House Design Project
The time has come for you to design your own energy efficient/sustainable house. This will be a major assessment item for Science along with your building materials assignment.
Task Outlines
-You have a maximum block size of 1000m2 (remember this includes any outdoor areas). It’s up to you to choose the dimensions and shape of the block.Cost of the house (excluding land) up to $500,000.
-Building regulations indicate that in the area where your house is to be built that no residential dwelling can be more than two stories.
- Your house must achieve a minimum 5 star energy rating (The higher the energy rating the better your mark. Star ratings go to 10)
- Your house must contain at least the following
- 3 bedrooms
- 2 bathrooms
- a kitchen
- a lounge room
- a laundry
- a study
- Your house design is up to you but must
- be hand drawn using pencil, ruler etc. a rough draft is advised.
- be drawn accurately and with care (no smudges, creases or tears in it)
- Creativity in your house design will be rewarded, think outside the box architecturally.
- Do not include too much detail on the inside of your house. For example, I don’t care what colour you paint the bathroom. However functional items such as kitchen benches could be included.
- Your design must include a floor plan of each floor in your house, indicating all windows, doors and other features. The floor plan will also include the wall construction methods.
- You will also need to create a plan view of each side of your building.
- you will need to create a site plan as well.
- Extension will be to draw a 3D version of your house.
- Your house plans all need to have a scale and dimensions marked on them.
- House plans must be drawn on nothing smaller then A3 to show the details of the building. Each plan must be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
- Each house plan once completed will need to be annotated explaining the design features that make it sustainable/energy efficient, including design features and choice of building materials and why you chose them. Each feature only has to be mentioned once on one of the plans.
- You need to find an energy rating website to test your house design on. This will easily be found by searching for house energy ratings Australia.
This project is likely to take some time to complete and will challenge most in the class.
I would highly recommend you draw a rough sketch of your house to make sure you have included everything and that it fits onto your block of land.
Land details
The land measures 1000 m2 however the actual dimensions can be up to you. E.g. It could be a square block 31.5 m x 31.5 m or a rectangular block 20 m x 50 m or even triangular (as long as the dimensions give an area of no more than 1000 m2).
It could be flat or have part of a hill in it. Building costs could be more if building on uneven ground. It could have a small stream running along the boundary.
Assume you have access to electricity and water.
The ground is typical for a temperate climate and will need normal foundations (although these will depend a bit on the material you use for your house).
The weather is typical for a temperate climate with the normal four seasons. Rainfall mainly in winter with cooler temperatures, extended sunny days in summer with higher temperatures. Wind strength is variable but can be quite strong at times. Occasional frosty mornings in winter.
There is road access to the property.