Beach house combines passive and active ESD initiatives
The project is sited on a headland and has expansive views over Mona Vale Beach to the south. This south facing aspect and the narrow site proportions combine to limit the passive design potential and accordingly establish the key design challenge for the project.
The design response orients the house toward the southern view, but opens up the roof at the centre of the house with a large north-facing skylight to admit winter sun to the living areas and to trap the warmth of the winter sun using the thermal mass of the structure.
The house is of reverse veneer construction. It utilises low embodied energy and low thermal mass timber cladding to the outside and heavier thermal mass of concrete to the inside.
Other sustainability measures include a 15,000 L rainwater storage tank combined with grey water recycling to minimise water usage, the use of evacuated tubes for in floor heating and hot water supply, and photovoltaic solar panels to provide electricity back to the grid.
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