Christie Walk- Large strawbale 2021

Christie Walk- Large strawbale

2 storey strawbale house with a small attic room at the top, used as spare bedroom/retreat. Timber frame with walls of straw bales rendered inside and out (straw is completely sealed). Courtyard area adjacent community garden, compact bike shed for 2 bikes accessed from the street.

Set in a unique urban community of 27 dwellings. The Christie Walk development includes apartments, standalone strawbale houses, and townhouses. The sustainable design features of Christie Walk, include passive solar design, photovoltaic cells, solar hot water, composting, underground stormwater storage and shared spaces (meeting room, laundry, bike shelter, produce garden, roof garden). The development features community-focused built form, with gardens and pedestrian walkways running through the development.

Initiated by Urban Ecology Australia (UEA) in 1999 as a demonstration project, to promote nature and people friendly urban development by example, Christie Walk was completed in December 2006.

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2021
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Draught proofing
      Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances
      Energy monitoring
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Cross ventilation
      Deciduous planting around house
      Passive solar designed home
      Shading
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans
      Split system airconditioner
    • Water heating:
    • Solar hot water (flat panel)
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Rainwater storage - Underground
      Low flow shower heads
      Drip irrigation
    • Average water consumption per day:
    • 130L
    • Underground rainwater storage type:
    • cement tanks
    • Underground rainwater storage Size:
    • 2 x 22000 litre tanks for 27 dwellings
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Natural daylight
    • Window Protection:
    • Awnings (external)
      Deciduous tree/vegetation
      Drapes/curtains
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Sustainable materials:
    • The development of the Christie Walk community, was according to 5 key environmental performance criteria: Energy: both in construction and in its on-going life, to be a low energy demand environment and, within that, to maximise the use of renewable/solar-based energy sources and minimise the use of non-renewable energy sources. Water: both in construction and in its on-going life, to maximise on-site both the retention and usage of storm water, and the retention and recycling of waste water. Land: to service the bringing of land, both in the location of the development and in associated rural location/s, into a state of ecological health, by adopting programs of ecological restoration and land management practices which may include appropriate organic agricultural production and which maximise achievement of biodiversity of indigenous flora and fauna. Health: both in construction and in its on-going life, to avoid the use of products or processes which incorporate materials or produce substances or by-products which are known to be damaging to human health. Pollution: both in construction and in its on-going life, to minimise or prevent the dispersion into the environment, either within or beyond the location of the development, of non-recyclable materials or materials which otherwise have detrimental environmental effects.
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Benchtops
      Doors
      Floorboards
      Paving
      Timber
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Under-roof
      Ceiling
      Internal walls
      External walls
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • 4.4
    • Under Roof Insulation Type:
    • Reflective foil
    • Under Roof Insulation Rating:
    • 0.4
    • Internal Walls Insulation Type:
    • Bulk – polyester
    • Internal Walls Insulation Rating:
    • 3.0
    • External Walls Rating:
    • 6.0
    • External Walls Type:
    • Straw (stawbale walls)
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • Yes
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Solar PV grid connect
    • Size of PV system:
    • 7.34kW
    • Average Daily Energy Consumption:
    • 3.49 kWh
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Total cost of home when constructed:
    • constructed 2001
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • ~90 sq metres plus attic room
    • BAL Rating
    • BAL – 29: Increasing levels of ember attack and ignition of debris with a heat flux of up to 29kW/m2
    • Roof
    • Metal (Colorbond)
    • Wall Materials
    • Strawbale
    • Window and Door Types
    • Clerestory windows
      Double glazing
      Louvre windows
    • Universal Design Features
    • Hobless showers
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 2
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 1
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Bee keeping
      Bird-nesting boxes
      Community vegetable garden
      Composting
      Drip irrigation
      Edible garden
      Green roof
      Local indigenous plants
      Native plants
      Water wise plants
      Worm farm
    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Book exchange/library
      Compost all food scraps
      Recycle
      Repair
      Take own containers to the supermarket and for take away food
      Swap with friends and neighbours
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Carpet free - tiles/concrete/timber flooring throughout
      Formaldehyde free cabinets
      Natural light and ventilation
      Natural oil sealer/finishes
      VOC free paints/sealer/varnish
Location
Adelaide SA 5000
    • Housing Type:
    • High Density Housing/Strata Development/Unit
    • Project Type:
    • Continual Improvement
    • Open with support of
    • Urban Ecology Australia
    • Builder
    • Multiple, including: "Huff and Puff" strawbale builders and volunteer workshops.
    • Designer
    • Ecopolis architects

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