Celebrating Steel

When we started this project, one of our main goals was to create a Modern design concept that is efficient, inspiring and sustainable.   Our design philopsophy is captured in this terrific graphic.

In the 19th Century (not that long ago) houses were not very comfortable unless you were wealthy.  Electricity was still a futuristic dream.  There were no flush toilets, no central heating and no air conditioning.   Those were the "Good" Old Days!

In the 20th Century tremendous technological advances made all of these comforts and conveniences affordable and widespread.  We enjoyed cheap energy, so the march of progress paid little attention to nature or environment for making homes comforatble or livable.

The name neoTerra refers to the New Earth of the 21st Century.  This will be a world with 9 billion people competing for food and resources.  Only through sustainable design and conscientious use of materials can we all enjoy a prosperous future.

Why Steel?

Although we are creating a Modern design concept, the world has changed a lot since the 1950's. The aesthetics and design principles pioneered by Frank Llloyd Wright and his contemporaries still apply, but the technology and materials used 60 years ago are no longer appropriate.   Old growth timber, cypress and cedar have become luxury materials.  We must look for new 'natural' materials.

Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon, two of the most abundant materials on Earth.  Steel was a hand-crafted and valuable material until the late 19th Century.  Today, steel has become a commodity that is so abundant we throw it away.

Let's reuse ALL of this!                               But how do we make it beautiful??


For neoTerra we decided that a responsible design should make extensive use steel.  We used a steel framing system for the suspended slab and we are using steel for roofing and much of the siding.

In my opinion, the key to making steel beautiful is to use it 'honestly'.  In other words, to utilize the products in a manner that highlights their stregths and characteristics rather than trying to diguise it as something else.

For neoTerra we are using raw galvalume siding for it's luster and natural crystalline pattern.

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The 16" high TJ rafters in the Great Room create a 17" high fascia.  Using 4" ribbed galvalume provides a rigid, maintenance free fascia.  And the ribs create shadow lines that add interest and reduce the visual 'mass' of the tall fascia. 

Although steel is not inexpensive, it is extremely strong and modern galvalume coatings make it durable and virtually maintenance-free.     Since steel can be applied in long, seamless panels it provides an almost air-tight barrier that helps make the home more energy efficeint and comfortable.

We were fortunate to connect with Fabral Metals who put us in touch with Mark Alarcon at Champion Metals.  Mark specializes in large commercial projects but he has a great interest in projects that use commercial metal products in residential applications.   Mark is a true craftsman with steel... every aspect is well thought out and detailed.

We are using 4" rib galvalume on the two cantilvered sections of the house.  The 4" rib creates a strong horizontal appearance to empasize the cantilevers floating over the concrete foundation.   The kitchen faces north and has a thin horizontal band of windows between the counter and the upper cabinets.

The guest bedroom and master bath are cantileverd to the south.