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On a beautiful but challenging site in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, architect Dan Sparks gives a boxy concrete blockhome a sustainable makeover.
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When CaPtain James Cook Came to
the hinterland of Queensland’s SunshineCoast in 1770 he was awed by the dramatic volcanic crags that dominate the landscape.The Glasshouse Mountains are one of theregion’s main drawcards, and the owners of this sustainable house in rural Maleny waketo views of them every day.“The house is high on the ridge, 500mabove sea level, so the views are fantastic. Youcan see the Glasshouse Mountains, and on aclear day you can see 140km away toBrisbane,” says architect Dan Sparks, who isthe son of the owners.Being high on a ridge is great forpanoramic views but its downside is exposureto ferocious weather. “This place getshammered by wind and rain,” says Dan. Oneof the briefs for the house, a renovation of anexisting house, was to make outdoor areasliveable by protecting them from theelements.The original house was a 1960s Besserconcrete block box with a conventionalpitched (hip) roof. The roof, some internal walls, concrete block walls, and concrete slab were retained, and the kitchen and bathroom were kept in the same position. “The aim wasto rework the house rather than demolish andstart from scratch; to recycle and re-use tosave materials and money,” explains Dan.Most of the renovation is “within the bones of the original house”, but a new building, a pavilion, was added on the southside of the house, facing east. Dan designedthe pavilion to be self contained, with a livingarea, master bedroom, ensuite and library.But it’s also a weather-stop for the outdoorterrace of the main house. “It shelters thedeck from south-easterly winds and summerrain. Previously you couldn’t be outsideunless it was a perfect day, because of windand rain. Now you can still be outside, or keepthe external doors and shutters open, in spiteof the weather.”The notable feature of the new pavilion isits twin skillion, or “butterfly”, roof. The roof spreads in two directions like a butterfly’sopen wings, and is an ingenious designsolution to a number of quandaries, as Danexplains.“The play of the roof form is all aboutgetting northern light and winter sun into the building. The house runs north-south, so few rooms benefit from northern light. The eavesare angled to get winter sun onto the concreteslab and heat it up, so it can act as a heat sinkto warm the house through the day. Becauseof their depth, the eaves are big enough to block the sun in summer, helping to keep thehouse cool. The 30 degree pitch of thesouthern roof plane also allows for the futureincorporation of a photovoltaic array.”Although Dan’s parents live alone, they “love to entertain and have family over,” sothe house needed to have flexible spaces. Dandesigned the building as a series of “zones” tocontract to be comfortable for two people andexpand to fit the extended family, as well as tohelp reduce cooling and heating demands.“You can close off the bedrooms, bathroom and studio from the living area inthe main house as well as the pavilion. Themain living area expands by opening doors tothe terrace. It’s not a small house, but it can be closed off to make it more compact. At thesame time, the whole family was there forChristmas and you could feel all the spaces working – it was great.”Dan’s mum enjoys gardening, so waterconservation was built into the design. Theold concrete water tank is still operational(although you might not recognise it – it’s been camouflaged as a giant chess set!). A blackwater and greywater waste system wasinstalled, and a further clutch of rainwatertanks brings the total amount of waterconservation to 122,000 litres.Dan says his parents find the house “apleasure to live in”, and the job of designingthe house was a privilege for him. “I tried tokeep a rural Maleny feel, with recycled timberand smooth cement render, but the home alsohas clean, modern lines and pragmaticplanning. That balance is a fine line to walk.”That sustainability features can be merged with a modern aesthetic goes withoutquestion, but it’s still a treat for his parents.“They were watching
World’s Greenest Homes
on TV and they kept ringing me up to say, ‘Ourhouse has that!’ They’re ticking off the boxesand they love it.”
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nsulate concrete slabsare obviously a oochoice thermally. But evenin a bathroom withoutirect access to sunlihtconcrete shoul beconsiere or both itsrobustness an itsreuction o routs ansilicons which can harbourirt an rime. Just maesure it has a mircotexturenish so it isn’t slippery.
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aise planter boxes inthe terrace were esineat seat heiht, so they canouble as benches. heecin timber on theay bes (an all externalharwoo) is recyclespotte um.
Dan designed the building as a seriesof “zones” to contract to be comfortablefor two people and expand to fit theextended family.
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