US3754364A

US3754364A - Building structure

Info

Publication number: US3754364A
Application number: US00195660A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Ice
Original assignee: INTER CONCEPT ENTERPRISES Inc
Current assignee: INTER CONCEPT ENTERPRISES Inc
Priority date: 1971-11-04
Filing date: 1971-11-04
Publication date: 1973-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-28
Also published as: JPS4857445A; GB1404820A; ZA727450B; BR7207728D0; DE2253903A1; JPS5213858B2; CA970921A; FR2159953A5; AU4818972A

Abstract

A building structure having a general honeycomb-like configuration comprised of a hexagonal foundation enclosing a central area with semi-hexagonal portions of the building cantilevered outwardly from some or all of the foundation sides. Vertical columns located at the corners of the hexagonal foundation are connected to horizontal beams that support stressed skin second floor sections and/or roof sections. The cantilevered building portions have sidewalls formed from prefabricated panels that are sealed against the vertical columns along their edges. For an embodiment adaptable as a single family two-storey home, a circular staircase is provided within the central area of the main floor while a modified version adaptable as a two apartment structure utilizes a staircase on the outer side of the building.

Description

United States Patent Ice BUILDING STRUCTURE Inventor: Lory F. Ice, San Jose. Calif.

Inter-Concept Enterprises Inc., Santa Clara, Calif.

Filed: Nov. 4, 1971 Appl. No.: 195,660

Assignee:

US. Cl. 52/187, 52/236, 52/237, 52/293, 52/299 Int. Cl E041) l/34, E026 27/12 Field of Search 52/73, 237, 236, 52/299, 293, 187, 176, 175, 586

12/1968 Walz et a1...

7/1969 Mims 1/1972 Bartoli ..52/237X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 10/1946 Great Britain 52/237 Primary Examiner-Price C. Faw, Jr. Attorney-Roger W. Erickson 57] ABSTRACT A building structure having a general honeycomb-like configuration comprised of a hexagonal foundation enclosing a central area with semi-hexagonal portions of the building cantilevered outwardly from some or all of the foundation sides. Vertical columns located at the corners of the hexagonal foundation are connected to horizontal beams that support stressed skin second floor sections andlor roof sections. The cantilevered building portions have sidewalls formed from prefabricated panels that are sealed against the vertical columns along their edges. For an embodiment adaptable as a single family two-storey home, a circular staircase is provided within the central area of the main floor while a modified version adaptable as a two apartment structure utilizes a staircase on the outer side of the building.

25 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3,754,364

9 Sheets-Sheet l L OP 5 F [c5 INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 28, 1973 9 Shea ts-Shee t. .1:

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F1 E- EA Patented Aug. 28, 1973 9 Sheets-Shee t 1'.

FIIEI 'I FI|3 "1 A Patented Aug. 28, 1973 9 Sheets-Sheet L? Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3,754,364

9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 28, 1973 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 TIIEI J II BUILDING STRUCTURE This invention relates to a building adaptable for use as a single family dwelling or a multi-storey apartment house and more particularly a building whose components can be prefabricated, precut or manufactured and subsequently assembled on the building site.

In the housing field many skilled artisans have long searched for and endeavored to develop building structures that combine the features of low construction cost, esthetically pleasing appearance and versatility of arrangement. Certain prior art building designs attempted to solve the problem by means of prefabricated, factory-built modular units which were preassembled and then interconnected on he building site. Other proposals involved more or less conventional architectural designs utilizing factory precut elements assembled on the site. While these different approaches had some degree of success with respect to either cost, appearance of versatility, none provided simultaneously all three requirements at a satisfactory level. Accordingly, it is a general object of my invention to provide an improved building structure that will overcome the aforesaid problems of prior building structures of the modular or prefabricated type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a building particularly adapted for use as a home or apartment that can be constructed at a low cost per unit area of living space.

Another object of my invention is to provide a building having a high degree of quality with regard to both structural integrity and outside appearance.

