Narrabundahaus 2024

House Notes – Narrabundahaus

Narrabundahaus received The Derek Wrigley Award for Sustainable Architecture at the 2023 ACT Chapter Architecture Awards.

‘Narrabundahaus is a work of passion by the resident architect. This sustainable home takes actions at a global level by dramatically reducing CO2 emissions and at a site level by creating a plant filled greenhouse, doubling as an outdoor room in summer.

This project is one of a small number in Australia that has achieved the rigorous Passivhaus Plus Certification. The building reduces its environmental footprint through several familiar strategies such as a compact floor plan, north facing living spaces, recycled brickwork and rainwater tanks. Less familiar tactics and technologies are also employed, more common to European homes and building codes. These include heat recovery ventilation, continuous insulation, triple glazed/low-e windows, rigorous airtightness and elimination of thermal bridging.

The building sits comfortably within its streetscape, demonstrating the architecture has not been dictated by the Passivhaus design requirements. The Jury was intrigued by the relatively small window area and few adjustable screens and layers, culturally understood as necessary for reducing summer heat gains. These challenges to architectural norms, where high-performance glazing and insulation stand in for more expressive architectural elements, should be embraced.

This charming house is an exemplary model of a genuine, evidence-based approach to sustainable futures in our suburbs.’

– 2023 ACT Architecture Awards Jury

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2024
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Draught proofing
      Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances
      Energy monitoring
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Cross ventilation
      Deciduous planting around house
      External planting
      Heat recovery ventilation system
      Passive solar designed home
      Shading
      Thermal mass
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans
      Heat exchange ventilation system
      Heat pump
      Split system airconditioner
    • Water heating:
    • Hot water heat pump
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Rainwater storage - Above ground
      Low flow shower heads
      Low flow taps
    • Average water consumption per day:
    • Approximately 200 kL per person per day (excludes tank water used for irrigation etc)
    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • Colorbond water tanks
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • 10,000L
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Natural daylight
    • Window Protection:
    • Adjustable Shading
      Automation/controls
      Awnings (external)
      Blinds
      Deciduous tree/vegetation
      Drapes/curtains
      Honeycomb blinds
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Sustainable materials:
    • Passivhaus design and construction
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Aggregate
      Bricks
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
      Internal walls
      External walls
      Floor
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R7.0
    • Floor Type:
    • Bulk - polystyrene board
    • Floor Rating:
    • R3.6
    • Internal Walls Insulation Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
    • Internal Walls Insulation Rating:
    • R2.5
    • External Walls Rating:
    • R5.25
    • External Walls Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • Yes
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Energy storage/battery
      Solar PV grid connect
    • Size of PV system:
    • 6.6 kW
    • Average Daily Energy Consumption:
    • Approximately 9-10 kWh (excluding greenhouse heating/cooling)
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Total cost of home when constructed:
    • Approximately $1,170,000
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 196m2 (plus garage/store 49m2 & greenhouse 38m2)
    • Roof
    • Metal (Colorbond)
    • Wall Materials
    • Brick veneer
      Lightweight construction (timber frame)
      Metal (Colorbond)
    • Window and Door Types
    • Low-e, films
      Tilt and turn
      Triple glazing
      180 degree opening doors
    • Universal design accessability
    • Adaptive design
    • Universal Design Features
    • 80cm minimum door opening width
      Hobless showers
      Lever handles for doors (no knobs)
      Minimum 110cm wide hallways
      Shower head on rail for various heights
      Slip resistant flooring
      Space around toilets for ease of access in wheelchairs
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 3
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 2
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Composting
      Greenhouse
    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Compost all food scraps
      Recycle
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Airtight house design
      Asthma and allergy free certified carpet
      Automated ventilation system
      Cross flow ventilation
      Formaldehyde free cabinets
      Heat recovery ventilation (HRV)
      Indoor plants for air filtration
      Natural fibre furnishings
      Natural light and ventilation
      VOC free paints/sealer/varnish
Location
Narrabundah ACT 2604
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • New Build
    • Builder
    • Walmsley Building Solutions
    • Designer
    • Envelope Architecture - Michael Tolhurst

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