A Little Luxury
With so many people downsizing, architects and interior designers are pushing the boundaries with groundbreaking designs that optimise space and style.
The concept of a future-proof home is becoming increasingly popular as people seek to invest in a property that can adapt to their changing lifestyle needs over time.
Working together with award winning Building Designer Torren Bell we are successfully creating homes that evolve with their owners.
Designer: Torren Bell Building Design
Location: Islington, Newcastle NSW
NCC Climate Zone: 5 – Warm Temperate
NatHERS Star Rating: 6 star combined group rating for this multi-dwelling development.
BASIX: Deemed to Satisfy Compliance
Solar: 2.5Kw per dwelling
Rainwater Tanks: 3000L per dwelling
The Design
These opulent residential buildings, designed by award-winning Building Designer Torren Bell boasts a total of five luxury two storey apartments located in Islington, a suburb of Newcastle.
The developers of this property sort to demolish the original multi-unit complex replacing it with a design that blends elegance and chic sophistication to create a classy boutique-style apartment building.
Climate Considerations
Australia has 8 main climate zones, as defined by the National Construction Code (NCC 2019). Each of these climate zones has different design and construction requirements.
Newcastle falls into the NCC Climate Zone 5, which is a warm temperate described as having four distinct seasons. Summer and winter can exceed human comfort range, whilst spring and autumn are ideal. Although winter can range from mild to cold with low humidity, summers are predominantly hot to very hot with moderate humidity.
Given both summer and winter can exceed the ‘human comfort range’ it is important to ensure the house is protected from unwanted solar gain throughout the summer months, but also able to receive the warmth of the sun during the winter months. These are important factors that must be considered by all parties during the design process.
NatHERS Assessment Results
Thermal performance is the amount of heating or cooling energy that make the interiors of a home comfortable. In other words, it is a measurement of how efficiently your home can retain heat. A building with good thermal performance will need less energy to keep the insides warm and comfortable. (CSIRO)
Note: This multi-dwelling complex was assessed under the NCC2019 energy efficiency regulations, prior to 1 October 2023.
Thermal Performance Solutions
The developer of this multi-dwelling project opted to use light colours for the external walls and roof which serve to reflect the sun during the hotter months of summer.
Opting to use waffle pod slab on ground (which acts as additional thermal mass) topped with polished timber throughout each dwelling lessens the demand for heating and cooling energy all year round.
The inclusion of a ceiling fan in all family / lounge areas helps to circulate and improve air quality and lessens the need for additional cooling via mechanical devices such as air conditioning.