Another object of my invention is to provide a building that can be erected from foundation to completion in a relatively short period of time using both precut members and prefabricated panels.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a building with a basic foundation that can be constructed at reduced cost compared to conventional foundations; that requires less grading of the land and conserves the natural environment; and that provides a uniformity of use so that the same foundation can be easily modified to provide a somewhat different exterior appearance and interior arrangement of rooms and/or additional floor space and can be used for single family homes, townhouses and garden apartments.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a building particularly adaptable as a family dwelling or apartments of one to three stories and which has an unusually efficient floor plan and interior.

Another object of my invention is to provide a building structure that will have a high degree of utility and efficiency as well as esthetic value whether erected on flat land or in hillside environments.

A further object of my invention is to provide a building structure that can be built as multiple or clustered units as well as single units, thereby providing a unique flexibility for site planning and environmental design, especially for planned multi-unit developments.

Another more specific object of my invention is to provide a modular-like hexagonal building that can provide muiti-unit developments having increased densities with more useable open space; that can be situated to conserve existing trees, rock out-croppings, streams and other natural terrain features; and that can provide optimum view exposures, privacy and sun control.

The aforesaid and other objects are accomplished by a unique structure comprised of inner and outer hexagonal shaped foundation members that support a basic floor with portions cantilevered from some or all of the hexagonal sides of the outer foundation member. The cantilevered portions are shaped as half hexagons so that essentially the floor plan has a honeycomb-like configuration with a central hexagon section and satellite hexagons of the same size extending outwardly therefrom. Upright inner and outer structural frame members are supported at their lower ends at the points of the inner and outer foundation hexagons and these members support the building roof and intermediate floors. The outer walls of the building are prefabricated panels which abut against the outer frame members and are attached to the various floor beams. In one multi-storey version of my building a circular staircase is iocated within the central hexagon of the floor plan and provides access to the satellite rooms above the first or main floor. Many variations of the basic building structure according to my invention are available including versions for single familities or embodiments for apartment arrangements with separate living areas on each floor. Also, the buildings can be erected as single units or they can be erected in higher density areas directly continguous to each other with one of the many external walls of one satellite hexagon being a common wall between building units. In this way, multiple units can be constructed and joined together in ir regular patterns that follow and take advantage of different terrain characteristics of a particular building site.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, presented with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a plan view of a building structure embodying the principles of the present invention with portions broken away;

FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation of the building shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a view in side elevation of the building shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan of the foundation and first floor framing for the building of FIGS. I and 2 showing three floor panels in place with portions of one panel broken away;

FIG. 4 is a first floor plan view of the building of FIG. 1 including electrical facilities;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the building of FIG. 1 showing heating facilities;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view in section showing details of an inner column taken along the line 6-6 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view in section showing one cantilevered building portion with its sidewall panels;

FIG. 7A is an enlarged fragmentary view showing one corner connection of sidewall panels;

FIG. 7B is an enlarged fragmentary view of one edge portion of a sidewall panel;

FIG. 7C is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a sidewall panel and an adjacent window casement;

FIG. 7D is a further enlarged view in section showing details of an outer column and taken along the line 7D7D of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation and in section showing the arrangement of internal frame members of the building structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a view in front elevation of a modified form of building structure having an external staircase;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of one floor of the building shown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a first floor plan view of another modified form of building structure according to my invention.

With reference to the drawing, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a two-storey house embodying the principles of my invention which is adapted to serve as a single family dwelling. In general, it has a honeycomb-like configuration formed by a central hexagonal area 22 having additional hexagonal portions 24 that extend outwardly therefrom. All of these outwardly extending hexagonal portions have vertical exterior walls 26 which are provided with or without windows, doors or other openings. The roof of the house is generally flat, although it may have one or more cupula-like super structures for decorative purposes which may be made from various types of conventional roofing materials.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the building 20 is supported on a pair of outer and

