Family House
The Project
This 3-bedroom home was originally meant to be an interim home, as the family sought to make-do with it while they built a larger house to replace it on the section. The plan was to later convert it into a studio home. After moving in, however, the family enjoyed the home so much they decided there was no need to build the larger home. It was everything they needed.
The home construction is similar to other typical timber framed houses with a few differences. It has plywood board and batten external cladding, a concrete floor for absorbing the sun (this is designed to heat up during the day and release that heat at night), a corrugated metal roof, plenty of insulation, double glazed doors and windows, and interestingly, instead of nogs (horizontal bracing timbers that are found between the vertical timbers) there are horizontal battens running around the outside of the framing that double up as contributing to the structure of the house while reducing thermal bridging therefore creating a thicker, better insulating wall with no extra timber.
One might say however that the main point of difference is the design, which while smaller than most 3 bedroom homes still feels relatively spacious and captures lots of sunlight all day long. This was achieved by eliminating corridors, using ladders instead of staircases, and having loft bedrooms/studios. The kitchen, dining, and living room are all open to one another and are on the ground floor along with the main bedroom and bathroom. The two other bedrooms (which double up as studios) are on the first floor.
The home is north facing and has a verandah with vines growing on it which provide shade during summer and lose their foliage over winter allowing the sun to pour in. There is a solar hot water system on the roof.
Low Cost
The main factors that are allowing this house to fall within the low cost category are that it is small and simple. It’s a small house with a simple shape, simple construction, and simple materials.
In addition to the construction costs being low, the running costs of the house are also kept down as most of its heating is done through facing north and capturing the sun all day. In addition, the solar hot water system keeps running costs down as it creates free hot water.
About the Architect
Peter Olorenshaw has been specializing in eco friendly and passive solar architecture for over 20 years. He always strives to create homes that are timeless in appearance, are as environmentally friendly as the client will allow, and make the most of the sun for both heating and making spaces pleasant to be in. He offers a full architectural service, taking customers from start to finish. He also offers consulting services and partial architectural services, starting and finishing at any point in the design to building management process.
The bulk of Olorenshaw’s work is standard timber framed building but he has plenty of experience working with other materials such as earth, straw bale, and naturally durable timbers.
Olorenshaw and his wife have been living off the grid in one of his eco-friendly, self-sustaining designs since 1996, and enjoy the home to this day.
Contact
You can get in touch with Peter Olorenshaw through his website at peteroarchitect.co.nz
