Resource 88 Redfern www.resource88.com.au www.pidcock.com.au
The brief for this project was to refurbish an1850’s sandstone cottage and associated buildings into a Centre for Sustainable Practice - a commercial office space to be shared by small businesses providing professional services with a focus on sustainable practice. The project embodies and is informed by strong sustainable design principles to enhance its new purpose. These include adaptive reuse of the existing building and materials; inclusion of passive solar design principles where possible including the introduction of natural light and ventilation to the rear section by way of a new courtyard; purchase of sustainable new products/materials; and inclusion of energy and water efficient appliances. The general design approach was to retain and enhance the simplicity of the existing structure and materials– particularly the sandstone of the original cottage. The new materials, structure and building details have been designed to express and celebrate their inherent qualities and beauty.
New or Retrofit: Renovation Designer: Pidcock Architects Climate Zone: Eastern Sydney – BCA
Climate Zone 5, Nathers Climate Zone 56.
Unique Sustainable Elements featured in this home
Water Harvesting Systems 3 x 2,000 litre above ground rainwater tanks with HDPE pipework used instead of UPVC.
External Walls Existing sandstone and brick for thermal mass.
External Walls Powerscape on timber studs. Powerscape is an alternative to plasterboard that has 95% recycled content. Roof Corrugated iron with R3 polyester batts. Skylights have been added to enhance natural lighting.
Floor Concrete with Pandomo Low VOC topping and floating timber floors using Big River Timbers Blackbutt.
Window Treatments New timber windows are framed using FSC certified timber. Shading devices have been added.
Solar or Wind Power Generation In 2010 we installed 5.4 kW of Suntech Pluto 200 panels, with additional requirements still being supplied by Origin Energy 100% Greenpower.
Heating & Cooling Courtyard added to enhance cross ventilation and spaces zoned to assist with heating. An existing Air conditioning system is used mainly for supplementary heating.
Other Unique Features Energy efficient lighting; T+A Caruso Multi Source System - energy efficient and sustainable music system
This Centre for Sustainable Practice includes an architectural practice which will be showcasing details on a range of sustainable homes from across NSW and Sydney. www.pidcock.com.au
(August 2009) (
