We have a unique way of working with our clients. We are a solutions provider, so much more than just being a supplier of architecture and design services. We like to work alongside our clients and other design professionals. This collaborative business culture is geared to smarter ways of operating, enabling us to achieve high standards of delivery and performance within budget and time constraints.
Sustainability is a core component of all our work. Our award winning architects look to maximise the opportunities that a site reveals. This results in buildings that comprise creative environmental, space or cost saving solutions.Hongo Kongo
The house is located in a Melbourne Bayside suburb. Heating the home and maintaining winter warmth is a key factor. Low e double glazing is used throughout to this effect. Melbourne also has hot dry summers and therefore high level glass louvers are employed to purge out hot air at the end of the day. Thermal mass in the form of masonry walls and a stone chimney is used to capture and release warm air at the appropriate times in Summer and Winter. The chimney also uses the stack effect to create some natural ventilation to the underfloor area at the front of the home where ventilation opportunities are limited.
The building design process was a long one, beginning in 2007. The Energy efficiency moves were driven by the client’s desire for a green building and surpassed the BCA requirements at the time.
KEY SUSTAINABLE PRINCIPLES
- Photovoltaic panels that provide water heating and general electrical power. Any excess power is sent back to the main grid. In addition the spa pool has a separate solar water heating system.
- Water tanks collect water from the roof and feed it back to flush toilets, provide water to the laundry and native garden.
- A compost garden is located at the rear to collect kitchen waste.
- The home uses a stack chimney to ventilate the sub floor. The chimney also provides radiant heat in terms of a gas heater and thermal mass in terms of its construction. It therefore provides 3 ESD principles in the one object.
- As much of the house as possible was retained and therefore much of the house is recycled. Timber floor boards were reused.
- Shading is used throughout to protect the home from sun in the summer and allow it into the building to target thermal mass areas in Winter.
- Demolished doors and windows were taken away for reuse or used elsewhere in the building
- Natural ventilating louvers to purge home during summer
- Double glazed low e glass to restrict heat loss in winter
- Insulation to walls and roofs throughout
- Reuse of building materials
AWARDS
Hongo Kongo, Bonanza Rd - Best Ecologically Sustainable Design
Bayside Council Built Environment Awards 2010
