RENWICK AT THE CAPE - 2015 MBAV Regional Building Awards
( Best Sustainable Home )
SCOPE OF WORKS
The Cape eco community is a master planned residential development on the South Coast of Victoria at Cape Paterson. Consisting of over 200 homes surrounded by more than 50% of open, natural space, The Cape has very clear and prescriptive guidelines for all homes. A minimum 7.5 star rating, 2.5kW PV Solar and 10,000 litres of water storage is mandatory.
TS Constructions have been working closely with the developer from the inception of the development. They have built a stylish, 300m² two-story home (185m² of living space) with visually impressive articulation and material selection.
The ground floor consists of a large, north facing living zone and kitchen that opens onto a wide deck with views of the garden. Also on this level is a large study with sliding doors onto a second deck, a master suite with robe, ensuite and shared powder room. A galley laundry, entry foyer and stairwell complete the lower level.
The first floor has a second living zone with direct access to a balcony situated to capture see breezes and views. Two additional family bedrooms, a guest bedroom and family bathroom complete the offering.
TS Constructions were proudly responsible for all aspects of the build, from the initial site cut through to final landscaping.
TS Constructions have been working closely with the developer from the inception of the development. They have built a stylish, 300m² two-story home (185m² of living space) with visually impressive articulation and material selection.
The ground floor consists of a large, north facing living zone and kitchen that opens onto a wide deck with views of the garden. Also on this level is a large study with sliding doors onto a second deck, a master suite with robe, ensuite and shared powder room. A galley laundry, entry foyer and stairwell complete the lower level.
The first floor has a second living zone with direct access to a balcony situated to capture see breezes and views. Two additional family bedrooms, a guest bedroom and family bathroom complete the offering.
TS Constructions were proudly responsible for all aspects of the build, from the initial site cut through to final landscaping.
DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION FEATURES
The home has 10,000 litres of harvested rainwater available for non-potable purposes, including toilet flushing and gardening. All tapware is 4 star wels rated, with 3 star wels rated showerheads. The garden is extensively planted with indigenous native plants which require minimal watering once established, and the lawn area has been minimised and planted with a durable, water wise species.
The home boasts a 5.0kW solar photovoltaic system that will provide the majority of power required to operate the home for most of the year. An eco-pump hot water system with stainless steel storage unit is in place for all hot water needs.
The home’s lighting has been carefully selected to suit the purpose of the room whilst remaining efficient, and consists of LED down lights, strip lights and oyster lights. A ‘Greenswitch’ has been installed at both TV point areas which allows for all standby powered items to be turned off with one switch.
The air-conditioning unit is a Daiken Ururu Sarara 7, which has an industry leading 7 star rating. Sweep fans are provided in all bedrooms for air movement and ducted exhausts have weather shields to prevent external drafts.
Passive design and siting of windows provides cross flow ventilation when required, allowing the owners to take advantage of the local sea breezes. When extremes of temperature are present, the home has been designed and constructed so that it is airtight. The home has been provided with an electric vehicle charge point in the garage.
The home boasts a 5.0kW solar photovoltaic system that will provide the majority of power required to operate the home for most of the year. An eco-pump hot water system with stainless steel storage unit is in place for all hot water needs.
The home’s lighting has been carefully selected to suit the purpose of the room whilst remaining efficient, and consists of LED down lights, strip lights and oyster lights. A ‘Greenswitch’ has been installed at both TV point areas which allows for all standby powered items to be turned off with one switch.
The air-conditioning unit is a Daiken Ururu Sarara 7, which has an industry leading 7 star rating. Sweep fans are provided in all bedrooms for air movement and ducted exhausts have weather shields to prevent external drafts.
Passive design and siting of windows provides cross flow ventilation when required, allowing the owners to take advantage of the local sea breezes. When extremes of temperature are present, the home has been designed and constructed so that it is airtight. The home has been provided with an electric vehicle charge point in the garage.
COST EFFECTIVENESS
The price differential between an equivalent 6 star home and this 8.2 star design is around $8,000. Based on the reduced energy required to run the home, this additional up front cost is likely to be recuperated within five (5) years.
The passive design initiatives incorporated in the design, combined with a high level of thermal efficiency means the owners will rarely require artificial heating or cooling. The home is visually stunning, with a variety of different materials incorporated in the external and internal design, selected for their environmental performance and visual impact, delivering an attractive home in an affordable manner.
