Point Addis Solar House

Design Philosophy

The Point Addis Solar House is an artist’s residence with minimal impact on its sensitive bush setting. The client had camped on the property for over 20 years and her intimate relationship with the site inspired the design. The open design encourages the occupants to immerse themselves in the unique qualities of the place: creek, escarpment, grasslands, hinterland, kangaroos, sea and sky.

The challenge was to incorporate the artist’s specific need for south light to work by with the passive solar design requirements of north light to warm the building. The process of achieving this balance informed the unique shape of the building.

Sustainable Design Elements

• Curved roof creates passive solar heating to the north while ambient light illuminates the south-facing studios
• Summer shading from deep eaves
• Passive cooling through ventilation through windows oriented to catch prevailing breezes
• Mezzanine beds create efficient use of building volume
• Thermal mass in reverse brick veneer walls and concrete floor
• Recycled building materials including bricks, windows and doors, fittings and fixtures and trees trimmed during construction that were re-used as fences
• Gas boosted solar hot water and hydronic heating system
• Water autonomy through rainwater harvesting and on-site sewage treatment
• Indigenous landscaping