A wooded 1.5ha site in the Darling Scarp suburb of Baskerville is the site for a new sustainable family home. The owners came to us with very clear ideas around building an eco-friendly, low toxicity home, that used passive solar design principles to ensure it was comfortable to live in with minimal running costs.
The home is spread across three pavilions - a living wing plus a bedroom wing, linked by an entry pavilion. The pavilions are orientated to the north, with large openings under deep eaves to take advantage of the dramatic northerly views. Similarly, long westerly views to the city are selectively framed to minimise the amount of western glazing. The pavilions step down along the steeply graded site, to minimise the amount of site cut required into the rocky terrain. A remote garage and perimeter gabion wall create a series of enclosed courtyards adjacent the house, providing opportunity for sheltered outdoor areas, in contrast to the expansive surrounding landscape.
Carefully designed verandahs allow the winter sun to reach the internal exposed polished concrete slab, whilst providing shaded protection in summer. Northern and western walls are to be constructed of 300mm thick hempcrete walls, whilst the ceilings and remaining walls are packed with insulation at above average values. The hempcrete walls have a lime render applied externally, with magnesium board lining to the internal face to ensure the hempcrete retains it's breathability properties. Together, these features result in an 8.9 star energy rating.
These extensive sustainability features are refined with a modernist aesthetic, that keeps detailing to a minimum, with concealed structure and simple lines.
Currently under construction.
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