inner foundation structures

28 and 30. The outer foundation structure is preferably in the form of a hexagonal series of concrete grade beams 28 that rest on piers 29 supported on footings 29a formed in the conventional manner at the depth required to reach stable soil on the job site. The piers may vary in length to accommodate the foundation on terrain with varying slope angles. The inner foundation structure 30 is comprised of a similar series of concrete footings and piers that support a series of interconnected floor beams 32 which form a hexagon that is concentric with the outer foundation 28. The base floor for the house 20 comprises a series of prefabricated floor panels 34 each of which is essentially hexagonal in shape with an extended inner portion 36. These floor panels are supported near one end on the outer foundation grade beams 28 so that a semihexagonal panel portion extends outwardly from each grade beam. Near their inner ends these floor panels are supported by the connected floor beams 32 so that their inner portions 36 extend inwardly therefrom. Each floor panel is comprised of a frame 38 and a series of parallel, spaced apart joist members 40 with both sides being covered with sheet material 42 such as plywood. This forms a stressed skin unit having considerable strength both in compression as well as bending so that although the outer portion of each unit is cantilevered outwardly from the outer foundation wall 28 it is strong and relatively rigid. A single central floor panel 44 having a hexagonal shape and the same frame and stressed skin structure forms the central area of the building. As shown in FIG. 8, this central panel may be attached by brackets 46 to the inner ends of each floor panel 36.

The unique framing construction of my building is best shown in FIG. 8. Extending upwardly for the full two stories of the building 20 from a sill 48 on the outer foundation wall 28 are a series of vertical columns 50 each of which is located at one of the six corners of this wall. In the embodiment shown these columns are solid wood pieces but, of course, other materials could be used such as laminated wood or box beams or suitable metal members. A similar set of vertical columns 52 are attached to the floor beams 32 at their junction on the piers 30, and these six columns also extend upwardly for the full two stories of the building. These inner columns are smaller than the outer column and may also be solid or laminated wood or metal structural members. The floor panels 34 fit alongside the

columns

50 and 52, thereby forming narrow gaps which are filled by other flooring strips and which provide passages for accommodating wiring and other utility ducts or conduits.

The outer and

inner column members

50 and 52 all terminate at the same height, and at an intermediate level they support horizontal beams for the second floor and/or roof of the house. A series of outer horizontal beams 54 are located directly above the outer foundation wall 28 and abut together at the proper angle in a notched out portion 56 of each vertical column and are connected to each other and to the column by a series of metal clips and fastenings. The latter may be of any suitable size and shape which are commerically available and therefor will not be described in detail. Similar horizontal beams 58 are provided which are supported on the upper ends of the inner columns. For the second storey (or additional stories) of the house 20, upper inner columns 52a are attached at the junction of abutting pairs of the inner horizontal beams 58. Outer and inner horizontal roof beams 54a and 580 which are similar to the

beams

54 and 58 are supported on and attached to the upper ends of all the inner and outer columns, thereby providing a means for supporting the roof 60 of the house. The inner and outer horizontal beams support prefabricated second floor panels 62 that are similar in construction to the main floor panels 34. These panels are also comprised of a frame and parallel, spaced apart joist members preferably covered on both sides by a plywood skin. These second floor panels 62 are attached to the intermediate

horizontal beams

54 and 58 by some suitable type of fastener means such as metal clips and nails. They also extend inwardly from the connected beams 54 and terminate along a line forming a cental hexagonal opening 64 in the second floor. A similar type of prefabricated panel is utilized to cover the entire roof area and form the roof 60 of the house. Here, the inner ends of the roof panels are joined together and sealed to form a continuous cover. When all roof panels are in place, the entire flat roof area may be covered by some sealing layer 66 such as tar paper or some other roofing material. In addition,'a roof superstructure may be added, primarily for esthetic purposes, such as hexagonal roof fringe of tile or shingles that follow generally the same outline at the outer foundation 28, as shown in FIG. 1. Other types of roof structures may also be used such as cupulas that cover one or more of the hexagonal roof sections.

The exterior sidewalls 26 of the house 20, as shown in FIG. 7, are preferably formed from prefabricated panels comprised of frame members 70, inner and

outer skins

72 and 74 of a sheet material such as plywood and a filler 76 of some heat insulating material between the skins, such as one of the well known forms of a foamed plastic. The filler material is relatively light but also provides additional structural strength. The three sidewalls of each cantilevered portion 24 of the building are preferably made as a single prefabricated panel 26 or as narrow panel sections 26a located on opposite sides of a window or door casement 77. All of these panel and/or panel sections are attached to the three sides of the cantilevered building portions of each main and intermediate floor section by suitable fasteners. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the full panels 26 and/or panel sections 26a are connected at each corner of the cantilevered building portions by a vertical spline 78 that fits within aligned and matching notches 80 cut in the vertical edges of adjacent panels. When the panels are brought together to form a corner, a spline is first inserted within the notches and is then held in place by nails of some other suitable fastening means. The window easements 77 which may be wood or metal are secured to the edges of the panel sections 26a by fasteners and then are sealed by caulking and narrow trim strips 79 at the joints. (See FIG. 7C).

