Green Sheep Collective’s new project in Melbourne’s inner north combines high-level environmentally sustainable design (ESD) with a striking roofscape, contemporary finishes, and an emphasis on outdoors and family.
The Northcote Solar Home answers the client’s brief to provide a comfortable, sustainable, passive solar home that allows for a flexible, changing family life. Indoor and outdoor living, garden spaces and bike accommodation at the rear were important features.
The design team at Green Sheep Collective, led by Shae Parker McCashen with draftsperson Arli Orford and architect Sam Gardiner, designed a three-bedroom home incorporating passive solar and sustainable design principles. A raked corrugated zincalume roof from Metroll Preston provides northern light and natural ventilation. The roof is also economical, using no more or less than was required to achieve its goals.
The striking roof forms modulate northern solar gain and enable ‘stack effect’ ventilation to all spaces. Passive heating and cooling is further assisted by north facing living areas, strategically positioned thermal mass, a high level of insulation, and low-e double-glazing with appropriate eaves
The north-facing kitchen window further integrates the garden areas, providing outdoor bar seating to the kitchen and deck
Raked ceilings and Rylock double glazed windows shape and illuminate spaces, with all rooms receiving northern light. Throughout the house contrasting materials and textures are implemented to create texture and interest – timber floors (wormy chestnut provided by Tait Timber and Hardware) meet exposed aggregate concrete, colour splashes intertwine with tiles, and exposed steel beams strengthen and juxtapose with natural timber built-in storage.
“If things are well designed, they work for a long time; you’re comfortable, and you have a great relationship with the outdoors,” says Parker McCashen.
Green Sheep ensured there was ample indoor and outdoor living area, with a north-facing deck that extends the dining area outdoors and a central courtyard deck that also acts as a living room space. The north-facing kitchen window incorporates the garden areas, offering outdoor bar seating.
A north-facing deck extends the dining space outdoors, while the central courtyard deck doubles as integrated living room seating
The home’s three side-by-side pavilions are divided by courtyards, but linked through a polished concrete central corridor
PRODUCTS
EXTERIOR
CONCRETE FLOOR
HY-TEC INDUSTRIES, POLISHED CONCRETE (32MPa 14/20mm AGGREGATE): HUSQVARNA HIPERFLOOR
FRAMES AND TRUSSES
TAIT TIMBER AND HARDWARE, MGP10 PINE FRAME & LVL SMARTFRAME RAFTERS
ROOFING AND ACCESSORIES
METROLL PRESTON , CORRUGATED ZINCALUME
CLADDING
RADIAL TIMBERS, SILVERTOP ASH (RADIAL SAWN)
METROLL PRESTON, CORRUGATED ZINCALUME
WINDOWS
RYLOCK, DOUBLE GLAZED / THERMALLY IMPROVED / ALUMINIUM / LOW E: ARCHITECTURAL SERIES
WATER TANK
ROOFING OPTIONS CENTRE, 2 x 4605 LITRE GALVANISED WATER TANKS (RAINBANK RAINSAVER DIVERTER SYSTEM TO CISTERNS)
INTERIOR
PLASTER
CSR GYPROCK, CSR 10mm BOARD
INSULATION
BRADFORD INSULATION (CSR), WALLS: 2xR2.5 430 GOLD GLASSWOOL WALL BATTS
BRADFORD INSULATION (CSR), CEILING: R5.0 430 GOLD GLASSWOOL CEILING BATTS
BATHROOM / UTILITY WATERPROOFING
CSR CEMINTEL, 7.5mm BLUEBOARD CSR CEMINTEL
DOORS
CORINTIHIAN DOORS, REDICOTE SOLID CORE
CARPET
FELTEX CARPETS/ WESTERN DISTRIBUTORS, BIARRA #75 KENMORE 80% WOOL 20% SYNTHETIC
TIMBER FLOORING
TAIT TIMBER AND HARDWARE, WORMY CHESTNUT: 130 x 14 OVERLAY FLOORING
LIGHTING
M-ELEC, WALL LIGHTS
