Rob's crane truck Lofty (in foreground) is not lofty enough to reach across two back yards, to the building site. A huge crane was hired to lift the steel portal frame components from a nearby vacant block - a shorter distance than from the street.
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New 6 STAR ENERGY-RATED sustainable small lot house in inner Brisbane
About the Project
Welcome to the journey of sustainable construction. The Hill End Ecohouse will be a landmark sustainable home for inner Brisbane using design features, materials and products which have undergone rigorous assessment of their environmental, social and economic sustainability credentials.
The Site
The 10m wide site runs north south (not ideal for passive solar design) with a total area of 638sqm. 200 sqm of the site is riparian zone to protect the river's edge with no construction allowed in this zone.
Total floor areas are:
261 sqm - internal spaces
52 sqm - covered outdoor living
73 sqm - plant, storage and car/bike/kayak garage
Water
Appliances and tapware fittings minimise water waste. 71,000L of rainwater storage will supply parts of the house and garden. The main supply of water to the house is filtered rain water with mains water backup
Greywater will be treated and recirculated to toilets in the house (optional to washing machine) and to the front garden for irrigation and cleaning bicycles, gardening tools and if there must be one.. a car.
Energy
Natural daylight is maximised through building and window design to reduce need for artificial lighting. Light-coloured finishes will maximise reflection of daylight. External and internal lights use LED and compact fluorescent lamps for optimum efficiency. Appliances are selected for their energy efficiency.
Solar power will be captured to provide hot water and grid- connected electricity to supply the whole house's needs
Material selection
Criteria for material selection are a balance of:
- Recycled content
- Embodied energy
- Local supply
- Durability
- Low/no toxicity
Landscape
Lush plantings will provide shade, cooling of breezes, food and privacy, irrigated by treated greywater and rainwater.
Subtropical Design
Through the process of energy-efficient design which responds to the local climate and through selection of materials, infrastructure and garden plantings, the principles of subtropical design have been addressed.
The Site
The 10m wide site runs north south (not ideal for passive solar design) with a total area of 638sqm. 200 sqm of the site is riparian zone to protect the river's edge with no construction allowed in this zone.
Total floor areas are:
261 sqm - internal spaces
52 sqm - covered outdoor living
73 sqm - plant, storage and car/bike/kayak garage
Water
Appliances and tapware fittings minimise water waste. 71,000L of rainwater storage will supply parts of the house and garden. The main supply of water to the house is filtered rain water with mains water backup
Greywater will be treated and recirculated to toilets in the house (optional to washing machine) and to the front garden for irrigation and cleaning bicycles, gardening tools and if there must be one.. a car.
Energy
Natural daylight is maximised through building and window design to reduce need for artificial lighting. Light-coloured finishes will maximise reflection of daylight. External and internal lights use LED and compact fluorescent lamps for optimum efficiency. Appliances are selected for their energy efficiency.
Solar power will be captured to provide hot water and grid- connected electricity to supply the whole house's needs
Material selection
Criteria for material selection are a balance of:
- Recycled content
- Embodied energy
- Local supply
- Durability
- Low/no toxicity
Landscape
Lush plantings will provide shade, cooling of breezes, food and privacy, irrigated by treated greywater and rainwater.
Subtropical Design
Through the process of energy-efficient design which responds to the local climate and through selection of materials, infrastructure and garden plantings, the principles of subtropical design have been addressed.
Achieving 6 stars
In Queensland currently houses are only assessed on their energy-efficiency. In other states, the standard house ratings also takes into account energy use for the running of the building, water efficiency or waste. We may test the building against these systems along the way, despite them not being used in Queensland. Here is how the building achieves its energy rating:
ROOF INSULATION- R3.0 recycled polyester bulk insulation to roof cavities, and a sarking of sisalation bonded with closed cell foam. Ventilated roof cavity. Light-coloured roof finish
WALL INSULATION - R2.0 recycled polyester bulk insulation with sisalation of reflective "bubble-wrap and ventilated wall cavity
FLOOR INSULATION - R2.0 recycled polyester bulk insulation with mini orb below, beneath elevated timber floors.
GLAZING - Timber frames reduce heat transfer (compared to aluminium) and large expanses of glass to the Living, Dining and Best Bedroom use solar control, low-E glass. Where heat gain/loss is an issue to lower ventilation louvres, these were changed to insulating timber.
