North Fitzroy Sustainable House
Design Philosophy
The North Fitzroy Sustainable House is energy and water-autonomous. It is an example of building sustainably in a heritage-listed inner city suburb with demanding planning restrictions.The house is passively heated by a north-facing two-storey void that distributes light and heat to surrounding rooms. Shading devices block summer sun but allow winter sun to penetrate deep into the building. Heat is stored by thermal mass in the concrete slab and stone walls, to later warm the house. Windows catch prevailing breezes to provide passive cooling, assisted by the stack effect in the central void.
Rain water is used for fresh water and grey water is recycled for toilet flushing and the garden. The family of five uses very little fresh water for showering as a Japanese bath allows them to bathe in solar heated water, filtered by aeration and changed only once annually.
The North Fitzroy Sustainable House is energy and water-autonomous. It is an example of building sustainably in a heritage-listed inner city suburb with demanding planning restrictions.The house is passively heated by a north-facing two-storey void that distributes light and heat to surrounding rooms. Shading devices block summer sun but allow winter sun to penetrate deep into the building. Heat is stored by thermal mass in the concrete slab and stone walls, to later warm the house. Windows catch prevailing breezes to provide passive cooling, assisted by the stack effect in the central void.
Rain water is used for fresh water and grey water is recycled for toilet flushing and the garden. The family of five uses very little fresh water for showering as a Japanese bath allows them to bathe in solar heated water, filtered by aeration and changed only once annually.
Sustainable Design Elements
- Passive heating through north-oriented windows, courtyard and thermal mass
- Summer shading from deep eaves, fixed external louvres to northern facade and adjustable external louvres to western facade
- Passive cooling through two-storey void as ‘thermal chimney’, cross-ventilating louvre glazing
- Solar hot water and hydronic heating system
- Reduced need for electric lighting through clerestory windows
- High performance thermal insulation and double glazing
- Rainwater harvesting and storage in a 10,000 litre tank
- Grey water recycling for use in toilet flushing and garden
- Sustainable materials - radially-sawn sustainably-harvested timber
135 St Georges Road
North Fitzroy
Victoria 3068
ph (03) 9482 3504
fax (03) 9482 3514
email info@zenarchitects.com