Design Brief
The brief asked design studio 22 to create a spacious, contemporary beachside home, on a sloping 443m2, 14.5m wide lot, with a big focus on sustainability in its design and inclusions, including on site water.
The home had to take maximum advantage of the entire lot to display as a signature example for the estate, and look great from each of the 3 road frontages.
An open plan design was desired but with the option and ability to still define areas.
Both the internal and external areas needed to be integrated in a way so the intersection was indiscernible.
Design studio 22 also had to conform with the strict design guidelines for the estate 'Beachside' area with rooflines, set backs, streetscape, landscaping and fencing.
The clients wanted to explore alternative energy methods to reduce reliance on grid electricity.
Design Solution
From the site analysis all aspects of the block were considered with landscape design and sustainability creatively integrated with the building design to create a holistic environment for the clients.
Northern and easterly aspects were captured in living and entertaining areas with borrowed light beamed into the bedroom/bathroom zones by the strategic placement of internal highlight windows.
Landscaped external entertaining areas intermingle with internal living spaces with many metres of exquisite timber bifolds and sliders expanding the northern and eastern aspects to make the most of the views across the pool to the coastal wetlands beyond.
A natural flooded gum timber floor flows from the front to the rear of the home creating a line of site and adding to the impact of the changes of levels.
Material Considerations
All windows and doors are fitted with Low E glass, all ceilings, interior and exterior walls and southern floors are fully insulated and all doors are of solid construction, making the home comfortable to live in.
Sustainability is also huge factor in the home with passive solar and breeze paths negating the need for air conditioning and 95 metres over 6 zones of hydronic in slab heating in the southern zones.
Primary domestic hot water, hydronic and pool heating is via heat exchange on demand from a 90 tube Apricus Allunga with a hot water loop (no storage). This uses a computer restricted LPG for direct boost and Rotex dead water heat storage units while the rooftop 2kw solar PV panel array operates through a Nett Meter to minimise power usage.
22,000 litre rainwater collection tank, under the garage, provides all water to the house on a priority basis.
Design Pine weatherboards, eave and alfresco linings and Ezitrim skirtings and architraves are plantation growth timber, while the Timbertech decking is formulated from recycled material and is bushfire, scratch and fade resistant.
Consultants & Contractors
Designer - Richard Malcolm, design studio 22
Photographer - Sinclair Black and Peter Sechi
Interior designer - Lyn Malcolm
Landscape designer - Nick Radford
Builder - Mick Corcoran
This article was written with the assistance of Building Designers Australia.
