EQUINOX

Designer: Cory Beauchesne, Arkhitekton

Assessor: Cory Beauchesne, Arkhitekton

Project cost estimate: $433,920

House size: 240 sqm

Energy rating: 9.4 stars

Throughout the year, Equinox is naturally warm in winter and cool in summer. Its passive solar design minimises the need for mechanical air-conditioning to improve the home’s comfort due to more consistent internal temperatures. The insulated polished concrete flooring is warm to walk on in winter and remains cool in the warmer months. The ducted reverse cycle air-conditioner filters the air for the entire home and deodorises spaces to eliminate odours and mould filtering air, so it’s safe and clean to breathe.

Materials with volatile organic compounds have been avoided in the design to remove the risk of chemicals being released into the home. Equinox is a single-storey, adaptable, family-friendly home designed without stairs for people with limited mobility. A modification for an accessible bathroom where the WC wall and bath are located can be removed for a later in life stage or, for someone who requires accessibility. The low maintenance landscaped garden includes a lawned area for young children’s play equipment with a selection of native plants and trees to attract native birds and theatre to the garden.

The form of the building envelope maximises winter solar gain and minimises summer solar gain using the eaves overhang as shading. Each room layout and position has been designed to maximise the efficiency of the house keep running costs to a minimum. The mono pitch roof reduces the building structure and the single pitch has one gutter along the low side with minimal downpipes.

Equinox is highly sustainable, using almost all recyclable materials currently available in Australia. At the end of its lifecycle, all materials can be recycled again. Air tightness has been considered using a vapour permeable wall wrap to all the external walls sealed around all windows, doors and other services penetrations. The bottom plate of the stud walls are sealed to the slab, creating an airtight building envelope, and all windows are of a high sealing standard with doors fitted with draught-proof seals.

High-performance windows using uPVC frames stop thermal bridging and double glazing alleviates heating and cooling losses. Surface mounted lighting was selected so the internal thermal layer is not penetrated, alleviating heating and cooling loss.

The ‘Milan series’ Littlehampton Bricks are 100% carbon neutral and will last for the life of Equinox, serving as thermal mass for the main living areas and can be reused or recycled at demolition stage.

The polished-concrete floor slab captures solar gains during the cooler months releasing heat slowly over the evening and Hebel Powerpanel, an eco-friendly, recyclable material was used because of its higher insulating properties.

The design uses half the energy it produces from the rooftop solar which means no power bills.

The fixtures and fittings use minimal water. Instead, rainwater is harvested and grey water is redirected to irrigate the native garden.