Hosking Willis Architecture’s additions to ‘Fricourt’ has updated the much loved home to better reflect the owners' love of the environment, sustainable lifestyle and appreciation of the visual and performing arts.

As members of Sustainable Communities SA, the owners felt compelled to incorporate energy efficient and sustainable provisions within the design of the inner suburban Bungalow built by a Boer War veteran in 1915.

The main difficulty faced was incorporating sustainable design initiatives into a development that needed to meet certain budget requirements to qualify as an affordable housing development. This was mitigated by a willing client with a clear environmental conscious and desire to explore all sustainable design options and Hosking Willis Architecture's recognititon and understanding of affordable environmental design principles.

The existing dwelling faces approximately north west, so the addition opens out the south east. The 'blank' sides of the addition face north east and south west, which made it difficult to control solar loading and sunlight penetration. Extensive 3D modelling was undertaken to control solar access.

‘Fricourt’ minimises glazing to the south west and north east; and provides overhangs to windows facing north west. The high level windows allow sunlight to penetrate into the addition, which is on the southern side of the existing building.

A large veranda to the south side of the addition provides a covered outdoor space and protects the back of the building from the prevailing winter rain and wind. The veranda also provides a sheltered outdoor area that overlooks the garden and is protected from hot summer northerlies.

The project collects rainwater and stores it for re-use in the dwelling via the laundry and bathroom toilet. The tanks also provide water for the garden. Approximately 20,000L of water is stored across the site in eight rainwater tanks.

The design of the addition avoids the need for air-conditioning, with cross ventilation, insulation and ceiling fans maintaining a comfortable ambient temperature on most summer days. Heating is via hydronic in-floor pipes which are connected to a solar boosted gas boiler.

Addressing resource efficiency, the project uses locally sourced and fabricated building materials wherever possible minimising the embodied energy of building materials.

KEY INITIATIVES

  • High level windows for cross ventilation, daylight penetration and night purging of hot air
  • Thermally efficient reverse brick veneer construction to most walls. Insulated double masonry wall to south west
  • Sustainably sourced hardwood timber cladding to interior and exterior
  • Natural bio-oil finish to timber
  • Polished concrete floors throughout with hydronic heating
  • The monolithic floor acts as a heat sink to absorb, store and radiate heat. Hydronic heating is connected to solar panels
  • Double glazed and comfort plus glass
  • Rainwater collected and reticulated to laundry, bathroom toilet and garden
  • Ceiling fan for cooling - no air-conditioning is included in the additions
  • LED light fittings throughout
  • 3D modelling was used to minimise solar access to high level windows