Style and sustainability go hand in hand as this home proves
Designed by: D.J.G Projects
Location: Ecovillage, Currumbin QLD
Year Completed: 2018
Australia’s most highly awarded sustainable community, the Ecovillage at Currumbin, is home to a raft of dwellings that push the eco-friendly envelope. One of the latest and most impressive is this striking contemporary home, built by D.J.G. Projects and winner of the 2018 Queensland GreenSmart Sustainable Home award.
The owners are a young family who wanted to live a more sustainable and healthy lifestyle, but they wanted some luxury, too. They began their journey by sitting down with designer Travis Quennell to develop the initial concept, after which they worked closely with D.J.G. Projects to select the products, materials and finishes that would give form and function to their home.
From inside to out, the choices emphasise sustainability, yet never at the expense of style. The interior walls and ceilings are plasterboard with a low or no VOC paint finish. An insulation value of r.3 was achieved in walls and r5.7 in ceilings, surpassing energy requirements. Also, the 180mm thick thermal mass slab, fireplace and stairs to the mezzanine level all feature low VOC concrete-look finishes.
For the subfloor, D.J.G. used structural ply rather than particleboard, which has a high VOC content, and all floor connections are sealed with zero VOC silicone. As to the plumbing fittings and fixtures, they are all WELS-compliant while low-energy LED lighting was used throughout the home. The lighting, along with the blinds, media, fans and gas fireplace are controlled by building automation, to make life easier and reduce energy consumption.
All doors and windows have low-e glazing, except for the louvred clerestory windows (which facilitate cross ventilation) that are made of approved plantation-grown Australian cedar and the front door, which was made on-site using recycled timber floor joists. Recycled hardwood, which was locally sourced, was also used to build the screening on the home’s western side (installed to reduce the summer sun’s impact) and the deck steps.
Among the home’s other eco-friendly inclusions are a 5kW photovoltaic system which provides for the family’s current power needs (but can be expanded as required) and an 80,000-litre potable water system that is the home’s only supply of fresh water. This is supported by stainless steel water tanks with HDPE downpipes and first-flush diverters for better water quality. To improve air quality, there’s a green wall on the deck, near the back doors.
D.J.G. took great care to ensure the different finishes worked together seamlessly to complement the modern, clean-lined design and that same attention to detail was paid to every element of the home’s construction, which had to adhere to the village’s strict covenants. The result is a luxury home that proves style and sustainability do go hand in hand.
For more information
DJG Projects