The development of Pepper Tree Passive Household by Alexander Symes Architect commenced several years in the past in collaboration with builder and shopper Adam Souter of Souter Crafted, who lives on the assets with partner Ame Rooke-Jones, and their 3 youthful youngsters.
The family’s Wollongong home was worn out and thermally inefficient, but functionally adequate. Instead of expending their spending budget on sizeable upgrades to the current house, they determined to construct a new, individual structure on the rear of the web page to a Passive Residence regular.
‘This intended they would get the finest amenity worth for their spending plan with slight effectiveness centered updates to the present residence together with new insulation, cladding, repainting the concrete tiles a lighter color to reduce warmth acquire, and a 12kW photo voltaic panel awning that presents shade to the outside spaces in summer time,’ suggests Alexander Symes, director of Alexander Symes Architect.
Immediately after the first concept was formulated, Adam commenced salvaging and storing landfill-sure supplies from his other development tasks to finally use in his residence.
The resulting secondary dwelling usually takes the variety of an elevated U-shaped setting up wrapping about an existing 60-12 months-aged tree.
‘We made the decision at our original assembly that the pepper tree was part of the core identity of the website and trying to keep it would be a fantastic benefit to the last end result, fairly than just a further box-shaped granny flat,’ states Alexander.
Two cantilevered wings are clad with recycled shou sugi ban cladding, and just about every host a eco-friendly roof blending the developing into the landscape.
Adam’s salvaged construction elements ended up utilized all over the venture, which includes on the external staircase developed applying the roof framework of a demolished Bondi house, contributing to its sustainable Passive Dwelling regular.
The accomplished self-contained household involves a person bed room, a kitchen, residing place, lavatory, and a laundry throughout 60 sq. metres internally. The making features as an workplace for Adam’s escalating company, which can alternatively be rented as small remain accommodation.
In creating a secondary structure, Alexander Symes Architect have extra much wanted usable ground house to a suburban web page devoid of overdeveloping or sacrificing its biophilic relationship. This strategy presents a precedent for creating small, upcoming proofed additions without having the substantial price tag of upgrading all existing dwellings.
