The houses for 2010
All of the houses are within a 20 kilometre radius of Beechworth.
House 1
This north-facing house for two in a beautiful bush setting features earth rendered strawbale walls, the render having been lovingly applied with bare hands. The layers of render are still visible to visitors as the work is slowly completed by the owners.
In their dedication to low technology, the house is supported by the strawbales themselves rather than by a timber frame. The house is powered by an off-grid solar power system which has no backup generator, rather the owners have chosen to be conscious of their consumption habits and live within the limits of nature.
Rainwater is also collected for the house and garden and waste water is returned to the soil via a worm farm waste system. The house features timber floors and cathedral ceilings, a sunny deck and even expanding permaculture gardens which supply the owners with fresh organic produce.
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House 2
This newly designed and built house is set within walking distance of the centre of town, on a standard suburban block. It makes best use of the difficult sloping site, still implementing the key design strategies of northern orientation, thermal mass, insulation and cross flow ventilation. The multi-level house features natural poured earth walls internally as a way of storing winter warmth and summer cool, and is a beautiful feature of the house, along with exposed timber, and terracotta paver floors.
On site rainwater harvesting, grid connect solar, and clever minimisation of material consumption in building the house are all implemented here and can be seen by visitors. Even the letterbox is poured earth, but don't let this distract you - the real feature of the entry is that the front door is at street level, providing access without stairs on this steep site. Smart design is the key to the success of the house as it provides a multitude of spaces for different uses by the owners and their guests, all within a small footprint.
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House 3
This house demonstrates some of the appropriate technologies we can use to dramatically improve the sustainability of our existing housing stock - without rebuilding. Grid connected solar power and solar hot water seem simple but there are many things to consider - especially if the house also operates as a BB as this one does. Both these technologies are used here to great effect.
But not just the sun is harvested - the large wood heater in the lounge provides back up heating, as does the heat pump hot water service which will provide hydronic heating to visitor's rooms. Double glazing has been used in renovating the guest rooms, and rainwater is connected for use on site.
The two (yes two - it is a BB!) washing machines obviously get a good work out, and supply the new fruit orchard with greywater. Further afield is a Eucalypt wood lot which will provide renewable fuel for the future. Oh, and don't forget to check out the worm farm waste system, retrofitted to an existing septic-based system. One thing you won't miss is the view - it is magnificent!
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House 4
Who wants to live in a tin shed? I do, after visiting this beautiful home created by love, craftsmanship and adaptability. This house has a story almost as old as the hills in which it is nestled, featuring salvaged timbers, locally sourced earth and timber and even materials from an old local train station!
Starting out as a shed, the building has been re-lined, re-clad, insulated and had a huge verandah and pergola added. Then a gorgeous mudbrick and timber cottage was built alongside from all local and salvaged materials. Then of course life became easier once the two buildings were connected and the house as we see it now was born.
Creativity and an eye for possibility have made this earthy retreat possible. Powered by off-grid solar (but still with a dishwasher!), this house has adapted to meet the needs of its owners. The inventive use of 'scrap' and local materials just must be seen to be believed, as it is a true art to create something which works so well.
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House 5
Strawbale retrofit.
This project involves the retrofitting of an existing house to improve its environmental performance, and it is very much a work in progress.
The owners started with a modest three bedroom timber cottage. The renovation involves building an extension to the west, and using straw to maximize the insulation properties. This particular design involves load bearing walls where the weight of the roof is supported by the straw walls. When the extension to the house is finished the original cottage will be retrofitted with straw cladding.
The timber used in the stumps and around the larger doors and windows is recycled termite proof cypress pine, formerly used to make a shearing shed in southern NSW over 150 years ago.
Water to the existing house comes from a combination of rainwater and bore water, although the long term plan is to rely entirely on rainwater.
Follow the progress of this house on the owners blog.
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Houses from the 2008 house tour.
Houses from the 2009 house tour.