Huon Residence
Designed in 2005 and built over two years, the house endeavours to maximise natural cooling, heating, and lighting. The built structure incorporates:
- Large eaves
- Two skins to the building shell to help with thermal control against heat and cold.
- Cross ventilation can be controlled.
The built structure incorporates large eaves to provide shading in summer and allow sun penetration in winter—controlled cross ventilation to add cooling and comfort control.
There are two skins to the building’s facade, the first being steel, which heats up and cools down quickly due to the thinness of the material. This allows the internal skin not to take the heat load and keeps the internal space at a comfortable temperature. Recycled timber, plywood panels, steel and glass were the other primary materials employed.
Minimising the living area footprint of the building to 38 m2 and reducing the materials used in construction. Minimising the disturbance to the ground plane and creating a minimal impact.
Passive and photovoltaic solar energy is another crucial sustainable feature: The latter, in the form of a 5.0 kW grid connection, would be upgraded to 7.0 kW. Insulation in the walls, ceilings, eaves and floor structure is over R5.
Under the structure is a series of “aquacomb” modular water pod storage systems that harvest 30,000 litres of water for reuse in and around the home. Working with the water harvesting system is a grey water system located under the house and within short distances from its collection points and use.
All black and grey water is dealt with onsite.
Huon Residence in the Media
Date:
2023
