Residential Alterations & Additions up to $350K (West Coast Adrian Fratelle, Ecohabit, Day Residence

WINNER

Residential Alterations & Additions up to $350K (West Coast)

Designer: Adrian Fratelle, Ecohabit Location: Coolbinia Web: ecohabit.com.au Builder: Lou Day, Owner Builder Energy Assessor: N/A Photographer: Peter Ellery

The Judges said

A design that is honest to the existing building and takes the next step in celebrating midcentury design. Project cost vs end result... unbelievable. A remarkable transformation. Great value for money to recycle an existing awesome home for the next generation. Reinvention and reuse shows how well considered design saves carbon in the build and operation. Big things come in small packages; this is sustainable design.

Project Brief

The owner who is an interior designer purchased her home with a view to renovate and give new life to a 1950’s Coolbinia landmark home. The organic and evolving nature of the design process helped ensure the best outcome for the property increasing its lifespan for another 70 years. This renovation is a true testament to sustainable design, retrofitting an existing home with minimal addition of materials and giving life to a great deal of existing concrete and masonry. Had the home been demolished and a new home built, the likely result would be carbon emissions exceeding a few hundred tonnes.

The renovation gives life to a great deal of existing concrete and masonry.

Sustainability Considerations

Being the family home, the designer was able to analyse and consider the comfort of the existing house. The client and her family had found that they did not use excessive energy to heat or cool the home so upgrading windows or adding additional built shading was not considered a necessity. A solar PV system adds to the efficiency of the building allowing the family to run an air-conditioner throughout the day powered by solar, cooling masonry and allowing it to absorb heat during the evening stabilizing the homes temperature. Very little was used in the way of materials to transform the home so the net result has been a very low carbon footprint in the reinvention of this building.