Unlimited potential, this one has it all
There is nothing nicer than having the beautiful winter sun coming deep within the home. Once you have lived in a passive solar home you wouldn’t want to live in anything else.
One of three separate and individual passive solar homes built on this survey Strata block, this one off 4 x 2 home right in the heart of the city has amazing potential limited only by your imagination, as well as being passive solar energy efficient.
The clever design incorporated a double brick cavity wall built using the North/South orientation of the home effectively creating 2 homes in one. The front part of the home could effectively be used as a completely self contained 2 x 1 home and could easily be utilised for holiday accommodation, home business, elderly parents/ teenagers separate home.
The fixed sun control louvres on the North create a beautiful year round internal temperature. Reverse cycle air conditioners were installed as a ‘just in case” measure but it is usually sufficient to use the winter/summer modes of the ceiling fans to create an ambient temperature.
Having nearly 3 kw of Kaneka solar panels and a Sunny Boy Inverter means being in credit with synergy since 2010, that’s right, no electricity paid since April 2010, this home is on the original net feed in tariff.
Designed for universal access with wide doorways and halls, as well as hobless showers in both bathrooms. One bathroom also has a bath. An unusual element is the sliding doors being recessed into the slab thereby creating level access to the outside for any mobility equipment.
Noted in this tranquil sustainable home:
• A spacious main kitchen with energy efficient induction cook top, electric oven and a walk in pantry
• 3 x cut outs created in the interior lounge wall so that cross ventilation could be successfully accessed from the South
• Bedroom 2/study is a lovely space to watch the birds cavorting in the bird bath
• Attention has been given to the best utilisation of space with the laundry being built into the hall
• Spaces for televisions have been added as bump outs to make the most out of the living spaces
• The majority of rooms have light entering from two sides making the spaces more comfortable and inviting
• There is plenty of parking on site with a 3 car carport at the end of the building and a single carport at the front
• There is a very large shed that could accommodate a couple of vehicles, no need to compromise here just because you live in the city centre
• The gardens are easy care with a large decked area to the rear of the home and a sheltered courtyard in the front
• A long standing worm farm helps fertilises the garden.
Being in the City Centre means it is walking distance to everything, thereby saving on vehicle usage.
Please note that only the exterior of this home will be open to the public, The Rare Gem will be open on the same block
Mandurah Mail talk to Sarah and Maggie about their homes and the sustainability features you can see on Sustainable House Day 2017. Written by Marta Pascual Juanola on 11 September 2017
This home will be for sale in the future so for an expression of interest please leave your contact details with one of the volunteers.
Reference material:
Griff Morris of Solar Dwellings
A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa, Murray Silverstein, with M. Jacobson,I. Fiksdahl-King and S, Angel
Living with the Climate by Sam Paolino
This property has disability access.
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