As a neighborhood designer and resident, Robbie Walker is deeply aware of the Mansfield, Victoria panorama and local weather. This understanding drove the creation of his just lately accomplished, off-grid household house, positioned on an remoted hill with unbelievable views to Mount Buller and Lake Eildon.
He explains, ‘There was much less of a imaginative and prescient for the home and extra of simply an understanding of what the home wanted to do. It wanted to be stormproof, resist bushfires, and have excellent orientation to make the most of the solar.’
The residence utilises two key supplies—glass to the north and concrete to the south—every defining one half of the house. These supplies allow the constructing to resist the unforgiving climate extremes of the encircling atmosphere: the bitter chilly winters; the punishing winds; and the customarily harsh summer season solar.
The north-facing half is clad with floor-to-ceiling, double glazing capturing panoramic views. Conversely, the again half of the home, constructed with two ‘skins’ of core-filled concrete block, serves as a refuge when the climate is at its coldest and most violent.
Supplies within the house have been chosen for his or her sturdiness; look in step with the panorama; sustainability; and conduciveness to an off-grid house.
Daylight streams onto the polished concrete ground, with photo voltaic warmth achieve distributed all through the home by way of vented followers. Fireplaces at every finish of the residing space present additional heat in winter.
In summer season, moveable exterior screens and eaves work to guard towards the scorching solar, paired with solar-powered air con when required.
Robbie designed the house to supply as little waste throughout the building interval as potential. The width of the rooms aligns with that of the concrete blocks and plywood used to assemble them, and every module of the kitchen cupboards makes use of a whole piece of plywood.
Such fixtures are left uncooked, chopping down on supplies and waste, whereas showcasing the sweetness and architectural potential of widespread constructing supplies. ‘Uncovered concrete block work, plywood panelled ceilings, galvanised energy twine casing, and copper pipes are allowed to be themselves. Not coated or dressed up—merely executed exactingly, to dramatic impact,’ says Robbie.
The house operates off-grid for example of a self-sustaining house that doesn’t compromise on aesthetics. ‘I wished this to be an instance that being off grid didn’t imply you needed to have a home constructed of previous tyres and be underground,’ Robbie says.
To reside within the house is to expertise, and exist in concord, with the atmosphere.
