A Compact Passive House That Hugs A Pepper Tree

The generation of Pepper Tree Passive House by Alexander Symes Architect began various decades ago in collaboration with builder and client Adam Souter of Souter Designed, who lives on the property with lover Ame Rooke-Jones, and their a few youthful youngsters.

The family’s Wollongong home was weary and thermally inefficient, but functionally suitable. As an alternative of investing their finances on considerable updates to the current property, they decided to build a new, individual composition on the rear of the site to a Passive House common.

‘This intended they would get the finest amenity price for their spending budget with insignificant functionality based mostly updates to the present residence like new insulation, cladding, repainting the concrete tiles a lighter colour to decrease warmth attain, and a 12kW solar panel awning that supplies shade to the outdoor areas in summer,’ suggests Alexander Symes, director of Alexander Symes Architect.

After the original principle was created, Adam started salvaging and storing landfill-certain resources from his other development initiatives to ultimately use in his home. 

The resulting secondary dwelling usually takes the sort of an elevated U-formed developing wrapping all over an present 60-12 months-aged tree. 

‘We decided at our original assembly that the pepper tree was portion of the core identification of the web page and retaining it would be a excellent advantage to the last outcome, somewhat than just a further box-shaped granny flat,’ claims Alexander. 

Two cantilevered wings are clad with recycled shou sugi ban cladding, and each host a environmentally friendly roof blending the creating into the landscape.

Adam’s salvaged development elements ended up utilised through the undertaking, which includes on the external staircase developed working with the roof construction of a demolished Bondi home, contributing to its sustainable Passive House typical. 

The concluded self-contained residence consists of a single bedroom, a kitchen, dwelling region, bathroom, and a laundry throughout 60 sq. metres internally. The building features as an office environment for Adam’s increasing organization, which can alternatively be rented as brief continue to be lodging.

In coming up with a secondary framework, Alexander Symes Architect have additional significantly wanted usable floor room to a suburban site with no overdeveloping or sacrificing its biophilic relationship. This strategy supplies a precedent for building tiny, potential proofed additions without the massive cost of upgrading all current dwellings.