Kurrajong Heights
Client brief
Our house burnt down in the fires of December 2019. All that was left was the artist studio and non native trees and garden behind the old house. The brief was to rebuild a simple 3 bedroom home as quickly as possible.
Response
The original house burnt down in the 2019-2020 bush fires. Our task to build an Off-grid Flame Zone house in the same location as the old.
Designed as a long pavilion facing north to maximise passive solar principal, the homes is a haven in the bush for an older couple who were adamant they wanted to rebuild. Being all on one level made the home lower cost to build and more accessible, as the clients grow older, including a cover carport, under the main roof.
The design utilises high performance principals, like Low-E triple glazing, airtight construction, thermal bridge free details. The result a home that needs little additional heating or cooling, compared to a standard mountains home.
Key Features
- New house planning approval and construction within 2 years of old house burning down
- Prefabricated walls and roof that came to site with insulation and airtight layer in place to speed up construction
- BAL 40 bushfire rating including suspended concrete and steel subfloor
- BAL 40 UPVC high performance windows with triple glazing
- 9kW solar system on the house roof with 28kWh battery
- 8.2 NatHERS rating
- Sanden hot water heat pump
- Corten non combustible metal cladding
- Heat recovery ventilation system to great improve homes energy efficiency
- Winner – 2022 HIA Australian GreenSmart Home of the Year
- Winner – 2022 HIA NSW Region GreenSmart Sustainable Home
The council were very proactive in helping the design team rebuild the home quickly, from planning approval to the construction certificate, that allows building to commence.
Testimonial
