Display period

Official opening: 10 December 2007
Inspection days: by appointment

Key facts

Bedroom
2-bedroom

Bathrooms
1 + powder (wheelchair friendly)

Climate zone
Sub-tropical

Architect/Designer
Will Collins Design

Builder
Paul Tidmarsh & Owner / Builder Chris Walton

Project Manager
Chris Walton

Local council
Gold Coast City Council

Major sponsors
BP Solar
Bluescope Water (tanks
Westinghouse
Conenergy

Construction
Commenced: March 2007
Completed: November 2007

Lot size
Land: 751m²

House size
Living Space:117.5m²
Total Floor Area (GFA): 184.0m²
Covered Outdoor Area: 66.5m²

Sustainable design features

Optimum climatic orientation
Exemplary solar passive design
Compact design optimising building utility, comfort and integration of indoor/outdoor living
Prototype Water Cell in-ground concrete tanks that perform the function of foundations, structural sub floor, floor, thermal mass and water storage
Ritek high value insulation, extended clearspan polystyrene foam sandwich roof/ceiling
Dual energy efficient dual water delivery systems:- low pressure and high pressure
Hydronic design and componentry testing floor slab and high mass wall solar heating
Seasonally adjustable photovoltaics
Controllable building skirts
EcoVision 5000 Series Intelligent Monitoring & Control System
A high degree of reused and recycled materials including all windows, doors, tap ware fittings and pc items

Construction type
Lightweight construction incorporating ecoply, fibre cement sheeting, timber framework etc. External and internal rock walls feature and approximately 70% of construction is out of recycled materials including doors & windows, timber joists & framework, timber flooring & decking, entire kitchen (including granite benchtops), bath & double marble vanity, electrical fittings & fixtures, plumbing fixtures & fittings, poles, carport, landscaping materials etc

Ritek roofing has been used for insulation purposes.

The Living Laboratory home is completely water self sufficient and runs on a 1.5kW BP Solar power system connected to the mains grid for back up supply.

Internal environment
Achieves universal accessibility to entry, living areas, bedroom 1, bathroom and kitchen. Hallways are also wider for wheelchair accessibility. The kitchen is fully recycled and offers granite benchtops, reworked cupboards, and recycled stainless steel splashbacks.

French doors and windows in the kitchen / dining area are locally fabricated from recycled timbers.

Thermal mass is achieved by a series of 4 concrete Humes tanks submerged 800mm into the ground and topped with a polished concrete slab. The surface covers the water storage which goes completely unnoticed visually and yet assists with the termperature control in the room.

An internal rock wall also provides thermal mass with solar penetration achieved through clerestory windows for winter and cooling rock temperatures through summer.

External environment
Rainwater tank(s) size: 22500 litres + 4 x 2160litre Humes concrete water tanks (8640litres) embedded in ground and used as thermal mass / water storage
Rainwater application: potable water supply utilised for drinking, cooking, washing up, bathing / showering. All other water (eg: toilet flushing, gardens / lawn, clothes washing, car washing supplied by Ecovillage Water Reclamation Plant recycled water
Hot Water System: Conenergy solar hot water system with gas booster

Display period

Key facts

Sustainable design features

Related links