small home BIG LIFE

small home BIG LIFE C O M P E T I T I O N

XXSMALL HOUSE - 45M2 TETWEY CHEN 828678 2018

JAMES HARDIE速 EXTERNAL CLADDING & DECK SCYONTM AXONTM SMOOTH CLADDING

PANELCLADTM TEXTURELINE SHEET

HARDIEDECKTM SYSTEM

OTHER FINISHES LYSAGHT速 LONGLINE 305速 ROOFING

NORSTONE速 SLIM LINE ROCKPANELSTM

EXPOSED CONCRETE

WHITE SMOKED TIMBER FLOORING HOUSE BACKYARD FROM RIVER

HOUSE FRONTAGE

INTERIORS FROM DECK

KITCHEN & DINING

PROJECT INFORMATION DESIGN CONCEPT

The design of the house was focussed on creating a compact, modern retreat that engages with the landscape’s ephemeral conditions. In this case, the proposed house will situate by a river in the suburb of Melbourne, 20km from the CBD. The proposal attempts to challenge the conventional notions of what is necessary in our lives. The house will be passively designed which ultimately reduces energy consumption and cost whilst maximising the occupant amenity.

The plan of the house is devised of two units that are offset to one another, which creates an inviting entrance to the house while maintaining a level of privacy and intimacy at the back of the house. The higher unit provides spaces for kitchen/dining, living room and a bedroom above, whereas the lower unit consist of an entry and a laundry integrated bathroom.

The gabled volume is clad in dark vertical grooved ScyonTM AxonTM, while the smaller rectangular volume reveals a precise concrete formwork pattern. The two juxtaposing materials worked in harmony to create a strong visual impact for the building design. In contrast with the robust black cladding, the surface of the backyard terrace is finished with earthy PanelcladTM textureline sheet to give a warm and tactile feel.

Projecting steel frames around the entry and Eastern windows not only help articulate the façade, but also provides depth and sun-shading. The outdoor deck utilises grey HardiedeckTM system and the internal floor are finished with white smoked timber flooring which complements with the white painted plasterboard walls and ceiling.

Vaulted ceiling provides opportunity for a double height wall of glazing that gives the occupant an expansive picturesque scenery of the river while allowing abundant natural light to enter the space. The spiral staircase is paired with dark enclosed aluminium balustrade, creating a striking statement in the interiors as it leads up to a first floor bedroom.

PASSIVE DESIGN

The orientation of the house is strategically placed so that the living area is facing north. The house does not require additional mechanical heating and cooling system as it relies on natural ventilation. The windows are carefully placed throughout the building to allow summer prevailing winds from the south to cross ventilate the house. The house also utilises Velux® manual skylight on the roof which allows hot air to escape through stack ventilation.

A deciduous tree planted on the North-East of the house can further assist cooling through transpiration.

It allows winter sun through their branches and exclude summer sun with their leaves.

WATER SUPPLY

The gabled roof easily drains out rainwater into the internal gutter system and channels it into downpipes where it will be collected in the rainwater tank.

The harvested rainwater will be treated and used for gardening, toilet flushing, clothes washing and showering. The tank is also connected to the water meter in case of drought or shortage of rainwater. When there is an excess of rainwater, it will be discharged into the side entry pit and towards the legal point of discharge.

An air-sourced hot water heap pump will be utilised to supply hot water to the occupant. The system will draw energy collected from the PV panels instead of the grid for greater energy saving and sustainability.

ELECTRICAL

LED lights will be used throughout the house as they are much more efficient and longer-lasting than traditional incandescent light bulbs or halogen bulb. The price is undoubtedly more expensive to buy, but in the longrun are cheaper overall when taking into consideration of the lifetime energy use costs.

A row of monocrystalline solar panels is proposed to be installed on the east side of the gable roof. A total of 6 panels can generate up to 1.7kW of electricity. This can be paired with a Tesla Powerwall in the future to store excess energy if the client wishes to.

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIAL

The house uses a combination of precast technologies along with conventional construction methods of timber framing. The site is levelled prior to placing precast footings and erecting precast panels for the lower unit for speed of construction. The precast panels will offer good acoustic separation on the front part of the house, where noises on the road will be greatly reduced. Concrete waffle raft slab, timber wall frame, timber floor trusses with steel webs and a ridge beam with sloped rafters are used for the tall gabled unit. Timber frames will be covered in reflective wall sarking for waterproofing. The external walls are clad with ScyonTM AxonTM and PanelcladTM, while the internal linings are finished with plasterboards and white smoked timber flooring. All walls and ceilings are insulated with Pink® Batts® thermal glasswool for good thermal performance. The roof is clad with longline 305®.

Reductive material palette and use of local materials will help reduce embodied energy and to create a sustainable and cost-effective home. Windows are double glazed, argon filled, high solar gain and low-e.

Entry door is a made of solid core timber.

Lastly, the building will be sealed properly using weather stripping on all openings including light fittings.