Garrett House

Clients feel lucky to live in ‘clever’ sustainable house.

A key aim of this project was to respect the heritage of both the original house and the surrounding heritage subdivision of Haberfield. Our clients very much appreciated the early 20th century heritage of their house and surrounds, including later changes, and wanted the new work to contribute to that in an early 21st century way – to express how they live both in the past, present and their aspirations for the future.

As a result, the design process was an exploration and ongoing conversation about the notion of heritage, its conservation, creation, and the idea that heritage, like culture, is a living thing. It has a past, present and future.

 

 

Important sustainable features include an 18,000L water tank; in-slab heating and domestic hot water sourced via heat from evacuated solar tubes on the roof (with instantaneous gas back-up); photovoltaic panels to offset electricity use; polished concrete floors and reverse brick veneer walls to provide thermal mass; double-glazed timber-framed windows and doors to minimise winter heat loss and summer heat gain; low-emissivity glazing to all eastern and western windows to minimise summer heat gain; ample cross ventilation; low energy lighting – and recycled timber throughout.

The new living rooms are pulled back from the existing building, separated by a central courtyard which is pivotal to the design – it provides light, winter sunlight, natural ventilation and a connection to outdoors for all of the new living areas. The gable roofs, a requirement of Council’s Heritage regulations, provided an opportunity to further provide natural daylight into the living spaces via large high level gable-end windows at three room ends.

Garrett House Gallery

Project info	Details
Team	Sam Crawford, Karen Erdos, Jolyon Sykes
Builder	Tricon Constructions
Consultants	Structural – Simpson Design Associates, Andrew Simpson Landscape – Melissa Wilson Landscape Architecture, Glenn Murray Sculpture – Morgan Shimeld, sculptor Hydraulic – Northrop Land Surveyor – Daw & Walton Quantity Surveyor – Donald Bayley
Council	Ashfield
Photographer	Brett Boardman
Awards	2011 Houses Awards – High Commendation
Completion	2010

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