As shown best in FIG. 7D, the sidewall panels have a beveled edge 82 along one side that fits against the outer edge of a vertical column 50. At this point, this beveled edge is held in place and sealed by a pair of

cover members

84 and 86. The outer cover member 84 is generally l-shaped with beveled flanges 88 that lit against a pair of sidewall panels 26 on opposite sides of a column 50. The edge of each flange has a groove for holding a sealant strip 90 or flexible packing that deforms against the surface of a sidewall. A web portion 92 connecting the two flanges of this cover member 84 is fastened as by nails 94 to the column and this presses the strips 90 into sealing engagement against the paneis. The inner cover member 86 has longer flanges 96 that fit over the inside edge of each outer column 50. Here, a web member 98 connecting the two flanges is spaced inwardly from the edge surface of the column thereby forming a vertical space ltltl or passage to accommodate electrical wiring or an electrical receptacle 102.

To each inner column 52, as shown in FIG. 6, is attached yet another I-shaped member 104 having spaced apart flanges 106 connected by a web portion 108 near one end. Here, these flanges fit snugly against the sides of the inner column and extend beyond its outer edge so as to form a slot 110 that will receive a prefabricated interior wall panel 112. The latter is preferably constructed in a manner similar to the sidewalls, that is, a peripheral frame 114 supporting spaced apart skin panels 1 16 and an insulating filler 118 between the skins. Along the opposite edge of the column 52, the web of the cover member 104 is again spaced from the edge of the column so as to form a passage 120 for electrical conduits or an electrical receptacle 122.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the unique structural arrangement described thus far for the house affords the central area 22 for accommodating a circular staircase 124. This staircase may be prefabricated from any suitable materials, either wood or metal and is preferably delivered to the job site in a completed form ready for installation. The inner portions of the second floor sections 62 that are cantilevered inwardly from the beams 58 form an annular area 126 that surrounds the staircase and is bordered by a suitable railing 128. Beneath this inwardly cantilevered annular area 126 is an enclosed space 130 that will accommodate heat and/or air conditioning ducts 132 from a forced air furnace 134 as well as electrical and plumbing conduits.

The electrical system, as shown in FIG. 4, is easily accommodate in my house by utilization of the aforesaid annular space 130, the

passages

100 and 120 adjacent the various

vertical columns

50 and 52 and the horizontal passages between floor sections or their parallel joist members. In FIG. 4, a typical floor plan illustrates how a series of electrical outlets 136 can be located and readily wired from conduits accommodated in the col umn passages 101D and 1211.

Because of the highly efficient insulation characteristics of the sidewalls 26, the heating system for my house can be relatively small and economical. As shown in FIG. 5, the central heat plant or furnace 134 may be located in a convenient alcove or closet 138 on the main floor adjacent the central area that surrounds the staircase. The furnace is connected to a plenum 140 located in the annular space 130 around the staircase. This plenum supplies heated air through a series of ducts 141 to different duct junctions 143 in the space 130. From each of these junctions a pair of

hot air ducts

142 and 144 extend radially outwardly to downwardly and upwardly directed

openings

146 and 148 in the second floor panels. An important advantage of this heating arrangement is that all of the

ducts

142 and 144 supply heat to both the downstairs and upstairs rooms and they are conveniently enclosed between the joists of the second floor panels. With the thermal efiiciency afforded by the sidewall panels 26 and the general building arrangement a relatively small heating plant is required to provide completely adequate and well distributed even heat to the entire building.

