Design of building and services

Design Challenge

A major design requirement was that the house should be of a similar style to the existing homes within the court. This was done for reasons of re-sale potential. 

The home was to be designed to achieve high comfort levels that did not rely on artificial heating or cooling.

The design brief was as follows:

·        That the materials used were low maintenance.

·        That the dwelling include 3 bedrooms, having the main bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe and an on-suite bathroom. If practical the bedrooms are to have water views.

·        That there be a living area that could be isolated from the remaining living areas and be used as a music/games room for the children.

·        That there be a family room and an eating area near the kitchen. This area is to be open plan and these rooms are to have water views.

·        That the kitchen have a large walk-in pantry 

·        That there be a formal lounge and dining room, and a small office preferably by the front door.

·        That there be a bathroom on the lower level attached to the laundry for the children to shower after swimming and sailing in the canals.

·        That daytime living areas take advantage of the water views.

·        That 2 car accommodation be provide with an area for a small workshop and cellar/store room.

·        That an outdoor entertainment area be provided having a water view.

·        That a solar hot water system be provided with the storage tank not being on the roof.

·        That there be adequate natural lighting so as to minimize the use of artificial lighting during the day. 

·        That the lighting be as energy efficient as practicable.

·        That the gardens be low maintenance.

·        That the provision be made for future photovoltaic cells for electrical generation.

·        That there be room down the side of the dwelling for access to a boat ramp.

Orientation

The house faces north to be able to maintain control of both the winter and summer, even though street access is to the South.  Fortunately both the view and the summer breezes come from that direction.

Zoning within the house

Much of the living areas are located towards the North and East of the house for solar access, ventilation and views. 

The family room, breakfast room/kitchen area and games room are situated on the northern side of the dwelling.  The northern walls incorporate fairly large glazed areas to take advantage of the views, the winter sun and the summer breezes.

The lower level service areas, and the garage are situated on the western side of the house to act as a buffer against the summer sun.  The formal lounge and dining areas are situated on the eastern and south eastern side of the house.  This means that the rooms are likely to have cooled down before they are to be used.

Daylight

The design incorporated a central stairwell that also acted as a ventilation and light shaft. The glazed areas for the light shaft face south which give a soft light.  This helps minimise the use of artificial lighting in the daytime living areas. The stairwell also provided an opportunity to house a large pantry.

The laundry door situated on the western side is protected by a second security door with solar mesh to block out the direct radiation.

The South facing garage door incorporates glazed panels to provide natural lighting to that area.  This helps to ensure that western glazing can be minimised.

 Ventilation

Much of the glazing in the house can be opened. The front door in located on the Southern side of the house.  It incorporates a security door which can be locked but still allows cross flow ventilation to the daytime living areas.

The upper level provides the three bedrooms with water views. The bedroom windows can be opened, and when the doors which provide access to the stair well are left open, good ventilation is achieved.  

Provisions have been made to allow the installation of ceiling fans in the living areas and bedrooms.  There has not however been a demand for them as the site has experienced more than adequate cooling breezes in summer.

Solar control

An adjustable louvred pergola has been incorporated on the North, above the outside entertainment area adjacent to the family room, to allow solar gain in winter while providing shade in summer.

The glazing to the living areas has been fitted with adjustable louvred shutters or Venetian blinds to provide additional sun control.

External brick is a light colour to minimise solar heat gain.  The roof is a bit darker.

Insulation and thermal mass

The ceiling and to those walls where the lower roofs abut the walls of the building have been fitted with bulk insulation with an R-value of 2.5.  The western walls on the upper level also incorporate bulk insulation.  The remaining walls are insulated with reflective foil laminate.  The on-suite and walk-in wardrobe are situated on the western end of the building. These act as an insulation buffer to the sleeping areas in a similar way to the way the service areas and the garage buffer the lower level.

The daytime living areas on the lower floor have ceramic tiles on a slab on ground floor to facilitate heat flow.  The floor soaks up any excessive heat in the house in summer. It also serves as thermal storage for the heat from the winter sun radiating through the north glazing.

Solar Hot Water

The solar panels are located on the north-facing roof to get maximize solar energy collection throughout the year.  The storage tank has been installed at ground level for aesthetic reasons.

Appliances

Light fittings and electrical appliances have been chosen for their energy efficiency, Major appliances such as refrigerator, washing machine, etc have been selected based on their high energy star ratings.

Outside clothes drying space is provided to the West of the house.