SPECIAL REPORT: Brick box refit to show off sustainability
By Caroline Tucker
SUSTAINABLE living in the 21st Century has well and truly shed its hippy skin and muscled Its way on the mainstream stage.
Long gone are visions of makeshift dwellings and communes — sustainable living today is about localised cost effective water solutions and practical, environmentally friendly housing without any need for compromise on lifestyle or aesthetics.
Homes which enjoy gentle morning sun and cooling breezes in summer, protection from the westerlies in winter and natural light without searing heat all year round.
Designs which offer maximum comfort through the use of materials perfectly suited to the climate and incorporate water and energy saving devices that are easy on the pocket.
It does not necessarily have to be done from scratch.
Most ageing and dated homes can be renovated, reconfigured and retrofitted to embrace the principles of sustainability.
If it is a notion that appeals to you, then you will soon have the opportunity to see exactly what can be achieved with a clever and innovative approach.
Three Sunshine Coast professionals with a passion for the environment have teamed up to transform a humble brick box at Buderim into a stunning display home show casing local skills, materials and products.
It is part of a state-wide program aimed at encouraging developers, builders and consumers to embrace greener possibilities.
Greg Downes from the Downes Survey Group, architect Adrian Just from Archicology and general manager of the Sunshine Coast Environment Council (SCEC), Ian Christessen, are the brains behind the Buderim project.
All have been long-term campaigners for a more sustainable future and hope local businesses and suppliers will share their enthusiasm for promoting greater awareness in the wider community.
Mr Downes owns the home as part of a small subdivision of an old strawberry farm and said he was more than happy to finance the sustainable renovation when the initial approach was made.
“I’ve always had an interest in environmental management and I strongly believe we need to look after the planet’s natural capital,” he said.
“A lot of housing has no regard for the environment and when Ian Christessen approached me about this I saw it as a good opportunity to show people how to turn a house into a modern contemporary home with good sustainable design.”
“This will be a powerful education tool and we can show that far from sacrificing creature comforts, designing homes this way actually makes for more comfortable living.”
“I think anyone involved in the development industry has an important role to play in encouraging sustainable choices.”
One of Mr Downes’ primary passions is changing our cur-rent approach to water consumption.
He is currently involved with work being undertaken at the Newcastle University to devise more sustainable systems which can reduce demand on centralised supply.
The subdivision at Buderim will also incorporate a localised system using rainwater tanks and recycling for out-door use with the blessing of Maroochy Council.
“I think we could be doing a million times better with water than we are at the moment and this project will help us reinforce and promote some of the work I have been doing with Newcastle,” said Mr Downes.
“There’s plenty of water available at the home where the demand is and we need to reduce the pressure on the centralised water infrastructure through integrated localised systems.”
On Ian Chrlstessen’s recommendation, Mr Downes recruited environmental scientist turned architect Adrian Just to add his creative energy and expertise to the project.
Mr Just has always had a preference for sustainable design and emphasises that it does not have to be costly or complex.
His involvement with the renovation was a natural fit and he saw it as an opportunity to demonstrate that a home could be visually appealing and designed to suit the Coast lifestyle as well as environmentally and socially responsible.
“I wanted to get back to my environmental background and I think as an architect I have a duty to educate clients about what’s possible,” he said.
“Some people are choosing designs based on looks which are inappropriate for this climate and environment.”
“We’ve got a sea of brick and tile out there but with some new materials and reconfiguration, we can demonstrate that it’s better to live in a passive environment with the right orientation, flow through ventilation, decent overhangs and correct openings in the right places.”
Mr Just said the climate of the Sunshine Coast was one of its primary attractions and buildings should be designed to work with it, not against It.”
“The environment and the climate Is the best thing the region has going for it, it’s why people come here,” he said.
“Why then would you choose to lock yourself in an air-conditioned box?”
The home will have a light weight structure which provides for easy transition from indoors to outdoors and a range of add-on features to promote greater water and energy efficiency.
Mr Just has completed the schematic design drawings and is preparing a presentation for the sustainable homes program committee.
Once the project has the committee’s green light, castings will commence and the design will be forwarded to engineers.
The group is hoping to encourage local sponsors and businesses to come on board with suitable products for the home, which will be open to the public for six months after it is completed early next year and ultimately sold.
Ian Christessen said the goal was to encourage the public and the industry to adopt a more environmentally friendly approach.
“There are some people here doing really smart stuff and this house will be the exemplar of the best the Coast has to offer,” he said.
“This will be a powerful education tool and we can show that far from sacrificing creature comforts, designing homes this way actually makes for more comfortable living.”
“The vast majority of homes being built at the moment are project homes based on designs transported out of Parramatta or Box Hill that are not suitable for our climate.”
Mr Christessen said with the expected population boom In Queensland. the government should insist on an 80% reduction in consumption from new estates.