Canberra 9 star project

Designer: Smart SIPs

Shop Drawings: Smart SIPS

Star Rating: 9

Design Brief 

The owners wanted an 8 star rated, side-by-side duplex home that was energy efficient, all-electric and had PV solar and heat pumps for the hot water service. As sustainability was a core focus, the use of recycled bricks and timber, where possible, for the cladding and floor coverings was also a priority. The owners also required assistance with their Development Application.

Design Challenge 

The owners came to us with a difficult block that had a 3.5m slope declining from the front of the property down to the back left (when looking at it from the street). This, however, wasn’t the only challenge. As the property would be north facing, getting a good solar passive design for the living areas would prove tricky. 

Design Approach 

Our design approach was constrained by the requirements of Canberra Town Planning. We had to incorporate their need for the home to have a street-facing living space with all other living spaces needing 6 hours of sunlight per day. This meant a north-facing living space, with 6 hours of sunlight per day to the other living spaces that would be mainly facing west, east and south. Achieving this, while also satisfying our client’s desire to have PV solar, needed a creative design approach. 

Our first step was to determine the orientation of the living areas and PV solar siting. We solved the PV solar siting by implementing a Double Pitched Roof so each duplex had a north-easterly aspect.

To achieve 6 hours of sunlight in the rear, south facing living spaces, we carefully designed a central courtyard between the living areas and bedrooms that allowed the sunlight to flow through. This space doubled as a central deck perfect for entertaining.

As with most of our designs, we included Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) for the External Building Envelope to achieve the highest Energy Rating and R-Values along with Low Air Changes per Hour to help keep the home cool in the summer and Warm in the Winter. 

Tripple Glazed thermally broken Windows were utilized throughout the home to assist with the South facing aspect of the home to assist with the 9 Star Energy rating we achieved. 

The Hot water Service was supplied with Heat Pumps and the Heating & cooling was powered by 100% electric eliminating the need for Gas to be connected to the property. 

Design Outcome 

Our design led to a stunning, planning compliant home that met all of our client’s requirements.

With the double pitched roof, the use of SIPs and the integration of recycled red brick and recycled cladding, the home is beautiful and incredibly energy efficient.

As with all of our projects, we are very proud of this home. We are pleased to say that we exceeded our client’s design brief of an 8 star rated home and instead designed a 9 star rated home. 

Since the completion of this home, we’ve maintained a great friendship with the owners and have visited several times. Staying in the home was a great experience that allowed us to see how the home was working and the way the owners used it.