Balmain House began with a brief to provide simple, functional, generous, private and light-filled living spaces for a young family within the constraints of a small inner-city block, sandwiched between 14 adjacent properties.

With the site a north-facing, 241sqm elevated triangle, the project required particularly sensitive handling of height, volumes and overshadowing, so as to maintain neighbours’ sunlight, privacy and views.

Existing on the site already was a cottage, with the project involving the retention of the 120-year-old building. Many challenges arose as the old building was simultaneously dealt with, while inserting key sustainability initiatives, such as passive ventilation and new insulation.

The design incorporated ESD principles in passive ways as much as possible, trying to avoid the ‘bolt on approach’. For example, an early decision was made to not rely on air-conditioning to cool the building in the warmer months. This decision influenced a number of design decisions relating to orientation, material selection and interior design to enable the house to function without AC.

Due to these early considerations, the active component of the cooling is a thermostat controlled Ecopower fan located over a void space. This is a very cost-effective method of cooling, both in terms of initial capital and ongoing costs.

The design and location of the building was to minimise the ecological footprint of the family using it – commute to work is by bike and the trip to school is by foot. This design serves as a sort of prototype for a sustainable family home, without the big block of land or the ‘bolt on’ ESD features.

INITIATIVES

  • A sophisticated cross ventilation system was worked out to maximise the potential of summer cooling of the house. This system is supplemented by a temperature controlled mechanical extraction system positioned over the two-storey void
  • Large high-level windows surrounding this void allow the house to be flushed of hot air at the end of the day and when a southerly arrives, with high performance glass throughout
  • The heating is provided by a centralized gas hydronic heating system, which is located in the slab of the new addition
  • The slab supplies good thermal mass and the house is insulated by R4.0 or above insulation throughout
  • The building does not have AC
  • The building utilises daylighting and additional lights are not required until it is dark outside
  • All rainwater is captured and stored in a large 8000lt tank in the garage, this water is used for toilet flushing, cloths washing and the garden
  • The plant species of the garden are predominantly endemic NSW coastal species which do not require extensive watering
  • Recycled materials were used where possible, in particular the recycled Blackbutt timber cladding
  • The existing building fabric of the cottage was retained.

Images: Brett Boardman