The design of this 6 Star+ residence owes its inspiration to the renowned Austrian artist ‘Hundertwasser’, in line with his philosophy that “bright colours are used as a pure reflection of nature”.

This project comprises a 3 bedroom, 200m2 residence and detailed landscape design on a sensitive site which falls steeply toward the Barwon River. This resulted in a linear cranked roof form that followed the east west gradient of the site to take best advantage of a limited solar window, and direct roof water runoff to the under floor water storage.

The ‘deep green’ clients demanded the highest level of sustainability with a full range of features including:

Energy:

• innovative concrete screed slab for thermal mass
• attached passive heating greenhouse with integrated heat shifting system
• sub floor ‘coolth’ ventilation system
• integrated flexible sun shading system
• low ‘e’ & Argon filled double glazing
• hyper insulation – R 7.0 to roof, R 4.5 to floor and R 1.5 to walls
• high efficiency gas hydronic space heating
• extensive draft sealing
• ‘real time’ power monitor
• 2040 watt photovoltaic grid interactive power system
• high efficiency gas boosted solar evacuated tube HWS

Water Supply:

• 2 x 9600lt rainwater tanks with automated mains water backup – 90% potable water use reduction target
• colloidal silver water filter system
• Waste Water:
• ‘all waste’ wormfarm wastewater treatment system
• on site storm water retention and reuse, edible or drought resistant planting

Materials:

• FSC certified timber window frames
• extensive use of sustainable, recycled and low toxicity building materials

Awards:

• Winner – HIA Greensmart Awards – Building of the Year
• Winner- 2007 HIA Greensmart Awards – Resource Efficiency

Photography: Richard King