Project details

The Challenge

The brief was to create a four-bedroom family home on a gentle sloping site in the Dandenong Ranges on the outskirts of Melbourne. The site has spectacular views over the Clematis valley to the north and this was of prime significance in the design of the dwelling. The building was to be designed to high energy efficiency standards to minimise auxiliary heating requirements in a climate where temperatures as low as -5 Centigrade can be experienced.

The dwelling achieves 32 points on the FirstRate software Beta version of the 2000 release, using only 55% of the energy of a 5 star rated house. The design solution was to create an insulated building envelope that steps along the contours of the north sloping site protected by an earth bermed wall to the south and opening to large areas of glazing to the north. In addition to operational energy efficiency measures, the dwelling is constructed with low embodied energy materials and is designed to be autonomous in water collection and waste management.

1. Building type: New-build single detached rural residence

2. Building area: 320m2 + 50m2 of balcony and 42m2 carport

3. Occupancy: 2 adults and 2 children

4. Nature of occupancy: Full-time owner occupied

5. Activities carried out within building: Dwelling

6. Number of storeys: Two

7. Building address: Clematis, Victoria

8. Total contract sum: $320,000

9. Building cost / m2: $1000.00 (approx.)

10. Completion date: 28/05/99