SUNSHADING - Eaves and awnings are generous to provide sun and rain protection. A drop down blind to the River Terrace provides shaded summer morning outdoor living and prevents indoor spaces from overheating. A trellis with deciduous creepers shades the north(street)-facing balcony.
NATURAL VENTILATION
Cross ventilation is provided wherever possible
- low-level louvres for cooling breezes over beds and sitting areas
- high level louvres to release hot air
- fanlights/louvres over doors for additional airflow
- battened vestibule to front door captures breezes securely
- floor vents under the fridge and to the main living level, draw cool air from below
MECHANICAL VENTILATION - ceiling fans to bedrooms and living areas
THERMAL MASS - concrete floor slabs and internal block walls to act as heat sinks
ROOF INSULATION- R3.0 recycled polyester bulk insulation to roof cavities, and a sarking of sisalation bonded with closed cell foam. Ventilated roof cavity. Light-coloured roof finish
WALL INSULATION - R2.0 recycled polyester bulk insulation with sisalation of reflective "bubble-wrap and ventilated wall cavity
FLOOR INSULATION - R2.0 recycled polyester bulk insulation with mini orb below, beneath elevated timber floors.
GLAZING - Timber frames reduce heat transfer (compared to aluminium) and large expanses of glass to the Living, Dining and Best Bedroom use solar control, low-E glass. Where heat gain/loss is an issue to lower ventilation louvres, these were changed to insulating timber.
SUNSHADING - Eaves and awnings are generous to provide sun and rain protection. A drop down blind to the River Terrace provides shaded summer morning outdoor living and prevents indoor spaces from overheating. A trellis with deciduous creepers shades the north(street)-facing balcony.
NATURAL VENTILATION
Cross ventilation is provided wherever possible
- low-level louvres for cooling breezes over beds and sitting areas
- high level louvres to release hot air
- fanlights/louvres over doors for additional airflow
- battened vestibule to front door captures breezes securely
- floor vents under the fridge and to the main living level, draw cool air from below
MECHANICAL VENTILATION - ceiling fans to bedrooms and living areas
THERMAL MASS - concrete floor slabs and internal block walls to act as heat sinks
The Team
- RIDDEL ARCHITECTURE - Emma Scragg, David Gole, Simon Boundy
- PEAGRAM BUILDERS - Rob Peagram, Oliver Bergel, Miki Hall
- BLIGH TANNER Engineers
- LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Arno King - Deicke Richards Architects
Related Links
Ecohouse Web features
- Arch Daily (Chile)
- BCC Innovation 24.11.09
- Building 4 Change
- Building for Change
- De Architect (German)
- Dexigner
- Dezeen (UK)
- Evolo (USA)
- Green Building Pro
- Inqmnd
- Jetson Green
- Materialicious
- Moco Loco
- Photovoltaic Systems
- Red Glasses
- Sanctuary magazine feature
- Shelterpop
- Tenjin Visual
- World Architecture News
- World Green
- World Interior Design Network (UK)
Publications about the Ecohouse
- "Environmental Technologies and Services - Riddel Architecture" (A4 brochure), Queensland Government
- Better Homes and Gardens magazine, August 2010, #186
- Domus, China
- Future Maison (France), June July 2010, # 24
- Grand Designs magazine (UK)
- Green Builder (USA), May 2010
- Green magazine (Taiwan), June 2010 #05
- Homes Magazine (UK), June 2010
- Houses magazine (Australia), June 2010 #74
- Metropolis Magazine (USA), July August
- Metropolis Magazine (USA), July August
- Monument magazine (Australia), June 2010
- Plan magazine (Ireland) June 2010
- Rum magazine (Sweden)
- Sanctuary Magazine, Australia, May 2010
- Style International magazine,
ROCKCOTE ECOSTYLE - Queensland owned and made VOC-free paint
- AQUAREUSE- greywater treatment
- BAUWERK - WA-made natural limewash paints
- BETABOARD - Powerscape sheet linings
- ECOVISION - household monitoring system
- ENVIRO MANUFACTURING CO. - hot water recirculating unit
- FINLAYSONS - hoop pine door and window joinery, timber supplies
- GEBERIT- Poly waste pipes with recycled content and fully recyclable. No lead or chlorine byproducts of PVC
- ROCKCOTE ECOSTYLE - Queensland owned and made VOC-free paint
- TECECO Pty Ltd
- TERMIMESH- non-toxic termite barrier
- WHITE INTERNATIONAL - rainwater pumps
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