The affordable apartments at Lochiel Park are a showcase for effective passive environmental design, showing that medium density infill housing can be affordable, green and well designed.
DESIGN DESCRIPTION
The 'Model Green Village' provides 20 apartments and three townhouses on a challenging site backing onto the O-Bahn, with the sustainable goals of the community expressed through the angular roof form. The brightly coloured triangular roof literally links the two-storey apartment blocks together while highlighting ESD aspirations and supporting photovoltaic panels for electricity collection and solar panels for the hot water plant.
The floor plan is intentionally simple, with two bedrooms, a combined bathroom/laundry, and all the living spaces and balconies facing north. An internal communal carpark links to community gardens and the wetlands with climbing plants screening the east and west facades and the carpark portal frames. The townhouses are designed to suit Housing SA tenants, with adaptable standard bathrooms and kitchens for accessibility.
Greenway developed an innovative natural ventilation system providing passive cross ventilation to each residence, reducing the need for air conditioning. A ventilation stack positioned centrally in the apartment is assisted by a roof mounted rotary ventilator and is used in combination with the external opening windows in the living spaces and bedrooms. Ventilation is controlled via motorised louvres linked to the AC system.
The project has achieved 7.5 stars using the AccuRate system of measurement.
All rainwater is collected in two large underground tanks and connected to the solar hot water units (grouped together in blocks of three or four). Recycled (ASR) water in lilac piping is used for toilet flushing and irrigation, and will be drawing water from the adjacent wetlands. Mains water is also connected for cold water use.
Each apartment has a pulse metering to all water supplies (and gas) to provide realtime feedback of water consumption (via the Ecovision monitor). The EcoVision 3010 is an integrated water, gas and electricity resource monitoring system and an integrated Load Management Device. The intent of the installation of EcoVision is to provide information to the residents on the usage of resources at both a micro and a macro level.
The metering of resources at each consumption point provides real time information to the occupant which encourages behavioural change. The device enables households to choose which appliances "trip off", and in what sequence, should the home at any time be using more electricity than the preset limit (default 3Kw/hr). The display screen is mounted on a feature plywood wall in the kitchen area, and the services backbone in the linen press off the hall.
Lochiel Park is a model for future development, with an honest use of natural materials with minimal decoration. Reverse veneer walls with blockwork and custom orb, polished concrete floors, Super -E0 plywood joinery and skirtings, timber framed doors and windows with low-E glass, recycled plastic screens, and zeriscape landscaping are also featured.
ACCOLADES
RAIA South Australia Architecture Awards, Newell Platten Award for Multiple Housing 2012
Urban Design Institute of Australia (SA Chapter) Environmental Excellence Award 2011
PRODUCTS
ROOFING
BLUESCOPE STEEL, ZINCALUME CUSTOM ORB, FIELDERS
WALL CLADDING
BLUESCOPE STEEL, ZINCALUME CUSTOM ORB, FIELDERS
MASONRY WALLS
BORAL BRICKS, MASONRY CONCRETE BLOCKWORK
CLADDING
JAMES HARDIE WALL & FLOOR PRODUCTS, SCYON
MATRIX FIBRE CEMENT SYSTEM
JAMES HARDIE WALL & FLOOR PRODUCTS
DOOR & WINDOW FRAMES
WESTERN RED CEDAR
GLAZING
VIRIDIAN NEW WORLD GLASS, LOW E GLASS
TIMBER SCREENS
MODWOOD TECHNOLOGIES, RECYCLED PLASTIC TIMBER-LOOK BATTENS
SKIRTINGS DESIGNER
LAMINATES SUPER E0 ECO CORE PLYWOOD
JOINERY DESIGNER
LAMINATES ECO-CORE SUPER E0 PLYWOOD FRONTS
VALCHROMAT SPLASHBACKS
CARPET
TRETFORD®
PAVING
BEST PAVERS
TILES
INTERNATIONAL CERAMICS
PAINT
DULUX
TAPWARE
HANSA
FIXTURES
CAROMA
MISC FITTINGS
BARBEN ZEN RANGE
