Windswept views -- at a price
John Graves asks:
Question
Generally speaking, does it become difficult or impractical to design/build a house that ideally for enjoying 360 degree views is perched on top of a hilly block of land that is subject to frequent strong winds (being in the roaring 40S)/ Winds often reach 50 miles per hour at times and can come up the hill from so many directions perhaps blowing away any good energy forces. Its virtually impossible to erect wind breaks except from the west side which is flat.
Many thanks
Answer
An excellent question!
The environment surrounding us is capable of causing both disease and symptoms.
— T. Messner: Environmental variables and the risk of disease. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2005 Dec. 64(5) 523-33.
I could call it “feng shui” or use scientific terms — space weather is a fascinating field of study.
In times of high solar activity (and we’re in solar minimum in a particularly nasty cycle), the radiation buffeting the planet and carried on the winds (infrasonically or otherwise) is going to affect you more on a hilltop.
If you are on a hilltop that has winds nearly all the time, you are really in for a bad time.
The summit of a hill is the wrong location if you’re worried about wildfires — with climate change wildfires are going to be increasingly common. Fire tends to travel uphill so houses at the top are the most vulnerable. Hot air blows under eaves and decking, and when they reach a certain temperature they ignite.
A house below a ridgeline tends to be more protected; heat often travels right over houses below a ridge. The Chinese had good reasons to build houses lower down a hillside, it seems.
That much exposure could make the house unhealthy or unlivable for someone with mental illness or under stress, allergies or asthma; someone who suffers heart problems, is at risk of a stroke, headaches, or eye problems.
There are more illnesses, but you get the idea.
Here are two basic rules:
- Structures are supposed to be built so they have a “back” or “seat” for stability, a view, and protection from the elements.
- You must avoid injuring or killing the “dragon” of your hill. This occurs with cut-and-fill construction. I call it “bad feng shui,” others call it “faulty construction” or “bad engineering.”
You can’t put a Band-Aid on bad feng shui. It is the gift that keeps on giving.
The right design could cut your exposure to the wind and to space weather, and find a use for it. Consider something like this building by Paolo Soleri, because of the protection it offers. The Terran Alliance has fantastic ideas in this regard.
A good passive solar design would keep you comfortable, help you avoid energy bills, and boost resale value.
