'eco house' by lara calder architecture
image courtesy lara calder architecture

australian firm lara calder architecture designed 'eco house' which was awarded first
prize last year in the future competition 2008 held by australian green.

their design concept was that of a temporary shelter.


'eco house'
image courtesy lara calder architecture

'eco house' is an intelligent response providing a suitable and sustainable building
form for suburban development in western metropolitan sydney. it offers an alternative
to resource-hungry low-cost project homes. in its intended suburban context,
car provision has not been given a high priority.


'eco house'
image courtesy lara calder architecture


'eco house'
image courtesy lara calder architecture

the primary structure is six timber portals. over these portals a high-tech fabric 'fly'
is suspended. in each portal bay pre-fabricated units are suspended and configured
to produce a flexible interior living environment. the prefabricated pods have
weatherproof roof, walls and floors, however the primary weather barrier is the
fabric canopy.


'eco house'
image courtesy lara calder architecture


'eco house'
image courtesy lara calder architecture

materials are generally selected for their low embodied energy. the structure
necessarily includes some steel and plastic-based elements, however these are
minimized in favour of predominantly timber, cement and plaster products.
the portals are laminated timber pinned to concrete footings. the fabric is a pvc
waterproof membrane. the prefabricated units have a rigid steel outer frame with
timber-frame infill panels to walls and roof. the floor is a concrete slab panel.
the units are clad in painted fibre-cement with a liquid membrane roof. window
and door frames are timber. double-glazing is used throughout the house.


'eco house'
image courtesy lara calder architecture

a connectedness with the outdoors is throughout the year is a feature of sydney’s climate
and a key consideration in the design of this house. north window overhangs are
configured to admit low angle winter sun and shade from summer sun. the insulated
concrete pod floors provide thermal mass. wide opening doors on both levels
acknowledge the benign nature of sydney’s climate while smaller south-facing windows
facilitate cross ventilation and the necessary 'relief valve' to combat over-heating in
summer. all windows and doors are double-glazed. windows are generally awning type
allowing for good sealing when closed and to act as large louvres when open.
fabric blinds are provided for additional thermal comfort and to secure warm ambient
temperatures on cool nights.


'eco house'
image courtesy lara calder architecture

while energy self-sufficiency is an ideal, they expect that the house will have an
external energy supplies available. in their suburban context they proposed a grid
connected electrical supply (using photovoltaic cells on the roof) and a gas supply.


'eco house'
image courtesy lara calder architecture

hot water will be provided by a gas-boosted solar hot water storage cylinder. solar
panels will be roof-mounted (adjacent to the photovoltaic cells) and the water cylinder
is located on the south side of the house.


'eco house'
image courtesy lara calder architecture

the fabric roof is provided with a barge/guttering system to direct the water to concrete
storage tanks in the ground between the portal footings. there are four tanks assigned
to rainwater collection with a total capacity of approximately 30,000 litres. the stored
rainwater is used for laundering and exterior uses. overflows from the raintanks could
be directed to a neighbourhood collection and reuse system for irrigating public areas,
parks etc.
wastewater from showers and basins is collected and treated in the fifth tank
and stored for toilet flushing only.



'eco house' timber structure
image courtesy lara calder architecture


'eco house' north elevation
image courtesy lara calder architecture


'eco house' exterior
image courtesy lara calder architecture


'eco house' plan
image courtesy lara calder architecture


'eco house' plan
image courtesy lara calder architecture


'eco house' plan
image courtesy lara calder architecture


'eco house' site plan
image courtesy lara calder architecture