Nth Watson Overview: A purpose designed passive solar house in the recent Canberra Suburb of North Watson. The house was designed as a retirment home and has been built with very thorough attention to detail in its energy and water saving measures and also uses the best principles of adaptable design to ensure that aging in place is easily achievable.
Architect: Tricia Helyar
Tricia Helyar is a sole practitioner based in the inner west of Sydney. Within her practice she works closely with clients to achieve solutions within budget while adhering to the principles of environmental sustainability design.
Tricia is a director of
emergency architects australia, a member of the Australian Institute of Architects NSW Small Practice Committee and an examiner for the NSW Architects Registration Board.
16 Fowler Street, LEICHHARDT NSW 2040
P 02 9560 5058
M 0401 639 962
E
tricia@architricia.com.au
W
www.architricia.com.au
House Description:
Water Water Harvesting Features: 2 x 2500 litre above-ground “Team Poly“ slimline tanks supplying cold water to washing machine, shower, toilets, basins and two external taps (plastic code 4). Topped up by mains if necessary.
Grey water: Below ground 50 litre reserve with automatic pump-out system for distribution to garden (except vegetables) via underground and above ground piping.
External Walls Cladding: Cladding custom orb in “Bushland” colour and rendered CSR “Exinflex” (EPS) coated in “Woodland Grey” Rockcote render system.
Framing: Radiata pine and steel beams. Insulation: fiberglass batts and sisalation giving estimated R3.5 under metal, and sisalation with Exin to give estimated R3.5.
Other: all gaps in framing/windows/doors were packed with insulation to prevent air leaks. Use of insulated low thermal mass walls lessens the house storing unwanted heat in summer, or cold in winter.
Internal Walls Material: gyprock throughout, except for showers which are lined with wet area Laminex. Framing: plantation radiate pine. Colour: “China White” throughout, including ceilings.
Trim: all architraves and skirtings are clear sealed mountain ash. Insulation: some walls have fiberglass batts for sound insulation.
Thermal mass: the internal walls on the north of the house are packed with concrete blocks (90x190x390) where they receive sun in the winter.
Roof Material: Colorbond “Bushland”. Pitch: 6 degrees. Insulation: sisalation and fiberglass batts, estimated rating rating R6.0
Other: flat roof towards south to give greater sun penetration in winter. Exhaust fans are closeable, and no downlights penetrate the ceiling and roof. A closeable vent is installed over the fridge to recycle or expel warm air from the heat exchanger.
Floor Materials: Tiles on concrete slab throughout.
Colour: Black on all except for cream in bathrooms.
Thermal mass: high Insulation: waffle pod Expanded Styrene lost formwork with extruded insulation to all edges at house perimeter. Other: under tile heating is installed in 5 zones.
Windows Type: double glazed throughout (except for front door)
Framing: composite framed - coated aluminium on outside, mountain ash internally.
Colour: “Paperbark” exterior, clear coat internally.
Coverings: honeycomb air-cell style blinds, some with blockout (east & west)
Shading: support frames have been installed but no shade devices fitted to date.
Heating and Cooling Passive Cooling: casement and double hung windows for cross ventilation. High hopper windows at high point of sloping ceiling on north for release of hot air in summer. 900mm eaves on north shield windows from summer sum.
Passive Heating: orientation of house with large area of glazing to north, thermal mass in gloor and internal walls.
Supplementary Cooling: 5 ceiling fans have been installed.
Supplementary Heating: under tile heating has been installed in both bathrooms, study, and southern floor areas in 5 zones. Space heating by electric micathermic panel heater (preferred) or bayonet gas heater.
Other: use of exterior walls with low thermal mass but good insulation allows the building to not store the extremes of temperature during summer and winter. Doors are installed for each room so zoning can be used in heating/cooling. External shading will be added as is deemed necessary.
Electricity Generation Photovoltaic – Solartech 2800 watt (expandable to 4200 watt) creating up to 19KWh/day, grid connected. Water Heating Hills “Endless Solar” evacuated tube (30 tubes) with 250 litre electric booster (boosted twice per winter so far)
Appliances Water efficiency: toilets are 3-4.5 litre dual flush & rainwater fed; shower heads are 3 Star 9 litre/min.; washing machine is 4 star; dishwasher is 3.5 star used each 2.5 days on average. Energy efficiency: fridge is 3.5 star with supplementary 4 star, dishwasher is 2.5 star; induction cooktop, natural gas BBQ for roasting/grilling. Other Landscape: except for vegetable garden, landscape has low water-use plants, and is designed to need only grey water. Timbercrete has been used for paving on the north to reduce heat transfer into the house in summer. Masonry wall on northern boundary gives some extra warming to the house in winter. House position/design: house has been sited on block to give maximum sun penetration in winter from the north. Eaves on north prevent sun entry in summer, other eaves protect the house itself. Slope of roof allows maximum sum penetration in winter.
Waste: - worm farm for kitchen waste, compost bin for garden waste, regular recycling of containers. Grey water used fully; if in excess, auto diverter to sewer is activated.
Social/transport: house outlook to east is bushland with little built environment, while all services/recreation are within cycling distance. 700 m. to bus stop.
Adaptability: the building has been designed not only as outlined above with environmentally responsibility and future in mind, but also its physical future and adaptability. The following elements have been included: · 1100mm wide corridors and circulation spaces. · 900mm wide doors · 600mm high power points · Floorspace all on one level – no steps · Open generous showers and freestanding hand basins · Future planning for items such as grabrails in shower areas and toilets. These are allowed for with the placement of wall structure in appropriate positions and extra reinforcing. · Future planning for division of the existing single dwelling for either later rental potential or accommodation for a live-in carer. These rooms are currently used as guest accommodation but could also in the interim be converted into two bedrooms due to the thoughtful planning and generous sizing of the rooms. >
(August 2009) (
