CSR's goal was 'a house that would represent the future of energy efficient family home design in Australia'. They looked within the company, exploiting the depth of building knowledge among its myriad divisions to construct the House.
The architectural brief called for a house design that would not look out of place in the many display villages around Australia. The end product had to be tangible for the mainstream market segment and not alienate price sensitive home buyers.
After a comprehensive review, the Ecologie Group Architects were selected to design the CSR House.
DESIGN DESCRIPTION
As part of a significant investment in building innovation, CSR made a crucial decision. To really understand how best to use its products to create an energy efficient, attractive and comfortable home, the company had to see how they worked together in a real-world setting.
CSR's divisions worked together - including incorporating 44 of its own products within the house. At every stage, CSR and Ecologie Architects sought to identify opportunities to improve the construction process, such as inefficiencies in the design and specification process and to understand how products and systems could come together more innovatively.
CSR partnered with Ecologie Architects to deliver a contemporary and practical Australian family home that could be replicated across the mainstream building market. The goal was to challenge the misconception that sustainable housing is unaffordable, or that such a home would mean compromising on aesthetics and comfort to make it affordable. Through smart design, attention to the appropriate geometry and selection of suitable materials, the resulting 8 Star design has a heating and cooling load 45 per cent lower than that of a 6 Star home.
The minimalist design philosophy of the architect is apparent throughout the home, which is characterised by clean lines, a simple geometric layout, and concealed construction techniques. Seamless transitions between the outdoor and indoor, and public and private spaces, have created a functional house with an attractive open plan layout and inviting al fresco area. Flexibility has also been addressed in the design; from a special playroom for children to the adaptability of the ground level study.
Comfort and energy efficiency are integral to the design. For example, the windows have been calculated to maintain the perfect thermal balance between summer and winter.
In a similar vein, most of the upper floor bedrooms have access to small balconies to create a sense of openness while also allowing the sun to enter the rooms in winter. At the other end of the spectrum, summer is catered for with a wide eave overhang, an unusual offering in the world of project homes. The house will be warm in winter, cool in summer, and cost-effective to run.
The house is said to be unique among the industry due to its dual role as a working research and development facility. During construction, the house was fitted with more than 140 sensors and 3.5 km of instrumentation cabling to create a real-time source of data that can educate the industry and help shape energy efficient homes of the future.
ACCOLADES
HIA NSW GreenSmart Energy Efficiency, Finalist, 2012
BPN Sustainability Awards, Finalist, 2012
PRODUCTS
ROOF TILES
MONIER ROOFING
SOLAR TILES
MONIER ROOFING
POWERED VENTS
EDMONDS PRODUCTS AUSTRALIA
VENTILATION SYSTEM
EDMONDS PRODUCTS AUSTRALIA
SKYLIGHTS
VIRIDIAN NEW WORLD GLASS
EAVES LINING SHEETS
CEMINTEL™
CEILINGS INTERNAL
CSR GYPROCK
CORNICES
CSR GYPROCK
OUTDOOR AREA CEILING
CEMINTEL™
EXTERNAL WALLS
PGH BRICKS & PAVERS
LOWER RENDERED WALLS
CSR HEBEL
DULUX ACRATEX
UPPER CLADDING & FEATURE WALL
CEMINTEL™
PAVERS
PGH BRICKS & PAVERS
EXTERNAL WINDOWS
TREND WINDOWS & DOORS
INTERNAL WALL LININGS
CSR GYPROCK
INSULATION
CSR BRADFORD
WET AREA LININGS
CEMINTEL™
FLOORS
HEBEL
BATHROOMS & DECKING FLOOR
CEMINTEL™
BATHROOM MIRRORS
VIRIDIAN NEW WORLD GLASS
GLASS BALUSTRADES & SHOWER SCREENS
VIRIDIAN NEW WORLD GLASS
SANITARYWARE & TAPWARE
CAROMA
KITCHEN SPLASHBACKS
VIRIDIAN NEW WORLD GLASS
BENCHTOPS
SMARTSTONE
CEILING FANS
HUNTER PACIFIC
LIGHTING
PHILIPS LIGHTING
HOME AUTOMATION
PHILIPS LIGHTING
CARPET
GODFREY HIRST AUSTRALIA
ALUMINIUM WINDOWS & DOORS
TREND WINDOWS & DOORS
INTERNAL CEDAR DOORS
TREND WINDOWS & DOORS
TIMBER DOORS & ARCHITRAVES
HUME DOORS & TIMBER (AUST)
DOOR HARDWARE
GAINSBOROUGH HARDWARE INDUSTRIES
GARAGE DOOR
B&D GARAGE DOORS AND OPENERS
CONCRETE
HOLCIM
