Brief
Design and build a large family home that will accommodate family life for generations to come and require minimal maintenance.
Unique Aspects
- Large, wide block of 780 m2 and 18.3m wide
- Enclosed alfresco area
- Large pool excavated entirely from sandstone bedrock
- Solar panels with battery storage
Story
Living in the existing house on the property that was dark, mouldy and couldn’t be seen from the street due to the trees and shrubs in the front garden, it was difficult for owners, Peter and Jenny, to envisage the light, bright and airy Seaforth home that they now live in.
The wide block allowed us to design a home with abundant street appeal, while the face brickwork, spotted gum timbers and natural sandstone all work in harmony to connect the home with its location.
Having two young sons means the pool will see endless hours of use and the 12.5m length means Peter can easily calculate his distance swum. More than just a pool though, it is also a stunning feature from inside the home. North facing windows in the main living area and sitting room frame the pool perfectly, so its calming effects can be enjoyed even without having to get wet.
The solar panel and storage batteries have been a wonderful investment for this home. The 22 panel 5.4 kw system with battery storage had been enough to meet 95% of the homes power requirements. The client has commented that with the home being so passively efficient, the big energy consumers on heating and cooling rarely need to be used. Calculating his power bill savings against the systems cost, they will incur no power bills after 5 short years.