As stated previously, the interior walls or partitions 112 in my house 20 may be prefabricated double-skin panels which may be easily installed between inner and outer columns 541 and 52 wherever desired. The general configuration of my house together with flexibility of variable arrangement afforded by such features as these easily movable walls provides a unique versatility. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a typical first floor plan can readily accommodate a kitchen 150 in one hexagonal section, a bathroom 152 and a utilities section 15% in another hexagonal section and living and dining facilities in other such sections. The lower floor section can be constructed entirely without wall panels to give it an open and expansive feeling or walls can be provided where desired to form living, dining or study type areas.

To provide a sheltered and attractive front porch and facade,one projecting semi-hexagonal section may be eliminated except for a hard slab area 156 with steps 158 to the ground level. The converging sidewalls of adjacent hexagonal sections form an eye pleasing and practical entranceway to a front door 160 that opens directly to an entry area 162 adjacent the staircase 124.

On the upstairs plan, as shown for the embodiment of FIG. 1, six projecting semi-hexagonal areas are provided and can be utilized as floor space for bedrooms, bathrooms or other purposes. In other versions of my invention, as shown in FIG. 11, as few as four such projecting semi-hexagonal areas can be supplied depending on the size of home desired. For example, interior wall panels can be utilized where necessary to make the size of the rooms veriable.

As an illustration of the versatility of my building structure, FIGS. 9 and 10 show an embodiment 20a which is particularly adaptable for use as separate first and second floor apartment dwellings. Here, the centrally located circular staircase 124 is replaced by an exterior staircase 124a which provides access to an upstairs porch area 166 and an entrance 168. For this building, the upstairs and downstairs floor plans may be identical with area sufficient for a central kitchen area 170 plus bathroom, bedroom, dining and living areas.

As indicated by the dotted line 172, an additional semihexagonal building portion may be added to this structure on either the upper or lower floor to provide an additional bedroom or to otherwise enlarge the building floor area.

The erection of a building 20 according to my invention may be performed efficiently with a relatively small amount of labor and with a minimum expenditure of time. Once the

foundation members

28 and 30 are in place, the precut columns and horizontal beams are installed using standard clips and fasteners where needed in accordance with standard building procedures and code requirements. The prefabricated floor and roof sections can then be quickly moved into place and thereafter the prefabricated exterior and interior walls. The various passages provided adjacent the columns and within and between the floor panels allow all electrical, heating and plumbing conduits to be easily installed and hidden from view. The interior fixtures, equipment and trim finishing may be readily installed by conventional means with structural details and colors to suit the occupant. The overall result is a basic building structure having a wide variety of possible sizes and accommodations which can be constructed at a remarkably low cost per square foot of living area.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

1. A building comprising:

foundation means including a continuous outer section extending just above ground level and having the shape of a hexagon with six sides of equal length and a plurality of inner support means spaced inwardly from said outer section, a main floor supported by said foundation means including a central area within said outer section and portions cantilevered outwardly from at least some of the sides of said hexagonal outer section, frame means extending upwardly from said main floor and sidewalls connected to said outwardly extending floor portions.

2. The building as described in claim 1 wherein said outwardly extending floor portions each have a semihexagonal shape with three connecting straight sides.

3. The building as described in claim 2 wherein at least one of said sidewalls on a siad outwardly extending portion is a prefabricated panel whose width is substantially equal to the length of said outwardly extending floor portion, a narrower panel section adjacent to and extending along one side of said main panel portion and forming an angle of approximately 120 therewith, and spline means interconnecting said panel and panel section.

4. The building as described in claim 1 wherein said outwardly extending floor portions on at least four sides of said outer foundation wall have a semihexagonal shape and a front porch area providing access to the building having a semi-hexagonal shape between two of said extended floor portions.

5. The building as described in claim 1 wherein said outer foundation section comprises a series of subterranean footings, six upright piers supported by said footings and a series of six grade beams arranged in a hexagonal shape and supported at their ends on said piers.

6. The building as described in claim 1 wherein said inner support means of said foundation means includes a series of six piers located at equally spaced apart points, and floor beam members interconnected at said points forming a hexagon that is concentric with said outer section.

7. The building as described in claim 1 wherein the distance between the center lines of adjacent pairs of said piers is equal in length to each straight side of a said outwardly extending floor portion.

