wall is glass that looks out on to my 400 sq foot screened lanai, where I am sleeping at the moment, it is much cooler. I put smaller lanis on the other three sides too. Underneath is my guest bedroom, which at the moment is rented, so far so good. I took the airflow concept a step further by installing a cupola on the 3rd floor accessed by a circular staircase. The theory goes, that in the summer, the easterly breezes will waft through the sliders, up the staircase, and exit through the cupola, which by the way, is my 3rd bedroom, just as soon as I can afford to put a bed up there. I even have a peek-a-boo ocean view from the 3rd floor. There are not fans in my house. Just as soon as it warms up, I will see if my hypothesis is valid, report to follow.

I love living up high. (You can take that statement anyway you want to.) With the wrap around lanis and 3 feet overhangs, the walls of the house seldom see the light of the sun or rain. I have two cats to keep the rats moving, too. As far as the stairs goes, that could be an issue in my elder years, but I have found that those who cannot deal with stairs usually are obese, which I am not. Besides, the stairs gives you good exercise during the day after running up and down retreiving things you have forgotten. When the legs and knees give out, I will install an elevator/escalator thingy.


FNG

P.S. One day my wife stated that single story houses are boring, I concur.