This steel framed house was built for me by Ross Squire in 2018, before COVID and before building costs and time-to-build escalated. I am a retired man, living alone. The house and garden have not been developed with an eye to rental or resale.
The block had existing native vegetation and a northerly aspect, both very important attributes to me. According to the Council, my planned house was too small (112 sq m), so during the build I added a single car attached garage, fully insulated, on the western end. I am happy I did this as it provides additional sun protection on the western end and has potential for conversion to another purpose. The total floor area under a single roof is now 138 sq m. This does not include the area of the verandas on the north and south sides.
I intended to move into the newly completed house in 2019, but because of COVID and other issues, the house was leased. I moved in in late September 2024.
Good energy efficiency, simplicity, functionality, and easy maintenance, of both house and garden, are all very important to me. It’s a passive solar house, with no automation. I am an active occupant, adjusting blinds, window openings, fans, and R/C aircon, according to time of day and temperatures inside and out.
I want visitors to see that a passive solar house can be reasonably energy efficient and relatively inexpensive, and comfortable. It is rectangular, with a simple roof and no eye-catching features, so it probably has little “street appeal”.
I regret that I did not have double glazing installed when the house was built. A matter of money then, but now I believe it was a false economy.
