BARE HOUSE

Winner: WA State Award and National Student Award

Designer: Alicia Ferrer, North Metro TAFE (WA)

Assessor: Tristan-Stanley Cary, The Study

Project cost estimate: $671,250

House size: 210 sqm

Energy rating: 9.9 stars

Bare House was inspired by ‘simplicity of volumes’ and natural materials used in vernacular architecture from the Balearic Islands of Spain which have a similar climate to Perth. Thick solid walls with rounded corners have been used, which are a distinctive feature of the traditional houses in Ibiza. Bare House is designed to be built with thick hemp blocks and simple, natural hand-applied finishes inside and outside, hence the name Bare House. Quiet on the inside with flowing fresh air (breathable walls and no mould) the living areas face north and are visually connected to the private native shrub garden.

In winter, the morning sun is inviting but can be restricted during the day by large retractable awnings. On cooler days, the floor and brick walls collect the heat and ceiling fans can be used in winter mode, making the most of the blissful warmth collected in the thermal mass throughout the home. Every window and door is framed with planting to bring the outdoors in, creating a connection to nature.

Bare House is suitable for a young family with provision for its occupants aging in place. It has a spacious main bedroom with an ensuite at the front of the house which is separated from the other bedrooms. The open-plan study area has many options for use, including a children’s playroom, a teenager’s study, a work-fromhome office or as a fourth bedroom.

The security gates on the front boundary allow for children and pets to roam free around the house without risk of getting out, especially when the residents are entertaining guests. There is provision to add a second floor, with a stairway in the store area, providing an option for separate access that could be used for multi-generational living. The second floor can also be fitted with a kitchen, laundry or leased by a tenant for added income. It has provision for further modifications to meet specific needs of a disabled occupant and complies with LHA Platinum level requirements from the Liveable Homes checklist.

To benefit from the northern aspect, the house was designed to be long and narrow, allowing the northern openings to provide a seamless transition into a landscaped outdoor living area with native plants. Perimeter walls have been raised to conceal the solar PV panels which is how the simple, monolithic shape of Bare House comes to life. A generous fixed awning runs along the entire northern façade of Bare House and retractable awnings are incorporated to all openings. In the garden, a mix of deciduous trees are planted for shading and reflective roller blinds protect the home from the harsh afternoon sun.

Efficient cross ventilation is essential to benefit from the cool, south-westerly afternoon breezes in summer and a custom designed pelmet runs alongside most external walls/windows serving as a dual purpose to hide the LED strip for indirect up lighting and to conceal the motorised, reflective-backing, semitransparent blinds.

A high (but not excessive) wall with intermittent, wide and well-placed openings and solid external walls ensure large expanses of glazing are avoided. High ceilings and voids create an energy-efficient home, and the use of dual mode fans and magnetic door latches allow doors to stay open–all helping with cross ventilation. The external wall material consists of load bearing, 300mm thick Hemp blocks which are carbon negative, carbon sequestering, non-toxic, breathable, thermally and acoustically insulated, fireproof, water repellent, biodegradable and compostable. Due to the interlocking system, there will be very little waste during construction and without a requirement for bonding materials, additional products are reduced.

Materials specified are renewable, re-used or with a high-recycled content, minimising the use of steel and other products that have high embodied energy. The walls and floors are left ‘bare’, except for a light lime plaster coat of finish.

All appliances are electric and a 15KW solar PV with a 13.5 kWh battery ensures Bare House produces a lot more energy than required for the purposes of lighting and appliances. Allowance has been made for smart switches and pre-installation for an electric vehicle (EV) charger.

The garden at Bare House provides an enhanced biophilic experience with a selection of native plants that are irrigated by two, 5KL underground rainwater tanks. The garden is low maintenance and has been designed to attract local pollinators to create new ecosystems and healthy soil.

Bare House showcases bold building materials, bringing together texture and layers to create character and warmth. Nontoxic, low maintenance finishes such as polished concrete for flooring, lime plaster on thick hemp walls, wide timber framed windows and sliding doors, recycled brick walls to store and release heat and micro-cement surfaces in bathrooms and the laundry. The hemp bricks eliminate the need for framing or added insulation, composite materials or applied finishes all working to reduce on-site waste.

To benefit from the northern aspect, the house was designed to be long and narrow, allowing the northern openings to provide a seamless transition into a landscaped outdoor living area with native plants.