Location and climate
Site description
The house is located in Norton Summit, in the Adelaide Hills region (35° SL, 360m above sea level). There are a number of Eucalyptus trees on the site which have been maintained as much as possible to also provide natural shading to the house. Native plants (which require less or minimal amount of water) are being revegetated to restore the condition before settlement. The total area of the site is 1.75 acres. The site slopes down toward the north. To the north is the view of Morialta Conservation Park and to the west is the view of the City of Adelaide.
The site is only about 300 metres from the main road (Norton Summit); thus the site is within the existing infrastructure, some 20 minutes from the CBD.
View of exterior from north-east
Details of climate
External design temperatures: 35.2C (summer), 1.7C (winter)
Degree days (base 18C): 1511 (heating), 420 (cooling)
Average humidity: 55% (summer), 75% (winter)
Average prevailing wind speed: 4 m/s, Maximum: 9 m/s
Summary of Weather Data Average
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Ave. DB | 21.3 | 20.5 | 19.4 | 15.2 | 14.4 | 9.6 | 8.6 | 9.6 | 12 | 14.1 | 16.9 | 19.3 |
| Std. | 4.3 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 2.5 | 3 | 1.6 | 3 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 5.2 | 4.1 |
| Ave. Max. | 24.9 | 24.2 | 22.8 | 18 | 14.4 | 11.6 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 14.6 | 16.9 | 20 | 22.6 |
| Ave. DP | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 7 | 6.7 | 5.5 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 6.1 | 6.8 | 8.4 |
| Std. | 4.3 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 2.5 | 3 | 1.6 | 3 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 5.2 | 4.1 |
| Ave. Solar (Watt/sqm) | 26960 | 24110 | 20192 | 14423 | 10516 | 8676 | 9539 | 12208 | 16285 | 20703 | 25370 | 28596 |
| Ave. Wind (m/s) | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 4 |
Building Constraints
Budget: $171,000
Site: Retaining and maintaining existing native plants
Special requirements: The main concerns of both the architect and the client were to (1) create a comfortable but aesthetically pleasing house without using any mechanical cooling system, (2) minimise the use of operation and embodied energy (maximise the use of recycled materials that had been collected by the owner), (3) minimise environmental impact.
Time: No specific time constraints
Design response
Site planning: Locating the building so as to receive as maximum solar heat gain in the winter while trying to maintain the existing native trees as well as making use of the site contours to avoid cooling winds.
Building planning and form: Two separated, rectangular, north-facing structures joined by a level changing component which is the main entry space. The north structure (on lower level) is an open space which comprises living, dining, and kitchen. The south structure (on higher level), which is turned 15° east, consists of two bedrooms (one on each end), a study room, and a wet area (bathroom and laundry). From the south wall of this part, which is partially underground (1m earth bermed) there is an access to the garage. The rooves slope up 15° to the north to allow maximum penetration of sunlight, except the roof over the entry which slopes up 35° to the south to obtain the optimal slope for the solar collector (see Figure 1).
Technical systems: See section 5
Figure 1: Western Elevation