Environmental Living with Passive Homes
Moving into an age where the cost of living and our dependence on wholesale power continues to increase – Project AT13 seeks, through the support of visionary clients, to create a “Passive house” that responds to environmental queues balanced with strong design ethics and modern living needs. Located on a ‘Small Lot’ the dwelling seeks to successfully overcome the challenges of difficult orientation and legislative restriction to create a home that may set markers for the future of home design.
VHD Studio were proud to receive 2 awards for Project AT13 at the 2023 BDQ (Building Design Queensland) South West Regional Design Awards; Sustainable Building Design – Residential and James Hardie Design Excellence Award.
Design Brief
Our clients were environmentally conscious prospective homeowners who approached VHD Studio with the intent of building a certified “Passive House”. They had already liaised with NSW based Passive House consultants LAB Design and Builder Titanium Homes who had previously delivered a passive certified home in Toowoomba. The client had a modest budget and their brief was unique in that they did not need a large floor plate. The client provided VHD Studio with an extensive brief that covered all aspects of the dwelling’s performance, including the ability to age in place.
Functionality & Livability
Typically, working with small lots encourages designers to be more clinical with space allocation than on large lots where spaces can be overly generous. This project delicately balanced the clients modest living requirements with the legislative and climatic requirements to create a floor plan that provides efficient rooms connected by generous circulation conduits that allowed for air flow and wheelchair circulation. Because the living spaces needed to face the street, access from the later did not require long circulation corridors to rear living spaces which can take up floor area. The kitchen / dining area is in the heart of the home and provides circulation nexus whilst also being generous in its dimensions. External courtyards are provided in 4 different external locations for use depending on sun and breeze orientations. The single bathroom is PWD compliant and also includes underfloor heating and transition free entry. The internal open plan space is divided by joinery installations and batten screening. Raked ceilings allow for modest floor areas to feel larger and provide access to views and light. Ceiling space are cool, considering the managed environment, and are utilised for storage.
Innovation
The client was conscious that the dwelling needed to comply with the Passive home requirements without blowing its budget. Meetings were held with all design parties to explore both the construction methodology and material selection to manage these outcomes. Additional layers of insulation were provided above the concrete floor and to the wall and roof planes. The builder had completed a similar project before and had some strategies to retain compliance with typical construction methodologies such as a double top chord to conceal additional insulation whilst retaining typical soffit depths.
Space Planning & Interiors
This project balanced the clients living requirements with the legislative and climatic requirements to create a floor plan that provides efficient rooms connected by circulation conduits that both allowed for air flow as well as wheelchair circulation. The living spaces needed to face the street – access from the latter did not require long circulation corridors to rear living spaces. The kitchen/dining area is in the heart of the home. External courtyards are provided in 4 different locations for use depending on orientation. Raked ceilings allow floor areas to feel larger and provide access to views and light.
Stand Out
The design effectively balances the legislative requirements applied to it along with the client’s desire to create a home that responds to the energy challenges of the new millennia. The dwelling is deceptively small in scale. This compressed floor plate is juxtaposed by its spatial quality and scale created by high ceilings, large glazed openings and outdoor rooms. An open plan layout is perforated by joinery installations and informal screening. All of these combine to create a quality of space that allows the inhabitants to feel a sense of calmness and place.
Built Form
The dwelling has a modern composite aesthetic with a particular understated rhythm. Internal and external material selections have remained conventional and budget friendly. Externally, the dwelling features Scyon, Cemintel and Colorbond claddings, with dashes of breeze blocks and timber. Internally, a hybrid timber floor is used with battening for informal separation of the open plan. The roof design is a simple raked gable featuring one ridge and roof planes of 2 different pitches, maximising the northern facing plane. The building is at the top of a small rise, giving it presence when combined with its stepped facade.
If you are looking for an environmental design solution for your next build, then reach out. We pride ourselves on creating innovative, responsive spaces that you will love.