8. The building as described in claim I wherein said main floor is comprised of prefabricated sections each having a frame with a generally hexagonal shape, internal spaced apart joist members fixed to said frame and an upper skin of sheet material, all of said floor section being supported on said outer foundation section and cantilevered outwardly therefrom to form said outwardly extending floor portions and also having inwardly extended portions forming at least part of said central floor area.

9. The building as described in claim 1 wherein said frame means includes a series of vertical columns extending upwardly from the six points of said hexagonal outer foundation wall, and beam members interconnecting the upper ends of said vertical columns.

10. The building as described in claim 9 wherein said sidewalls are comprised of panels formed by a peripheral frame, a pair of skin members on opposite sides of said frame and an insulating filler material between said skin members.

11. The building as described in claim 9 wherein said sidewalls include prefabricated wall panels each having a beveled edge that fits adjacent to a vertical column, and an outer vertical cover means extending over the outer edge of the column and forming a sealed joint between the adjacent wall panels and the column.

12. A building comprising:

inner and outer foundation means, said outer means including a series of six footings with piers supported on said footings, grade beams supported on said piers and interconnected to form a closed hexagon, said inner foundation means including a series of footings supporting floor beams arranged in a hexagon that is spaced inwardly from and concentric with said outer hexagon; a main floor sup ported by said floor beams; frame means extending above said foundation means including outer columns located at the hexagonal points of said outer wall and inner columns located at the hexagonal points of said closed frame member, horizontal beams interconnecting said columns above said main floor, and upper floor means supported by said horizontal beams; said main floor means sup-- ported on said foundation means including a central area within said inner foundation means and outwardly extending portions that cantilever beyond at least some of said grade beams; exterior wall means on said cantilevered portions; and roof means covering said cantilevered portions as well as said central area.

13. The building as described in claim 12 wherein said outwardly extending portions of said main and upper floor means have a semi-hexagonal shape and said columns extend upwardly to form a second floor of the building, upper beams interconnecting the upper ends of said column, said roof means being connected to and supported by said upper beams.

14. The building as described in claim 12 including a circular staircase supported on the central area of said main floor providing access to said second floor.

15. The building as described in claim 12 including a semi-hexagonal porch area and door means located between a pair of outwardly extending portions on both said main floor and said second floor, and an exterior staircase providing access to said door means on said second floor.

16. A two storey building structure comprising:

foundation means including an outer hexagonal structure with sides of equal length joined together at six points and an inner structure spaced inwardly and concentric with said outer structure;

a main floor supported by said foundation means including a plurality of semi-hexagonal floor sections forming a central area within said inner foundation structure and extending outwardly from sides of said outer foundation structure;

an outer series of columns located at and extending upwardly from each point of said outer hexagonal structure, and an inner series of columns located at and extending upwardly from the six corners of said inner foundation structure;

intermediate beams interconnecting said outer and inner columns and forming a hexagon of the same size as said outer structure;

second floor means supported by said intermediate beams and having outwardly extending portions similar in size and location to said semi-hexagonal main floor sections;

roof beams interconnecting the upper ends of said outer columns and said inner columns;

roof means connected to and supported by said roof beams having outwardly extending portions similar to those on said main floor and second floor means;

and sidewalls connected to said outwardly extending portions on said main floor and second floor means and said roof means.

17. The building structure as described in claim 16 wherein a portion of main floor area between adjacent Pairs of outwardly projecting semi-hexagonal portions provides a front porch area and access to a front door.

18. The building structure as described in claim 16 including a circular staircase located centrally on said main floor in an area surrounded by said inner columns, said staircase extending upwardly through 3 opening in said second floor means.

19. The building structure as described in claim 18 including wall means interconnecting said inner columns above said second floor means around said staircase and radial wall means interconnecting certain of said outer and inner columns to form separate living areas.

20. The building structure as described in claim 18 including an annular enclosure on the underside of said second floor means around said staircase for retaining electrical conduits and heating air ducts.

21. The building structure as described in claim 16 including internal cover means on said outer columns forming a vertical passage for electrical conduits.

