Heathmont Passivhaus
Residential: Single Dwelling
Passivhaus Classic Certification
Heathmont, VIC, 2019
This certified Passivhaus home on an elevated and challengingly steep site in suburban Heathmont combines high level sustainability with a less than typical design program. Our clients wanted a home where they could not only age in place but also generate an income. Our response creates a ‘reverse living’ layout, where the living and sleeping spaces are on the first floor, accessed via at-grade entry and car parking. This means our clients have all their needs catered for on one level (as required by the Livable Housing Design Guidelines), with the bonus of terrific views over rolling, tree-covered hills in the distance. Downstairs, we created a self-contained ‘granny flat’ or livable studio with a kitchenette, bathroom, separate entrance, and private courtyard - perfect as an optional income stream or guest quarters. This floor also houses two south-facing bedrooms that will remain delightfully cool on hot summer nights when family come to stay. The home features a unique saw-toothed ceiling for dramatic effect and to draw in natural light, lofty ceilings, PV solar panels, water tank storage, high-level home insulation, and imported high-spec triple glazed windows. A sustainable landscape design features native plantings and a reticulated billabong and trickling stream.
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AIRTIGHTNESS n50 ACH@50pascals: 0.6
HEATING DEMAND (kWh/m².yr): 12
COOLING DEMAND (kWh/m².yr): 5
HEATING LOAD (W/m²): 8
COOLING LOAD (W/m²): 11
PRIMARY ENERGY RENEWABLE DEMAND (PER): 33
RENEWABLE ENERGY DEMAND (PER): 0 -
PROJECT NAME: Heathmont Passivhaus
LOCATION: Heathmont, Melbourne, Victoria
NCC CLIMATE ZONE: 6 - Mild temperate
NATHERS CLIMATE ZONE: 62
YEAR OF COMPLETION: 2019
PROJECT TYPE: New Build
SECTOR: Residential Single Dwelling
CONSTRUCTION TYPE: Timber frame
CERTIFICATION LEVEL/ ENERGY STANDARD: Passivhaus Classic -
MHRV SYSTEM: Zehnder - ComfoAir Q 450
DOMESTIC HOT WATER SYSTEM: Sandon CO2 Eco Plus Air/water heat pump
EXTERIOR WALL TYPE, U-VALUE: Timber frame insulated with glasswool batts, 0.222
FLOOR SLAB TYPE, U -VALUE: Insulated Concrete Slab on Ground, 0.191
ROOF INSULATION TYPE: Glasswool
ROOF CONSTRUCTION: Timber frame insulated with glasswool batts
ROOF ENVELOPE U-VALUE: 0.188
GLAZING TYPE, MANUFACTURER, G-VALUE, U G-VALUE, UW VALUE: Eco Idealu, Neuffer, 0.54, 0.65-0.75
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Angled clerestory roof windows and angled serrated southern facade serve functional purposes of introducing northern sunlight to the depths of the home, and access to the distant mountain ranges respectively. The upper floor level of the home functions as the primary residence, with the lower level ancillary accommodation for long and short term visitors.
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Steep site provided several challenges and gaining access to sunshine and the dominant views made the design more complex. While the project has a complex form factor to combat these challenges, we learnt that compared to Europe our homes can easily achieve the Passivhaus Standard.
Project Members
ARCHITECT: Maxa Design
BUILDER: Carbonlite Constructions
INTERIOR DESIGNER: Hunter & Richards
PASSIVHAUS CERTIFIER : Grün Consulting
PASSIVHAUS CONSULTANT/ DESIGNER: Roderick Williams
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: GCE Consulting Engineers
WINDOW SUPPLIER: Neuffer
HRV SUPPLIER: Fantech
INSULATION SUPPLIER: Knauf
AIRTIGHTNESS MEMBRANE SUPPLIER: Intello from Laros/Proclima
ROOFING SUPPLIER: Colourbond
BLOWER DOOR TESTER: Efficiency Matrix
PHOTOGRAPHER: Chris Neylon
Awards
Commendation, Residential Design New House $1M-$3M Construction Cost, Design Matters, 2019