Walking the talk

Functional creativity:

• The existing 50’s cottage was not structurally sound for renovation. StateWide Demolition advised they were able to re-use/recycle 97% of the pre-existing building materials.
• A (small) number of bottles of fine South West Australian wine at a cabin in Denmark WA, along with some scissors, cardboard and markers helped create our functional requirements.
• Essential homework and preparation with Landgate, Telstra, Western Power and the Water Corporation, to determine extent of telco/grid power/water in and out. No natural gas connection to the property and it stayed that way.

Solar passive design – there is way too much to write here so:

• See Griff and the team at Solar Dwellings – solardwellings.com.au
• yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/ (source of images below)
• Core design considerations included:
  • Integrating the buildings metabolism as part of the wider community/system i.e. mass, carbon, energy and water flows.
  • Perth climate – category 5 (temperate).
  • Windows/Glazing type, orientation and location.
  • Roof and ceiling buffer zones.
  • Mixed mass construction materials.
  • Natural lighting and shading, heating and cooling.
  • Natural ventilation and air flow – breathable walls and interior.
  • Certifications i.e. NatHers, carbon/energy/material/water lifecycle analysis, Greywater.
  • Hydrozones for bio-diversity – avoiding mono-cultures of plants, trees and shrubs.
  • Optimising use of natural energy from the earth and allowing groundwater replenishment for rainwater not harvested.
  • Renewable energy.