Approach
Our clients shared their love of Mid-century Modernism and so we sought to create functional and beautiful rooms, modest in size while feeling spacious and connected to the outdoors.
These principles were translated into relevant contemporary solutions that:
- Responded to the adjacent bushland reserve with its forest of mature gum trees;
- Addressed environmental sustainability through passive solar design; and
- Met the client’s goal to be as green as possible.
Process
Prior to engaging us, the clients had discussed plans for a renovation with a draftsman, but they were concerned that his first proposal failed to adequately harness all of the qualities of the site.
Our challenge, then, was to create a design solution that captured the east-facing views across the adjacent reserve and which incorporated passive solar principles, to increase year-round comfort while reducing the overall environmental impact.
We achieved this by reorienting and reconfiguring the existing rooms, adding a new double-height volume at the rear that steps down the slope and brings northern light into the main living spaces via clerestory windows.
The new building fabric is predominantly lightweight but thermal mass was incorporated both in the slab and the south wall. Sustainable materials – such as timber from certified and local sources – were chosen for their ease of construction and aesthetic appearance.
The outdoor areas function as specific microclimates: the new courtyard is warm and protected from winds in winter, while the south deck is cool and shaded in summer.
Results
Budget was an important consideration, so our primary concern was to design and deliver a small house to reduce resource use and site disturbance.
Through careful and strategic design, intelligent space planning and a rigorous process we produced a relatively compact footprint for a family of five – at 180 sqm it is roughly 30% smaller than the average Australian house – to reduce construction costs by about 30%, compared to a typical architect-designed home.
Integrating passive solar design means the house is affordable to run year-round. Cross ventilation is achieved for all the living areas with openings that can be left open at night to flush the building.
This delivers ongoing cost savings by reducing electricity consumption by 30% across the year, despite a 35% increase to the total area. The house has been put to the test during 45-degree days and the spaces remain comfortable without air conditioning.
The roof form was designed to accommodate solar panels that would have sufficient north exposure with minimal overshadowing from the neighbouring trees. The roof form also incorporates north-facing clerestory windows that flood the new living space at the rear with natural light.
This solar passive house includes plenty of storage, large and small volumes that evoke different moods and are suited to different functions, and spaces that flow from one area to the next and then outwards to the treetops and the sky.
The result is a home of small footprint but generous proportions and high environmental performance, where every room has an outlook to the tree canopy.