The Shansion 2019

House Notes – The Shansion

The Shansion. Our Shed/Mansion
We’d set our sights on an budget minded energy efficient renovation for our next Home. We found a large north facing, Concrete Block Shed with a 150 mm thick commercial slab and steel trusses on a 905 m2 block set hard to the southern and western boundaries with a 4 m x 15.7 m carport for sale on Etty St in Castlemaine.

It was occupied by the “Fat Bastards”, and filled with modified Holden Utes in various states of repair and reconstruction when we first inspected the site.
We learned the Shed had a rich history, its original purpose was use as a Motorhome Repair Shop. Other uses included, so we’ve been told, as a chop shop where nefarious occupants would dissemble stolen cars that would be shuffled into the shed at night when the Police were changing shifts.

The existing bathroom and outside kitchen inspired us to move in and live onsite in caravans, much colder and hotter than we imagined.

We started planning, and the roof with an internal apex to the top of truss of 5.4 meters and a 22.5 degree roof pitch, allowed us to squeeze an L shaped mezzanine for bedrooms, studio and bathroom around a north facing, full height living and dining area that would give us a total of around 220m2 of internal floor space. Our Budget was a tight $180k not including our labour, or architectural fees.

We had to keep the depth of the mezzanine floor structure minimal to maximize headroom below and satisfy planning requirements. The spaces under the mezzanine were compressed to 2.2 meters to help maintain an average ceiling height of 2.4 meters in the bedrooms and studio above. To help with this average, the non-habitable circulation, storage and bathroom occupy the low point of the eastern side of the structures ceiling which starts at 2.1 meters.

The compressed spaces below the mezzanine, other than the airlock and the storeroom, are open to the adjacent Living and Dining areas, with a ceiling height of 5.4 meters which creates interest and drama in the space and creates a sense of expansion and contraction between spaces.

We wanted to maintain the visual continuity of the steel trusses through the new walls so the original nature of the space wasn’t entirely lost. We glazed the trusses, and the upper third of new walls between the bedrooms and studio to the void. This ensured a glimpse of trusses was maintained through the glazing as well as allowing the entry of second hand natural light into internal rooms and the corridor that had no external windows. The upstairs internal studio wall, to the full height living and dining was fully glazed to help maintain the sense of uninterrupted expansion through the steel framed double glazed wall to the north.

First Rate NatHERS
We initially achieved a 7.2 Star Rating with an overall R rating of 3.0 to double block walls and an R value of 5.8 to the Roof/Ceiling with double glazed steel windows to the north. We were not entirely satisfied with this, so we added an extra layer of 10mm Foilboard with reflective airgaps to both walls and ceiling. We could have also isolated the airlock from the upstairs with a wall and a door. As it is, the airlock only works to living spaces. We could also, have thermally broken our in-situ steel windows but our budget and time frame was tight, so we decided not to.

Other additions which have made a difference to thermal control, is the extensive black shade sails that act as a flexible eave to the north. Black was chosen as it bounces less light between the gaps in the shade cloth fabric than a lighter material would. We had to moderate the potential heat gain from the north with the high expanse of windows and a 300mm narrow eave. A motorised retraction option, or motorised louvres would have been a powerful but expensive option as the shade clothe is high, and requires significant effort to remove and reinstall.
The house is very comfortable most of the year. We run the split system on hot days during Summer which is offset by a 3.5 kW grid interactive, solar array. The fire, sunlight and thermal mass keep the house warm and comfortable in winter.

The location of dining and living areas change seasonally. Generally we have the living next to fire in winter, but relocate to the north in summer.

If you would like to read more about the construction and design of this home click here for  The Shansion SHD Handout

Designed by Light House

 

This house achieved a NatHERS rating of 7.2 stars using NatHERS accredited software (FirstRate5). Find out how the star ratings work on the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) website.

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2019
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Draught proofing
      Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Passive solar designed home
      Shading
      Thermal mass
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans
      Split system airconditioner
    • Water heating:
    • Hot water heat pump
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Natural daylight
    • Window Protection:
    • Shade Sails
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Sustainable materials:
    • Repurposed original Structure and used recycled flooring Used raised wicking beds veggie gardens to create outdoor spaces with native gardens away from house for fauna habitat.
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Basins/sinks
      Timber
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Under-roof
      Ceiling
      Internal walls
      Floor
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk – polystyrene board
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R1.2
    • Floor Type:
    • Bulk - polystyrene board
    • Floor Rating:
    • R5.8
    • Under Roof Insulation Type:
    • Layered Reflective Foil, multiple layers of polystyrene board
    • Under Roof Insulation Rating:
    • R5.8
    • Internal Walls Insulation Type:
    • Bulk – polyester
    • Internal Walls Insulation Rating:
    • R2.0
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • No
    • Energy star rating:
    • 7.2
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Solar PV grid connect
    • Size of PV system:
    • 3.5kW
    • Average Daily Energy Consumption:
    • 2.1
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Total cost of home when constructed:
    • $340,000 including purchase
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • $3000
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 225m2
    • BAL Rating
    • BAL – 12.5: Ember attack with heat up to 12.5kW/m2
    • Roof
    • Metal (Zincalume)
    • Wall Materials
    • Concrete blocks
    • Window and Door Types
    • Double glazing
    • Universal Design Features
    • Hobless showers
      Lever handles for doors (no knobs)
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 3
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 2
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Composting
      Native plants
    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Compost all food scraps
      Recycle
      Repair
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Chemical free cleaning products used
      Indoor plants for air filtration
      Lime render/wash
      Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
      Natural light and ventilation
      Natural oil sealer/finishes
      No carpets
Location
Castlemaine VIC 3450
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • Retrofit
    • Builder
    • Andrew McLeod
    • Designer
    • Light House Architecture

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