Burrell Road Earth Home

Design Period: 1996 – 1999, 142  m2                                                             On a steep bush covered section with expansive sea views the two-story earth brick house is designed to contain one main flat upstairs and a garage and a holiday apartment downstairs. As the vegetation on the northern side of the house site is dense and protected native bush, the roof is designed to incorporate large skylights on the northern side collecting light and warmth. Windows and ranch sliders facing the South-West & South-East provide uninterrupted views. The earth brick walls act as passive solar storage device.   The open plan living-dining-kitchen area features generous glazing, exposed rafters with timber sarking and a wood burning stove. Study and main bedroom can be used separately or joined into one spacious room. The downstairs apartment when joined with the upstairs area transforms the dwelling into a comfortable three bedroom plan. Materials used include: concrete slab, earth bricks, untreated naturally durable macrocarpa for framing, sarking and exposed beams, Gib board, wool insulation.