Red Hill Tree House
Design Philosophy
The Red Hill Tree House has a heavy ground floor that sits snugly into the landscape, with a lightweight first floor that rises into the surrounding messmate trees to take in views of the distant ocean. Ground floor walls made of local rammed earth provide thermal mass but are low in embodied energy. The slim wave-like roof, reaching high to the northern sun, emphasises shelter, solar gain and water collection.
Between the two pavilion living areas, a conservatory forms the engine room for concentrated solar gain. In winter, the sun heats the conservatory and the warm air disperses into the surrounding rooms. In summer the central stair core connected to the conservatory draws warm air up and out of the building while doors and louvre windows cut into the rammed earth walls catch cool southerly breezes.
The Red Hill Tree House has a heavy ground floor that sits snugly into the landscape, with a lightweight first floor that rises into the surrounding messmate trees to take in views of the distant ocean. Ground floor walls made of local rammed earth provide thermal mass but are low in embodied energy. The slim wave-like roof, reaching high to the northern sun, emphasises shelter, solar gain and water collection.
Between the two pavilion living areas, a conservatory forms the engine room for concentrated solar gain. In winter, the sun heats the conservatory and the warm air disperses into the surrounding rooms. In summer the central stair core connected to the conservatory draws warm air up and out of the building while doors and louvre windows cut into the rammed earth walls catch cool southerly breezes.
Sustainable Design Elements
- Passive heating through north-oriented windows and glazed conservatory
- Summer shading from deep eaves and deciduous plants
- Passive cooling through natural cross-ventilation and central stair core stack effect
- Thermal mass in concrete floor and rammed earth walls
- Gas-boosted solar hot water and hydronic heating
- High-performance thermal insulation and double glazing
- Rainwater storage in tanks
135 St Georges Road
North Fitzroy
Victoria 3068
ph (03) 9482 3504
fax (03) 9482 3514
email info@zenarchitects.com