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Introduction
Team UOW Australia took up the challenge of
choosing to demonstrate how to retrofit a 'fibro' home,
to transform it into a sustainable 21st century net-zero
energy home. Their philosophy was to transform
existing houses into stylish, affordable and sustainable
homes for the future.

This retrofitting approach has the greatest practical

potential to achieve significant economic and
environmental gains across the Australian domestic
built environment.
Our Home
Design decisions were made according to the principle
of aging-in-place, to ensure that the house can be
enjoyed by the client for as long as possible.The
Illawarra Flame demonstrates how a ‘fibro’ house, a
common and extremely energy-inefficient Australian
icon, can be modified and retrofitted to be an
ultra-sustainable home for the future.
Certain features of the house were modified to
enhance the functionality of the layout, and to increase
natural lighting, solar access and cross flow
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ventilation, to greatly improve the liveability of the

home.
Design Criteria
Each component or material was selected for low
embodied energy, high recycled content, minimal
impact on air and water quality, non-hazardous
formulation (avoiding constituents such as
formaldehyde, PVC, lead and mercury), local
production and 3rd party accreditation, wherever
possible.
The Retrofit Design
The prime concern of the design and construction of
our house was obviously protecting and preserving the
environment through measures such as decreased
energy and water consumption. At the same time, we
wanted to create an architecturally beautiful house
that embodies the history and location of the infamous
‘Aussie fibro’ house and is affordable and accessible to
Australians at large.
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Lighting, Heating & ventilation

● The third bedroom of the original home has been
removed and converted into an open plan living
and dining area.

● The roof structure over the living area has been

modified to incorporate clerestory windows,
providing increased lighting and natural
ventilation to the living areas.

● Windows have been upgraded to high

performance double-glazing with innovative
timber window frames and are sized for optimal
natural lighting, natural ventilation and reduced
energy consumption.

● The open plan living area enhances the

connection between the interior and exterior
environments, providing a link between the
occupants and the natural surroundings.
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● Spacious decking on the north and south sides of

the house provides opportunities to embrace the
changing climate throughout the day and the
seasons. Shading structures above the decks
provide shelter from the elements and encourage
outdoor living.
● Passive shading systems are fixed over western
windows to minimize radiant heat gain during
summer, while allowing solar radiation to enter
during winter.

Environmentally Conscious Features

The house exhibits an abundance of environmentally
friendly features.
Energy Conservation
● It is solar-powered, naturally ventilated and well
insulated
● The house boasts impressive controls such as the
monitoring of energy consumption and the HVAC
(air conditioning) system.
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● To reduce the electrical demand of the Illawarra

Flame, the original incandescent light bulbs have
been replaced with highly efficient LED lights.

● During the rewire of the home non-priority line

has also been added allowing all standby items to
be switched off at one point when the occupant is
not home, or when they are not required.

Recycling of Water
● A grey water treatment system, slow sand filter
and rain water capture system ensure water is
conserved and reused in the home.
● Rainwater is harvested from the roof and directed
to a 2.4m3 rainwater tank
● A specially constructed reed bed and slow sand
filter treats the home’s greywater. This water can
be reused for irrigation and for use in clothes
washing.
● The PVT system (Photovoltaic system) removes
hot air from underneath the solar panels,
increasing the electrical efficiency of the panels
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and providing space heating in winter and

night-sky radiant cooling in summer.

● A thermal mass wall constructed from 90%

recycled content, including crushed terracotta
roof tiles from the ‘original’ house, recycled glass
and a low-carbon cement mixture, aids
temperature regulation in the home.

● The Building Management System (BMS)

monitors energy production and consumption and
incorporates a display to provide real time
feedback to residents, allowing them to modify
their behaviour and save energy.

Natural vegetation
● The landscape of the house provides composting
facilities, a reed bed, vertical green walls to
promote food production.
● Appropriately placed shade plantings reduce
home energy consumption and improve air
quality.
● A vertical garden on the front deck provides a
low-maintenance vegetable garden and improved
local air quality and aesthetics.
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● Aquaponics and composting significantly reduce

household waste, provide fertility to the landscape
and grow a variety of vegetable species and edible
fish with minimal input or maintenance.

Landscape and Water

Inspired by four fundamental natural elements – Sun,
Water, Wind and Earth – the landscape design creates
outdoor ‘rooms’, each focussed on different uses and
purposes.
The SOLAR LOUNGE includes seating opportunities
with a sheltered southerly aspect to enjoy the sun.
The WATER LOUNGE is bordered by a rainwater
harvesting system, which offers an aesthetic and
practical display of water and its uses.
The WIND ROOM uses plantings to accentuate the
movement of wind in the landscape.
The EARTH ROOM includes circulation space
through mounded ground profiles and large rocks
displaying strength, stability and form.
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