Garden House

House Notes – Garden House

Built in 1955, our small weatherboard house was originally constructed as a kit home by Austrian tradespeople using imported Austrian materials (mostly Baltic Pine). We have since built on two small extensions using mostly recycled materials. We have also built a free-standing art studio using recycled bricks, windows and timber. Over the years (nearly 20) we have planted an extensive garden over a large block, focusing mostly on native trees such as eucalypts and banksias. Waterwise succulents and food plants for humans and native birds are also abundant. Our success in the garden led to the establishment of Nest Garden + Home in 2014.

In the course of our renovations, we have incorporated a number of sustainability features such as a 11,000L rainwater tank, a greywater system, drip irrigation, native and waterwise plantings, worm-farming and chooks. Solar passive design principles have been applied to both the house and garden with the use of glazing for solar gain, verandahs for summer shade, vines for summer shade, cross-flow ventilation, louvre windows and deciduous trees. Recycled materials have been used extensively throughout the property and include: recycled bricks, timber, bathroom and kitchen fittings, doors and windows. Locally-sourced limestone was used for a wall in the kitchen/dining extension and limestone gathered on the property has been used for landscaping and gabion walls.

Our main focus has been the use of locally-sourced, recycled building materials to reduce the ecological footprint of large-scale industrial manufacturing and forestry practices. The resulting character and warmth (not to mention cost-savings) to our property is evident to all who visit.

Sustainability Features

ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Draught proofing
      Efficient lighting
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Cross ventilation
      Passive solar designed home
      Shading
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Evaporative
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Above ground rainwater storage
      Grey water system
      Stormwater management
      Drip irrigation
    • Average water consumption per day:
    • 75L
    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • Rainwater tank
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • 11,000L
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • Natural daylight
    • Window Protection:
    • Adustable Shading
      Awnings (external)
      Blinds
      Deciduous tree/vegetation
      Drapes/curtains
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Sustainable materials:
    • Recycled timber floorboards, recycled kitchen and bathroom cabinetry and fittings, recycled windows, doors and bricks. Recycled corrugated iron raised veg beds, chook pen built with recycled timber, locally-sourced limestone, salvaged weatherboards.
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Basins/sinks
      Bathroom cabinets
      Bricks
      Doors
      Paving
      Rocks/stone
      Timber
      Windows
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
      External walls
      Floor
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R2.5
    • Floor Type:
    • Bulk - polyester
    • Floor Rating:
    • R2.5
    • External Walls Rating:
    • R2.5
    • External Walls Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • No
    • Average Daily Energy Consumption:
    • 5 kW/h
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Total cost of home when constructed:
    • Unknown.
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • Some features have probably cost more (rainwater tank as not as yet connected to the house; and greywater system) and some cost less. On the whole the sustainability measures we have taken (particularly the use of recycled building materials) have meant significant cost savings over using non-recycled materials.
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • Unknown.
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • approx 120m
    • Roof
    • Metal (Colorbond)
      Tiles (Concrete)
    • Wall Materials
    • Lightweight construction (timber frame)
      Stone
    • Window and Door Types
    • Clerestory windows
      Double glazing
      Louvre windows
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 2
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 2
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Chickens
      Composting
      Drip irrigation
      Edible garden
      Organic
      Permaculture
      Native plants
      Water wise plants
    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Compost all food scraps
      Recycle
      Repair
      Swap with friends and neighbours
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Cross flow ventilation
      Natural fibre furnishings
      Natural light and ventilation
      No carpets
Location
Hilton WA 6163
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • Renovation
    • Builder
    • Owner Builder
    • Designer
    • Nest Garden + Home

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