Clients Steve and Bernie took a chance with a young Architect just starting out as a solo practitioner. A small newbuild on a battle-axe block in Rockingham. The house was designed to maximize solar gains and explore sustainable building methods. The house was constructed using a relatively new product in the Western Australian market -Prefabricated and insulated Sips Panels.
The stone cladding at the entry of the house is Monsoon Sandstone. The clients had spent a significant part of their lives in north-western Australia and the colours and quarry of this stone was a nice reminder of this experience.
The client brief requested a passive house design. Design features include; Solar gains, natural ventilation, open connections between inside and out, well insulated materials (SIPS panels).
The project was developed on a tight budget, so design decisions were made with the philosophy of “keeping it simple”. Whilst this is easier said than done, it was a strong principle that guided many of the decisions throughout the process…
Located close to the coast and facing North-west, sun protection but significant solar gains was a challenge. The complete flyroof provides 360 degrees of natural light and ventilation. Fixed louvers provide shade during the later stages of the day.
Green Wall
The original design called for an extensive green-wall to wrap a significant portion of the house. Due to budget constraints, this was never realized and we continue to wait eagerly for a client ready to install this ultimate “passive design” feature.