Sea Mist 2016

House Notes – Sea Mist

Kate and Stephen’s early vision to live sustainably has been a long and enjoyable evolution from designing Permaculture landscapes & reaped the rewards, to designing and building solar passive homes. They have incorporated many sustainable practices and technologies into their home, a labour of love, at Logans Beach, Warrnambool.

‘Sea Mist’, the property they have developed since 1998, sits on an ancient sand-dune. It is a north-east facing, two acre, battle-axe block with beautiful views, but extreme challenges: wild winds, salt spray, limestone, very free draining soils and steep slopes.
The direction and slope is very welcome, helping many things. This includes being able to have swales through out the property, storing much needed water in the soil and allowing the houses to be located at the top, the crest of a hill, getting sun all day and capturing all prevailing winds.

Climate is mainly cool temperate, buildings are East, North and West facing with clerestory windows to ensure maximum use of the sun’s energy. In summer wide eves, heavy curtaining and blinds are used to block the heat out. The multi-level block veneer house design ensures that views are captured, but it also offers great cross ventilation keeping it warm in winter and cool in summer.

Permaculture principles have been incorporated, including defined zones, rainwater collection, Grey and black water is treated Ozzie Kleen 100% aerobic household sewage treatment systems then used on the gardens. Worm farms, composting, companion planting and crop rotation, with poultry and bees at work