A country property moves to a sustainable home design

An environmentally aware home owner and switched-on Perth home builders and designers combine forces on this new sustainable home, situated in the hills outside Perth and designed to make the most of the natural elements for eco house designs.

When Catherine and her husband were planning their dream country home, they looked to the hills outside Perth. With a keen interest in sustainability and the environment, it was important to the couple that their new home embodied principles of sustainable architecture and design.

After finding the ideal block of land, they met with designer Gary Palma of Design for Seasons near Perth, who is an expert in passive solar and sustainable design, and set about planning their house.

The first task was to remove an existing fibreglass building that was earmarked for demolition, which provided materials to be recycled and re-used in the new sustainable home. With that out of the way, they were free to position their new home to make the most of the natural elements.

While they were happy to place most of the design choices in Gary's hands - as an experienced Perth home builder and designer - the couple did lean towards a 'barn-like' open-plan style. With this brief in mind, and perhaps a touch of Catherine's Swiss roots, Gary created a rustic but tidy interior that comprises tiled, concrete and timber flooring, and brick and white-rendered walls.

The home is beautifully spacious, incorporating the great outdoors through generous windows, skylights and high ceilings. Gary introduced passive solar elements, following the core principles of sustainable architecture to maximise natural temperature control. "Northern light is provided to the main living area via aluminium louvres that bring low-angle winter sun into the space," he explains. "These also block the high-angle summer sun."

Powerful ceiling fans assist the movement of heat, so it can be circulated for warmth in winter and directed outside on hot days. Extra insulation against temperature loss is provided with some quality wall cladding and concrete flooring. "High thermal mass is achieved through the use of internal brickwork and a concrete slab," says Gary.

Catherine has also found it useful to introduce double glazing in some of the more shaded windows to maintain the delicate temperature balance. With these mechanisms in place, there is little need for electric heating or cooling systems, which helps the environment long term.

With all the practical sustainable architectural considerations taken care of, Catherine was also keen to make provision for fun and entertainment. One request was the inclusion of a large guest room to accommodate overseas visitors. This section is fully functional, with an ensuite and dormitory bedroom for children.

Once guests are settled in, they can enjoy the scenic surrounds. A decking area adjoins the kitchen via double doors for alfresco entertaining and Gary has allowed room for a pizza oven planned as a future addition.

Gary Palma, from Design for Seasons

What was the brief for your sustainable home?

The brief to our Perth home builders and designers was for a passive solar home to suit the location in the hills, with a 'barn-like' open plan in the living areas and low-maintenance materials and finishes.

What was the property like when the owners first acquired it?

There was an existing house that had to be demolished and we located the new house in roughly the same area, but a bit further down the site to conform to the minimum setback requirements. This also reduced the impact on the creek and the fruit trees on the property.

How did the positioning of the home make the most of the environment?

The building is basically rectangular in shape, along an east-west axis to allow for good northerly sun exposure. It has a steep-pitched gabled roof, reflecting the profile of the surrounding hills.

What kind of materials did you use?

In keeping with the ideas of sustainable architecture, we used a lot of recyclable materials, including timber framing, metal roofing and plasterboard lining. Bricks and concrete could also be recycled as road rubble or the red bricks could be re-used as walls or paving.

Did you use recycled materials too?

Yes, the majority of the timber from the original demolished house was re-milled and used in the new house, and floorboards were salvaged and re-used in the bedrooms. The kitchen and laundry cabinets are manufactured from recycled oregon and there's recycled jarrah benchtops in the kitchen.

Catherine, the home owner

What was your plan for this home?

I wanted an environmentally friendly home that would work in harmony with its surroundings. We wanted to make it as sustainable as possible. What we've really focused on is the lighting, so I've replaced the 50 watt downlights with low-wattage globes. I'm waiting for LED lighting to be a bit more affordable to replace them all.

How did you become interested in the idea of a sustainable home?

I did a permaculture course a few years ago and it started from there. I'm from Europe and, without being critical, I think Australia is about 25 years behind in terms of sustainability. Everybody's got double glazing in Europe and windows are well sealed. Here I also find very little is recycled.

How did you select the materials used in your home?

I left it mostly up to the designer. I didn't mind if we used bricks or render, but I didn't really want straw. As long as it was efficient and sustainable, I was happy.

Have you made any changes since the house was constructed?

I added a few things; for example, at the back where there's not much sun coming in, I've had double glazing installed in the windows.

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