Built by Natural Lifestyle Homes, this two-level home, set on a gently sloping site, contains four bedrooms and three bathrooms. An elevated walkway from the street enables easy access to the primary, upper living level.
Architects Bligh Voller Nield designed an elegant, contemporary Queenslander that responds to the site's views, orientation and ecological sensitivities, and reflects the south east Queensland's subtropical climate.
The design has a minimal ecological footprint and attempts to respect the site's environmental values, such as natural drainage flows for storm water run-off and remnant vegetation, which has been retained for the area's biodiversity. The design respects the intrinsic ecological value of the indigenous vegetation, animal habitats and the nature of the Brisbane River Corridor.
An important feature is a roof and ceiling design that promotes the benefits of natural ventilation for cooling in summer and, in conjunction with thermal mass, for heating during winter.
Materials have been carefully selected so they have low embodied energy and low toxicity. Where possible, materials are sourced from renewable or recycled resources.
Through the Sustainable Homes Program, Government and industry have partnered to build a number of sustainable houses throughout Queensland. A key objective is to demonstrate and promote the importance of investing in sustainable design at the household and community level, to increase the demand for sustainable homes, from both home owners and builders.
In 2006 Natural Lifestyle Homes won the HIA Greensmart Building of the Year award for Sustainable Home Brisbane. This award was given to the residential building that best incorporated Greensmart through cost-effective environmental features and practices in its construction and operation. The project also won a HIA Greensmart Water Efficiency Housing Award, which recognised innovative and replicable approaches to integrated water management in a housing project.
