What about Car Shelters?
Over the years I have increasingly recommended car shelters for my clients rather than "the Great American Garage." Although not standard for many of today's suburban homes, car shelters make a lot of sense for green, urban living.
Pollution & Fumes
For me, the one of my concerns in building a better home has always been to try to decrease the extent to which I am polluting myself. With a typical garage, as you park and enter your home, all of the fumes from your car are following you straight into the home. With a car shelter, these fumes have a chance to disperse rather than follow you directly into your home.
Extension of Living Space
I have also discovered, from clients and from my own home, that the car shelter often becomes an extension of living space into the outdoors. With jointed concrete floors and beautiful exposed beam ceilings, these car shelters offer an elegant space for outdoor parties as well as overhead storage. As we always seek to design and build spaces with a purpose, this is a great example of using one space to meet different needs.
Jones Car Shelter
A great-looking addition to this home, the Jones often use their car shelter to extend their living space.
Nicholson Car Shelter
This car shelter also supports the residence's photovolactic panels and electric car charger
Pecan Car Shelter
This car shelter's open beam ceiling allows for storage of bikes and a canoe above the car. Overall, this is a more welcoming approach to your home than pulling into a cramped garage.
Wilkins Car Shelter
This car shelter added protection to the homeowners' cars without blocking views of the backyard from the home. It also doubles as a picnic shelter.
Community of Garages
Having a series of garages promotes separation from your neighbors and you start to lose the feel of the close-knit downtown community. Are these garages too full to park in? Most of our homes also include dedicated outdoor storage.
Community of Garages
Begin to overwhelm homes rather than complementing.
Community of Car Shelters
Helps to promote more of an open, inviting neighborhood feel.
