Emerald Shire Council logo

Location

3 Mooney Crescent, Emerald.

Project summary

Emerald Shire Council is project coordinating Sustainable Home Emerald, a single-storey, four bedroom, two bathroom home to be built on a new Council sub-division at Mooney Crescent. A full market research and feasibility process was undertaken as part of developing the design brief for the home.

Gall Medek Architects, principal consultant for the project, have completed design drawings depicting a pavilion-style home that uses lightweight construction and incorporates a self-contained unit.

The design promotes flexibility to meet the changing needs of its residents, as well as adapting to changing circumstances brought about by the economics of this mining town. A family could use the whole house or rent the self-contained unit out, or alternatively, it could provide space for family members as a granny flat or carer's flat.

Feedback from 25 public submissions received as part of community consultation undertaken at the 2005 Emerald Agricultural Show is now being incorporated into the design.

Emerald Shire Mayor, Mr Peter Maguire, officially launched Sustainable Home Emerald on 7 March 2005. In conjunction with the launch, local council officers, builders and industry representatives attended a community workshop on the project.

Key facts

Project coordinator
Emerald Shire Council (http://www.emerald.qld.gov.au)

Architect
Gall Medek Architects - Jim Gall (http://www.gallandmedek.com.au)

Lot size
Land: 1,000m²

Construction cost
$200,000

Design workshop

Completed. Final plans are currently being assessed by Emerald Shire Council's Building Department.

Design feature

In addition to the pavilion-style and adaptable self-contained unit, the design takes into consideration the hot climate with the orientation of the house and use of overhangs. The pavilion style also encourages breezes through the home.

Issue

The two main issues that Sustainable Home Emerald responds to are growing energy consumption and water use. While air conditioners are an affordable option for a large proportion of the Emerald community, this house responds to the climate in a way that reduces the need for air conditioning.

The landscape design also demonstrates an alternative to the traditional southern cottage garden that may require extensive watering in Emerald’s climate.