HOWARD ALAN STUDIO
849 Armitage Ave. Chicago, IL

Both a personal and public building, Howard Alan's Studio provides an environment aiding the pursuit of creative architectural thinking (personal) and demonstrates the practicality and delight of working in a day lit environment that uses 50% less energy than a similar spatial volume (public).

 

This passive solar building is constructed on the rear of Alan’s property zoned for business use in Chicago's Lincoln Park community about 1.5 miles East of Lake Michigan.


 


The building is insulated on the exterior side of the outer walls acting like a winter coat by keeping body heat from escaping to a colder exterior.  Howard Alan’s studio received an award for sustainable design from the American Institute of Architects and the Union of International Architects in June of 1993.


 


Studio View From Above

 


Studio View From Above
Northeast view at night

 


The entire second floor is designed to capture the sun's heat and store it in the masonry walls, the concrete floor, and the five fiberglass tubes of water. A radiant heating system is embedded in the concrete floors for backup heat.

 


First floor meeting area with table designed by Alan


 


Second Floor seating area with furniture designed by Alan

 


Section of studio

 


Second floor plan

 


The application of wiring fiber optic cables to the perforated aluminum panels before fixing to the studio ceiling.

 


Studio ceiling in daylight

 


Studio ceiling at night

 


The ceiling decoration is a fiber optic lighting design in a spiral pattern.  This spiral galaxy is a reminder of where one is. 

 



Copyright Howard Alan 2005