Jenny's House
The inland family beach house
This compact 4 bedroom, 150 m² house is situated on a skinny, 405 m² block, with north to the street. It uses excellent solar passive, and space-efficient, design to overcome its potential floor area and aspect challenges. The home has no heating in the living areas and bedrooms and only a 600W far-infrared heater panel on the ceiling in each bathroom. The only form of cooling is a ceiling fan in each living area and bedroom. The first electricity bill for the four-person home showed that its energy use for the autumn quarter was just 65% of that used by a typical ONE-person household in Canberra.
This is the new home of Light House director and scientist, Jenny Edwards, and her family. Jenny's family includes partner David (a home-based writer), two teenage boys, a visiting uni-student daughter and Zac the very social and photogenic hound. The family home regularly hosts visiting grandparents and interstate friends and despite its compact size has already handled a weekend with 8 people in residence with ease.
Jenny and David's brief was for a 3 (sometimes 4) bedroom family home with a small footprint, an 8+ star energy rating and great outdoor areas. Also noted as essential were a variety of internal spaces where different family members could work on their computers, play their guitars, socialise and separate when needed (we all know that need arises).
Jenny grew up by the ocean and doesn't get away to the coast nearly as often as she would like. She was determined to create a home that felt like a beach-side getaway. While she can't quite hear the waves in the distance the house certainly has a relaxed, aquatic feel.
You can view the floor plan of the house here but note it does not show the terrific study nook and sitting space to the east side of the dining area (nor does it show the long skinny block). You can also read more about how it is performing thermally in our online journal.
Landscaping is nearly complete and in the next few weeks pergolas will be built over the northern deck, western courtyard and small eastern deck off the main bedroom and laundry. Each of these pergolas will incorporate a mix of fixed-angle timber louvres and wires to support ornamental grapevines to ensure that the home is beautifully shaded in summer while allowing winter sun to wash right in. More images to come soon.
Check it out here:
http://www.lighthouseteam.com.au/modular-projects/jenny
This compact 4 bedroom, 150 m² house is situated on a skinny, 405 m² block, with north to the street. It uses excellent solar passive, and space-efficient, design to overcome its potential floor area and aspect challenges. The home has no heating in the living areas and bedrooms and only a 600W far-infrared heater panel on the ceiling in each bathroom. The only form of cooling is a ceiling fan in each living area and bedroom. The first electricity bill for the four-person home showed that its energy use for the autumn quarter was just 65% of that used by a typical ONE-person household in Canberra.
This is the new home of Light House director and scientist, Jenny Edwards, and her family. Jenny's family includes partner David (a home-based writer), two teenage boys, a visiting uni-student daughter and Zac the very social and photogenic hound. The family home regularly hosts visiting grandparents and interstate friends and despite its compact size has already handled a weekend with 8 people in residence with ease.
Jenny and David's brief was for a 3 (sometimes 4) bedroom family home with a small footprint, an 8+ star energy rating and great outdoor areas. Also noted as essential were a variety of internal spaces where different family members could work on their computers, play their guitars, socialise and separate when needed (we all know that need arises).
Jenny grew up by the ocean and doesn't get away to the coast nearly as often as she would like. She was determined to create a home that felt like a beach-side getaway. While she can't quite hear the waves in the distance the house certainly has a relaxed, aquatic feel.
You can view the floor plan of the house here but note it does not show the terrific study nook and sitting space to the east side of the dining area (nor does it show the long skinny block). You can also read more about how it is performing thermally in our online journal.
Landscaping is nearly complete and in the next few weeks pergolas will be built over the northern deck, western courtyard and small eastern deck off the main bedroom and laundry. Each of these pergolas will incorporate a mix of fixed-angle timber louvres and wires to support ornamental grapevines to ensure that the home is beautifully shaded in summer while allowing winter sun to wash right in. More images to come soon.
Check it out here:
http://www.lighthouseteam.com.au/modular-projects/jenny
Project Year: 2017
Project Cost: $200,001 AUD - $500,000 AUD
Country: Australia
Postcode: 2611