22. The building structure as described in claim 16 including an external cover means attached to the outer edges of said outer columns and sealing means retained by said cover means providing a fluid tight connection between said columns and adjacent sidewalls.

23. The building structure as described in claim 22 wherein said cover means comprises an elongated member with a generally I-shaped cross section having a pair of flanges that fit over opposites of the outer column and a web portion connecting said flanges.

24. The building structure as described in claim 16 wherein said main floor is comprised of six sided, stressed skin panels including parallel spaced apart joists that extend radially from and generally perpendicular to the sides of said outer foundation structure.

25. The building structure as described in claim 16 wherein said second floor means is comprised of six sided stressed skin panels including parallel spaced apart joists that extend radially from said central area, and heating ducts located within said second floor means between adjacent pairs of its joists, said ducts having outlets to both the upper and lower floor areas of the building.

Claims

1. A building comprising: foundation means including a continuous outer section extending just above ground level And having the shape of a hexagon with six sides of equal length and a plurality of inner support means spaced inwardly from said outer section, a main floor supported by said foundation means including a central area within said outer section and portions cantilevered outwardly from at least some of the sides of said hexagonal outer section, frame means extending upwardly from said main floor and sidewalls connected to said outwardly extending floor portions.

2. The building as described in claim 1 wherein said outwardly extending floor portions each have a semi-hexagonal shape with three connecting straight sides.

3. The building as described in claim 2 wherein at least one of said sidewalls on a siad outwardly extending portion is a prefabricated panel whose width is substantially equal to the length of said outwardly extending floor portion, a narrower panel section adjacent to and extending along one side of said main panel portion and forming an angle of approximately 120* therewith, and spline means interconnecting said panel and panel section.

4. The building as described in claim 1 wherein said outwardly extending floor portions on at least four sides of said outer foundation wall have a semi-hexagonal shape and a front porch area providing access to the building having a semi-hexagonal shape between two of said extended floor portions.

8. The building as described in claim 1 wherein said main floor is comprised of prefabricated sections each having a frame with a generally hexagonal shape, internal spaced apart joist members fixed to said frame and an upper skin of sheet material, all of said floor section being supported on said outer foundation section and cantilevered outwardly therefrom to form said outwardly extending floor portions and also having inwardly extended portions forming at least part of said central floor area.

12. A building comprising: inner and outer foundation means, said outer means including a series of six footings with piers supported on said footings, grade beams supported on said piers and interconnected to form a closed hexagon, said inner foundation means including a series of footings supporting floor beams arranged in a hexagon that is spaced inwardly from and concentric with said outer hexagon; a main floor supported by said floor beams; frame means extending above said foundation means including outer columns located at the hexagonal points Of said outer wall and inner columns located at the hexagonal points of said closed frame member, horizontal beams interconnecting said columns above said main floor, and upper floor means supported by said horizontal beams; said main floor means supported on said foundation means including a central area within said inner foundation means and outwardly extending portions that cantilever beyond at least some of said grade beams; exterior wall means on said cantilevered portions; and roof means covering said cantilevered portions as well as said central area.

16. A two storey building structure comprising: foundation means including an outer hexagonal structure with sides of equal length joined together at six points and an inner structure spaced inwardly and concentric with said outer structure; a main floor supported by said foundation means including a plurality of semi-hexagonal floor sections forming a central area within said inner foundation structure and extending outwardly from sides of said outer foundation structure; an outer series of columns located at and extending upwardly from each point of said outer hexagonal structure, and an inner series of columns located at and extending upwardly from the six corners of said inner foundation structure; intermediate beams interconnecting said outer and inner columns and forming a hexagon of the same size as said outer structure; second floor means supported by said intermediate beams and having outwardly extending portions similar in size and location to said semi-hexagonal main floor sections; roof beams interconnecting the upper ends of said outer columns and said inner columns; roof means connected to and supported by said roof beams having outwardly extending portions similar to those on said main floor and second floor means; and sidewalls connected to said outwardly extending portions on said main floor and second floor means and said roof means.

18. The building structure as described in claim 16 including a circular staircase located centrally on said main floor in an area surrounded by said inner columns, said staircase extending upwardly through a opening in said second floor means.