Torbay House The long house folds on itself, across the slope. This is a geometry of expansion, a way of experiencing as much of the site, the view, the sea and the weather as possible in the many crossing layers of house. From the tree canopied driveway, the long entrance; prosaic and poetic, takes you on grade out into the space of the sky. This beginning of the long folded house is on the direct axis of Torbay to Kojonup, a grounding and a departure, extending into the views made open through the crossing, overlap of space. The robust rural character of the landscape and the drama of the house site are the two primary elements around which the design has evolved. This form is both the raw geometry of expanded metal and the poetic form of the needles of the extant Radiata; this architecture is functional and folding. The living space overlaps, and connects directly onto the expansive deck; one is living inside, outside and between. Handrails cant out to the view, taking you into the sky. In summer rains and the occasional warm winter ones, the inside becomes the deck; glazed doors opened wide, the handrail over the herb planter makes the inside a balcony. This home is for living in and with the site, expanding across it and encompassing everything that is part of the view; from the cows coming home in the near distance to the hazy sea fog and
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Achieving environmental outcomes is also an integral feature of the multi-faceted design. With regards to water, an 80,000L tank collects water from the new house roof and Bed and water. ing
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wastewater, whilst helping to recharge the natural water courses. tube solar hot water system with electrical boosting. Coupled with this would be all hot water pipework in close proximity to the separate hot water instantaneous system, especially in the Bed and Breakfast to all showers and sinks.
Supporting this system is an extensive installation of 20kW Unisolar BIPV amorphous silicon arrays, mounted along the northern edge of the expansive deck. The house has been designed with a keen awareness of solar passive design, including north facing glazing with shading for summer sun and minimal east-west exposure. An earth coupled thermal mass, the central rammed earth wall would be built from local lateritic gravels. The high density of the wall act as storage for thermal energy. During periods of hot days and relatively
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First Floor Plan
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Decking Analysis