Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Year-Round Comfort With Passive Solar Design
A narrow 3.8-metre-wide Sydney terrace harnesses breezes to cool, sun to warm and light to illuminate its sleek interior
This modern home in the inner-west of Sydney, NSW, replaces a weatherboard terrace that had been heavily modified over the years. Wanting better light, ventilation, thermal performance and functionality, the owners engaged Anderson Architecture to design a sustainable house, grounded in passive solar design. “The passive, thermal and environmental performance of the home was central to the evolution of its design from the project’s conception,” says Simon Anderson, director of the firm.
The steep and narrow site is 3.8 metres at its widest, with the rear of the house facing north-west. “The challenge was to bring light and ventilation deep into the house and maximise the sense of space,” says Anderson.
The back of the house is distinctive for its angled roof profile, which negotiates the difference in the height of the boundary walls.
“We wanted to utilise the neighbour’s brick wall, so we created a sloping form that gives a massive interior volume,” says Anderson. “We couldn’t have done that if the wall wasn’t there. However, the irony is they have since put in a DA and it’s been approved to take the wall down.”
The back of the house is distinctive for its angled roof profile, which negotiates the difference in the height of the boundary walls.
“We wanted to utilise the neighbour’s brick wall, so we created a sloping form that gives a massive interior volume,” says Anderson. “We couldn’t have done that if the wall wasn’t there. However, the irony is they have since put in a DA and it’s been approved to take the wall down.”
The large volume created by the high, sloping roof profile accommodates the living, dining and kitchen area on the lower-ground floor. There is a library, study and laundry/bathroom on the middle (ground) floor and two bedrooms and bathrooms on the top floor.
Due to the sloping site, the home’s entrance level becomes the middle floor of the three-storey terrace. At the end of the entrance hall, open-tread staircases lead down and up to the first and third levels, and are aligned with the front door for cross ventilation.
A mezzanine sits above a walk-in butler’s pantry, and serves as a library, reading and circulation space. The open banister allows for views over the living area and out to the courtyard and sky.
There are two bedrooms on the top floor, with the master bedroom facing the street and a guest room at the rear.
FSC-certified blackbutt tongue-and-groove floorboards
FSC-certified blackbutt tongue-and-groove floorboards
Air-conditioning vents are positioned above the joinery for extremely hot days, but otherwise, natural ventilation and a fan are enough to keep the rooms cool.
The bathroom and hallway have operable skylights for light and ventilation to flush hot air out of the home at night.
“All these passive solar design measures combine to help the home achieve its 8-Star NatHERS thermal performance rating,” says Anderson of the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme.
“All these passive solar design measures combine to help the home achieve its 8-Star NatHERS thermal performance rating,” says Anderson of the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme.
The ground and lower-ground floors have exposed Green Star-rated concrete slabs with a steel-trowel finish and penetrating sealer.
Intricately crafted shelving doubles as the staircase balustrade and keeps the vistas open.
“The intricate design and detailing of this feature stair demonstrate the high-quality results achieved through the collaboration of design professionals with skilled tradespeople,” says Anderson.
The lower-floor kitchen is the heart of the house for the clients, who enjoy entertaining and are connoisseurs of fine food. It has a generous kitchen island, long benchtop and a walk-in butler’s pantry.
The clients did a full-size mock up of the kitchen at Lincoln Sentry, refining the placement of appliances and utilities in order to perfect how the space would work. The island is a full preparation bench, with the rubbish bin sliding out at one end so it doesn’t obstruct movement around the kitchen.
Benchtops: Caesarstone
Benchtops: Caesarstone
The sink is located in the benchtop along the side of the kitchen with the dishwasher next to it. Drawers and cupboards for cutlery and dishes are in close proximity, making it quick and easy to unload the dishwasher.
Small appliances are set up in the walk-in pantry, where cookware and dry goods are also stored.
A high-level window and skylight bring natural light into the kitchen. Uplights are fixed to the walls in the kitchen and living area to illuminate the double-height volume.
“These lights are quite strong and powerful enough to bounce light off the ceiling, which gives a lovely, soft quality,” says Anderson.
A high-level window and skylight bring natural light into the kitchen. Uplights are fixed to the walls in the kitchen and living area to illuminate the double-height volume.
“These lights are quite strong and powerful enough to bounce light off the ceiling, which gives a lovely, soft quality,” says Anderson.
The living area is bathed in sun, next to the windows and glazed door. The party walls of the terrace are constructed using concrete-filled, insulated wall panels that absorb the heat of the sun and radiate it through the house at night, as does the concrete floor, which has in-slab hydronic heating for winter.
The thermal mass of these concrete surfaces keep the house comfortable in summer and winter. With blinds on the windows and cross and stack ventilation, temperatures haven’t exceeded 27 degrees, even on the hottest days.
The thermal mass of these concrete surfaces keep the house comfortable in summer and winter. With blinds on the windows and cross and stack ventilation, temperatures haven’t exceeded 27 degrees, even on the hottest days.
A green wall provides a verdant backdrop to the living area and courtyard. It is made from recycled content and features native plants to promote local insect biodiversity.
The green wall is on the southern facade of a self-contained studio, which houses a guest room, kitchenette and bathroom. A detached garage is below with a 2,500-litre rainwater tank connected to the toilets and garden.
Your turn
Which features in this sustainable home do you love? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, share it and save your favourite images.
More
Missed last week’s Houzz Tour? Catch up here with a home from the other side of the globe with this Italy Houzz Tour: A Ruined Farmhouse Gets a Sustainable New Life
The green wall is on the southern facade of a self-contained studio, which houses a guest room, kitchenette and bathroom. A detached garage is below with a 2,500-litre rainwater tank connected to the toilets and garden.
Your turn
Which features in this sustainable home do you love? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, share it and save your favourite images.
More
Missed last week’s Houzz Tour? Catch up here with a home from the other side of the globe with this Italy Houzz Tour: A Ruined Farmhouse Gets a Sustainable New Life
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Sydney, NSW
Size: 140 square metres with two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Architect: Anderson Architecture
Builder: Invue Homes
Landscape designer: Gecko Plantscapes
The original terrace could be demolished due to having little residual architectural or heritage value, however, the council required the new build retain the look of a terrace house. Anderson Architecture designed a contemporary form of the traditional terrace, incorporating its defining characteristics, such as the covered porch and projecting balcony.
Robbie Renu from Gecko Plantscapes created a native bee hotel on the wall of the front garden. The hotel has created a buzz in the neighbourhood and local pollinators are slowly taking up residence.
Anthra-Zinc cladding: VMZinc; FSC-certified blackbutt timber to front door