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BEACHSIDE LUXURY AWARD-WINNING ENERGY-EFFICIENT DESIGNERS Solar Solutions Design’s 7.8-star Balnarring Beach home is a leading example of energy-efficient housing. A deserving winner of the 2009 Energy Efficient Housing Award at the Victorian HIA–CSR Housing Awards, it’s no wonder this contemporary and sustainable home, designed by Darren Evans of Solar Solutions Design, continues to be a showpiece home promoting attractive energy-efficient housing. Through superior design, intelligent zoning, good northern exposure and careful selection of appropriate materials, Solar Solutions Design achieved all of the design goals requested by the owners. Located off the busy main road leading to Balnarring Beach, preservation of privacy and reduction of street noise were high priorities for this contemporary coastal retreat. The owners also asked that the design address energy efficiency and provide private living spaces and an alfresco area suited to year-round outdoor living. The street frontage is west-facing, posing the challenge of designing the front façade with minimal glazing to ensure maximum protection from the harsh summer sun while maintaining a high street appeal. Solar Solutions Design created a façade that secludes the rear open-plan living area from the street, while also protecting the house from the elements of noise and western sun. The long, slim and articulated design of the home maximises northern exposure, ensuring good sun penetration in the winter, while a solar elliptical louvre shading system on the northern windows provides protection in summer, making the home comfortable all year round. Solar passive design strongly influenced the placement of rooms to allow for comfortable living. Clever positioning of guest bedrooms has eliminated the need for heating and cooling when these rooms are not in use. A raked ceiling with highlight windows in the living areas allows northern light to penetrate deep into the interior, supplying plentiful light, while also providing excellent cross-flow ventilation when hot air becomes trapped in the cathedral ceiling of the alfresco space. The large north-facing alfresco area provides a perfect, low-maintenance indoor/outdoor living area that makes for easy entertaining. The addition of a courtyard to the southern side of the house allows for prevailing south-westerly winds to create cross-flow ventilation through this central living space both internally and externally. The materials used to build the house incorporate aspects of energy efficiency and sustainability, and blend in with the surrounding environment. Thermally improved aluminium double-glazed windows were used together with an elliptical louvre shading system to provide the perfect balance of shade and sun penetration to the northern windows. A CSR Hebel Powerpanel wall system was selected as the home’s cladding because of its superior acoustic insulation and thermal properties. This resulted in an individual design with a stylish rendered look. By using lightweight materials to articulate the house’s elevations and lend visual strength, Solar Solutions Design created a unique façade that merges beautifully with its environment. Muted render tones juxtaposed with blocks of colour add excitement and contrast. Inside, white was selected for the walls to further enhance the light-filled spaces while bold splashes of red in the living room add a sense of warmth and intimacy. Clean lines create a simple yet stunning indoor living environment that overlooks the generous alfresco entertaining area. The home also features a 300 litre solar hot water close coupled system and a 5000 litre rainwater tank which is diverted indoors to be used for flushing toilets. Harnessing the natural thermal benefits of the sun was paramount in the design. A specialised heat recovery ventilation system was installed in the home and circulates the air from the northern rooms to the rest of the house, replacing stale air with fresh air and creating a user-defined humidity level for a comfortable home all year round. This system maximises the limited heating in the home, while only using the equivalent power of a 60 watt light bulb. Solar Solutions Design is a multi-award-winning company that has been in business for more than 20 years and specialises in energy-efficient and healthy home design. Solar Solutions’ homes are custom-designed to suit the land and the local environment. The company can also provide clients with high quality building products at less than trade rate. Solar Solutions Design can incorporate energy efficiency into any house design without compromising the style. The main focus is to ensure your new home achieves the highest energy rating possible to suit your site and brief. Each individual design begins with a thorough site investigation considering your local climate and the surroundings. Solar Solutions then designs your new home combining passive solar design principles and appropriately selects materials to create a healthy home that will be naturally warmer in winter and cooler in summer. CONTACT Photography by: Matthew Mallett Photography |
