Scale vs Status

Unbuilt

"… so proving that aesthetic preferences and living approaches do not need to be compromised when trying to achieve a more sustainable way of living"

To design a house for a family of four that will demonstrate the best thermal and energy efficiency and use sustainable materials. The house needs to be modest and yet highly livable - demonstrating a real alternative to the large homes currently being built in Australia.

The house has been designed to accommodate a family of four as it starts, grows, changes and then contracts. To achieve this, the adaptable and visitable design can easily change to house either two unrelated groups (one downstairs and another upstairs) or one larger family (by using both levels).

It is based on strong principles of sustainable architecture that includes good orientation, seasonal solar control, appropriate thermal mass and insulation, natural ventilation and green walls. The building form has been designed to actively support photovoltaics, and solar hot water collectors, while leaving appropriate space for water tanks, clothes drying, composting and a productive food garden.

Bike storage at the entry and a garage that can be adapted into usable space, ensure mobility needs are appropriately addressed.

Caroline Pidcock
Katherine Madden
Rolando Graterol
Ben Gray
Stacey Bark
Alanna King
Rachel Couper
Maria Orellana
Rhys Leitch

Simple and intuitive methods for operating the house
Collaborative team approach
Considerate building approaches
Provision of home office facilities
Food composting facilities
Convenient location of storage space for recycling
Building designed to be adaptable and accessible
Convenient storage for bicycles to encourage use
Car parking area able to be easily converted for other uses

Good thermal performance of house
Good natural light and ventilation
Good views to the outside
Tiled or polished concrete floors on ground floor
Natural oils finish for timber floors elsewhere
Attention to planning and detailing to manage acoustics
Low VOC paints
Low VOC boards for joinery

Good thermal performance to result in minimal heating and cooling
Appropriate levels of insulation and thermal mass
Ability to zone areas of the house
Ceiling fans to bedrooms and living rooms
Well designed natural ventilation throughout house
Good natural light throughout house
Low energy lighting using fluorescents and LEDS
Energy efficient appliances used throughout
Solar hot water heating
2kW photo voltaics system for energy generation
Convenient, dedicated, sunny area for drying clothes
House wired for smart switching so unused appliances and lights can be easily turned off

High performance water saving fixtures and appliances
Low water garden
2 x 5,000 litre water tanks located in service courtyard , connected to toilets, washing machine and landscape
Grey water system connected to landscape
House and garden designed to reduce stormwater runoff and make a feature of overflow feature

Materials selected with thought given to reducing their impacts over their life
House designed with modular and standard sizes in mind to reduce waste
House designed with deconstruction in mind
House designed to easily adapt to changing family lifestyles
Certified timber for framed windows and doors
Certified timber for new floor boards and decking

Size of project purposefully kept to the smallest possible
Built-on area kept to a minimum
Land used for building improved by project
Garden design to enhance local ecosystems and encourage local flora and fauna
Garden design inherent to house design
Inclusion of food plants and chickens to help provide for family
Connection of living areas to garden to assist in better care
External lighting designed to be appropriate for the site without extending beyond