Competition for sustainable, affordable and adaptable housing 2008

This project describes a desire for flexible and adaptable design that demonstrates principles of environmental sustainability with a conventional brief and budget.

A number of strategies have been adopted:

1. The house is divided into two units. The plans are simple and compact. The T and L shape houses can operate as stand alone dwellings. In a duplex scenario, the T and L cradle each other resulting in a courtyard design for Lot 1552. This configuration can then be “multiplied and flipped” to create a series of medium density housing.

2. The dwellings also have an optional first floor bed/ensuite unit which is entirely prefabricated allowing further flexibility with bedroom numbers. This system is passively orientated for solar gain and shaded by a mesh cage and deciduous foliage.

3. The prefabricated construction system reflects the ambition of the project; sensitive environmentally sustainable housing using simple but effective sustainable construction methods.

4. Strawbale walls are used throughout providing natural insulation and sound protection in the walls, and with the use of a folded galvanized steel sheet section, in the ceiling of the building as well.

5. A grey water system as well as double glazing are visioned as standard integrated elements in these homes.

6. The T and L shaped housing elements have been designed with passive solar gain and cross-ventilation as paramount. At the same time, the flexibility in their configuration means that these homes will adapt well to a range of sites and orientations.