Australian design firm Glow recently completed a stunning farmhouse that embodies both the traditional rural aesthetic and contemporary, energy-efficient trends in home design. Constructed from a prefab timber frame with reclaimed materials, the 700 haus is a 253-square-foot home that boasts a minimal energy footprint and collects enough rainfall for a completely self-sufficient water system. The handsome energy-efficient home was carefully crafted and placed to optimize passive solar heating and views of the surrounding mountains in Trentham.
Named after its altitude above sea level, the 700 haus Trentham was designed as a year-round dwelling that would comfortably mitigate the region’s notoriously cold winter climate and high rainfall. The architects equipped the home with a pitched roof and rainwater collection system that, coupled with low-flow fixtures, allows the home to be self-sufficient with its water supply. The clients hope to bring the house off-grid in the future and install an on-site wastewater treatment system.
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To mitigate weather extremes, the house is clad in low-maintenance corrugated and reflective galvanized steel. Thick insulation and triple-glazed windows improve the structure’s thermal efficiency. Concrete slabs and a north-facing reverse brick veneer absorb heat during the day and release warmth at night. Large windows bring an abundance of natural light into every room, and frame views of Mount Macedon to the east and the Trentham Township to the east. The U-shaped house surrounds an outdoor deck that strengthens the building’s ties with the landscape.
The 700 haus Trentham won the award for the Best Environmentally Sustainable Design in the 2015 BDAV Building Design Awards.
Via ArchDaily
Images via Glow, © Peter Clarke
