POINT ROADKNIGHT RESIDENCE

Located in a semi bush setting at Point Roadknight in Anglesea, this renovation/addition project has totally transformed a poorly built 1980’s ‘fibro’ house into a solid, well crafted like ‘new’ home. In fact, passersby and irregular guests of the owner have been mistaken for thinking that the old house was even retained, such is the transformation.

The project has taken much better advantage of the ocean views and bush outlooks to add immeasurable value to the owners’ appreciation of their location, as well as bringing a new level of relaxation and serenity to the house.

Passive solar design was fundamental in transforming the house from a hot/cold ‘box’ into the comfortable, light filled new spaces. High levels of thermal comfort have been achieved without the need for excessive use of heating or cooling systems, as well as maximising natural light levels so that lighting is only utilised at night.

Wherever possible, materials (such as cavity sliding doors) were reused in the new work, while nearly all old decking and structural timber (very dry and unpainted) has been retained for fire wood, the result being a 6 star energy rating (0 star before renovation) of a beach ‘shack’ on stilts.

Additional to the passive design and construction features described above, the house features a number of innovative features and systems, including:

• The use of an electric heat pump solar hot water system (up to 400% efficient)
• The inclusion of a highly efficient (70%+) slow combustion heater which will utilise demolition ‘offcuts’ for a number of years to come
• The use of highly efficient (300%+) ‘inverter’ split system heating and cooling – which will be able to heat/cool over twice the area recommended by the manufacturer due to the thermal efficiency of the house
• The extensive use of sustainable timber for framing (plantation pine), decking (radial sawn silvertop ash), external stairs (recycled durability class 1 Australian hardwood), window and door joinery (naturally durable Red Baltic pine and reclaimed Karri trafficable sills) and joinery (low formaldehyde substrate materials)