A new family home located in the Adelaide hills. The large property has expansive views to the north, a tree lined valley and natural bushland beyond. The building has been divided into 3 living pods, which step down the hill. The entry hall and master bedroom suite are skewed to maximise views to a nearby gum tree. The central living space has feature walls of Carey Gully sandstone and a high cathedral ceiling with recycled hardwood frames. The lower level contains the children’s bedrooms, bathroom and lounge / study area. A spotted gum tree from the site was milled for the external pergola frames, which will be planted out with deciduous vines to maximise solar shading in summer and winter sun gain to the bedrooms.

The building includes the following sustainable design elements:

• Low impact on the site with minimal cut and fill

• Window placement to facilitate cross ventilation and breeze paths from local gully winds

• High thermal mass construction, Carey Gully sandstone walls, double brick construction, cavity insulation

• Extensive use of recycled hardwood timbers, exposed lounge room frames, door reveals and joinery bench tops

• Double glazing with timber / aluminium thermally broken composite window frames

• Rainwater capture and reuse for whole of house

• Solar capture for photo voltaic panels & battery storage

• Heat pump hot water & in slab hydronic heating

The palette of materials includes:

• Carey Gully random stone feature walls

• Recycled hardwood (Spotted Gum) expressed roof frames, decking & pergola

• Australian hardwood flooring, batten ceiling, decking

• Victorian Ash window frames, with aluminium face externally

• Insulated cavity face brick & plastered walls

• Galvanised deep rib corrugated roofing