I’ve been lucky enough to design and build our family home. We had a steeply sloped block in a new subdivision, with incredible views and a tight budget. The house is orientated to catch the sun, the breezes and the views and to create multiple outdoor areas for use at different times of the day.
Working with the fall of the site and to keep costs down, we choose lightweight framed construction, with minimal site cutting. The massive rammed earth walls, made onsite using earth from Broken Head quarry, give the house warmth, texture and thermal mass. Internally the pallet is simple, with spotted gum floors complimenting the rammed earth.
Not only did I get to design the house but I also acted as Owner Builder on the project and working with many excellent local tradesmen was an education I really value. Functionally the house performs well for its size and the passive solar design, along with photovoltaic solar panels mean that we have not paid a power bill in six years.