Comfort
Your comfort is our main concern when considering design solutions. A well-designed environment ensures improved comfort levels for you.
Location
The location of the building is extremely important, as certain site features can have major implications on the amount of weather the building receives. Following an inspection of your site and discussions about the microclimate, we use the existing features of the landscape to establish free, natural shelter from harsh weather.
Orientation
Generally, living areas should be located on the northern side of your home to ensure they receive the maximum amount of light, while sleeping and auxiliary areas should be located on the southern side.
Solar Passive
The sun plays an important role in sustainable design. We plan around the sun’s movement during the seasons to gain natural heat in winter and block out unwanted heat in summer.
Materials
Selection of materials is critical in the design process, as they impact the aesthetics and feel of the building. We take care to select materials which have a low embodied energy, are manufactured and supplied locally, minimise waste, have low and non-toxic emissions, and consider the implications from creation to demolition, including re-cycling and re-use.
Shading
Shading of the building is extremely important. In summer you want to stop direct sunlight from entering the building; conversely, in winter, it’s best to have as much direct sunlight entering the building as possible (preferably onto thermal mass). This can be achieved in a number of ways: eaves calculated to correctly shade the building, pergolas with deciduous vines, specific shading devices and many more.
Insulation
Insulation helps reduce heat transfer, which prevents heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter. We maximise the insulation in all walls, ceilings and floor where possible.
Landscaping
Landscaping can enhance solar passive design. The use of strategic planning and water features can help cool the air before it enters the house. A sustainable landscape will be one that responds to the environment, using plants and features that will thrive in the micro-climates and use little water. Permaculture design is recommended to all clients to maintain a sustainable lifestyle.
Thermal Mass
Thermal mass acts as a ‘heat’ battery which absorbs and stores heat energy. It will slowly radiate the heat over time which works particularly well in winter, together with solar passive design principles.
Water Efficiency
Australia is a dry continent and water is a valuable resource. When selecting fixtures and fittings, we aim to use water efficient devices to reduce water usage. Rather than wasting a free, natural resource, we harvest the rainwater and store it in correctly sized rainwater tanks, which can also become features of the design.
Waste Reduction
We design and select materials that produce minimal waste during construction so that costs are not only kept down but there is less construction rubbish going to landfill.