Goolwa House 2016

House Notes – Goolwa House

The underlying principle of this house is that it will provide a low maintenance beach house that will be used in the first instance as a weekend retreat and later become a permanent dwelling. It is located in a highly corrosive environment 250 metres from breaking surf. The southern (rear) boundary of the site abuts a coastal reserve containing primary, secondary and tertiary dunes. The house has been sited to maximise its relationship and connection to this wonderful dune landscape.

The climatic conditions are extremely variable featuring strong winds (bearing sand, salt and rain) from the south west quadrant, cooling on-shore breezes (SE to SW), hot northerlies and occasional breathless warm nights. Accordingly the house has been designed to mitigate the less pleasant conditions while maximising the benefits of the benign weather events. Timber decks to the north and south provide outdoor living opportunities in almost every kind of weather. Variable shading to the northern deck provides amenity in both winter and summer while the solar panels provide shade to the southern deck.

Generally, construction materials have been selected for their low-corrosive qualities, durability, energy efficiency and include a slab on ground (to take advantage of thermal mass), well insulated lightweight walls, simple roof form falling to one SS gutter to one downpipe to water tanks, natural anodised (25 microns) external door and window frames and external shading. There is no air conditioning (heating via slow combustion wood fire).

Having now been through four summers with days above 40 degrees it is clear that there is no need for air conditioning.

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2016
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Efficient lighting
      Draught proofing
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Shading
      Cross ventilation
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans
    • Water heating:
    • Solar hot water (evacuated tube)
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Above ground storage
    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • tanks
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • 10000l
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Sustainable materials:
    • plantation timber
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
      Internal and external walls
    • Ceiling Type:
    • plasterboard
    • Internal / External Walls Type:
    • timber clad timber frames
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Solar PV grid connect
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • $10,000
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • $5,000
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 250 sq m
    • Window and Door Types
    • Louvre windows
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 3
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 2
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Water wise plants
Location
Goolwa SA 5214
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • New Build
    • Builder
    • Steve Mobbs

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