Project: Farm House
Location: Narrung
Location Challenges: Alterations and additions to this 100 year-old farm house at Narrung on Lake Albert needed to preserve its traditional character and ambience and to refurbish/adapt existing lean-to structures into an integrated redevelopment.
Design Aspects: The design solution provides a revamped family home with both formal and informal areas, including extended family living spaces opening directly to alfresco areas and incorporates:
- an updated kitchen which is the hub of family life on a busy farm
- sheltered courtyard alfresco forming a transition between indoors and outdoors and linking out-buildings
- refurbished bathrooms and a new “mud room” accessed from outside when garbed in soiled attire
- verandahs protecting existing stonework also provide shade and integrate the additions.
- concrete floor construction to provide thermal mass
- retention of existing concrete floors and masonry walls of unsympathetic lean-to structures to provide cost savings and low embodied-energy elements
- a new roof structure over the lean-to structures to provide a large ventilated roof space
- plantation-sourced timber framing for roof and walls
- double-hung windows located to promote cross-ventilation and warm air venting
- long-life and low-maintenance materials and finishes
- high ceilings and sweep fans to assist internal temperature control and comfort
- update of rainwater storage system to ensure continued independent supply
- new waste-water system controls to improve grounds irrigation to re-establish native vegetation on the property.
Specialist Expertise: EnvironArc Design’s Green Building Council of Australia accredited architects have assisted in development of the design. Additional assistance has been sought for advice from:
- specialist hydraulics engineers to update the existing waste-water system including new sumps and pumps with audible/visible alarm in the house.