The passive design initiatives incorporated in the design, combined with a high level of thermal efficiency means the owners will rarely require artificial heating or cooling. The home is visually stunning, with a variety of different materials incorporated in the external and internal design, selected for their environmental performance and visual impact, delivering an attractive home in an affordable manner.
BENEFITS TO THE OWNER
The home owners will have a place to live that will be significantly cheaper to run than a similar sized house that does not have the same level of environmental consideration. The home’s outlook is onto a well-designed and locally sympathetic garden that will become a haven for local fauna, birds and insects.
Day to day benefits include the availability of natural light throughout the home and natural airflow. From a power consumption point of view, all standby appliances associated with the TV and entertainment units are connected to a Greenswitch to permit them to be turned with one switch.
Day to day benefits include the availability of natural light throughout the home and natural airflow. From a power consumption point of view, all standby appliances associated with the TV and entertainment units are connected to a Greenswitch to permit them to be turned with one switch.
CHOICE AND USE OF MATERIALS
Internally the materials selected had to be durable for extended ‘whole of life’ application, and able to perform in a superior manner. This led to materials that were organic and textured in look and feel, such as the feature blockwork walls in the main living areas.
Selection of materials was predicated by a desire to have locally sourced, highly efficient products that were durable enough to last in an exposed and rugged environment. Externally this led to the selection of a range of complementary Weathertex products combined with feature block work and timber shade structures.
The Weathertex range of products is carbon positive. According to the company website, “The trees used to produce Weathertex cladding have sequestered sufficient carbon dioxide during their growth to counter any carbon dioxide equivalent emissions produced at the Weathertex factory during its manufacture.”
Selection of materials was predicated by a desire to have locally sourced, highly efficient products that were durable enough to last in an exposed and rugged environment. Externally this led to the selection of a range of complementary Weathertex products combined with feature block work and timber shade structures.
The Weathertex range of products is carbon positive. According to the company website, “The trees used to produce Weathertex cladding have sequestered sufficient carbon dioxide during their growth to counter any carbon dioxide equivalent emissions produced at the Weathertex factory during its manufacture.”
MANAGEMENT OF EXISTING LANDSCAPE AND NATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA
As the new development is reclaimed farmland, there were no mature trees in the vicinity of the home site.
All new plantings are selected from local and indigenous species to encourage wildlife and provide natural habitat.
Retaining walls, fences and other structures were made from sustainably grown and sourced local timbers and hard landscaping such as paving, aggregate mulch, sand and screenings were also locally sourced and supplied.
All new plantings are selected from local and indigenous species to encourage wildlife and provide natural habitat.
Retaining walls, fences and other structures were made from sustainably grown and sourced local timbers and hard landscaping such as paving, aggregate mulch, sand and screenings were also locally sourced and supplied.
INCORPORATION OF ENERGY EFFICIENT DESIGN PRINCIPLES INTO THE BUILDING
The home is in a unique and environmental aware development on the South Coast of Victoria at Cape Paterson called The Cape. Comprehensive design guidelines have been produced that enforce minimum environmental standards that are far in excess of anything else in the region.
The design of the home was heavily influenced by this document, addressed all components and exceeded them in many instances. A consideration of the design often overlooked was the avoidance of oversized rooms or wasted space. In a whole of lifecycle approach, the home has been designed to provide enough living space for a larger than average family in a footprint a lot smaller than most other similarly targeted home designs.
Passive design principles were paramount, with thermal mass concepts heavily leveraged on. Light and ventilation, critical to occupant health, were incorporated in each and every room.
The design of the home was heavily influenced by this document, addressed all components and exceeded them in many instances. A consideration of the design often overlooked was the avoidance of oversized rooms or wasted space. In a whole of lifecycle approach, the home has been designed to provide enough living space for a larger than average family in a footprint a lot smaller than most other similarly targeted home designs.
Passive design principles were paramount, with thermal mass concepts heavily leveraged on. Light and ventilation, critical to occupant health, were incorporated in each and every room.
INCORPORATION OF EXISTING STRUCTURES OR FITTINGS INTO NEW STRUCTURE
The site was a greenfield construction site and as such there was nothing that could be incorporated into the planned design.
THE OVERALL ENERGY RATING / ABGR / GREEN STAR RATING OF THE BUILDING
8.2 star rating (52.0 MJ/m²), as assessed by Phillip Island Energy Ratings (Reg no. VIC/BDAV/11/3121)
SITE MANAGEMENT
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4 MORTIMER STREET, WONTHAGGI, VIC 3995
PO Box 267 Wonthaggi, VIC, 3995 TEL: 03 5672 2466 EMAIL: [email protected] |