Matt Thitchener Architect’s clients wanted a home that would comfortably fit three generations with a shared main living area.
But each generation had to feel that they had their own space.
The house also had to accommodate the family’s active lifestyle, hobbies, and their existing 2 x home-based businesses.
The Macmasters Beach site is a 7(c2) battle-axe block and abandoned sand mine.
The steep embankment to the east is the last remaining evidence of the mine.
The house is positioned to sit as close as possible to the existing ground level which has been augmented to improve access for both elderly occupants and wheelchair-bound family visitors.
The mostly single-story ‘monument’ coloured home is surrounded by an established garden, which will continue to grow and tie the house to the site.
The house is designed in three wings to meet the brief requirement of privacy and separation.
Further privacy and distant ocean views have been provided to the Master Bedroom Suite by its location on the first floor over the home office/studio rooms.
Business areas have been located as to be visible upon approach, and to allow client visitation without compromising privacy to the other areas of the home.
Insulated timber framing including wall frames and trusses were selected for ease of construction and cost-effectiveness, as was the waffle pod slab.
The house is set out in plan and elevation to suit the selected 890mm wide cladding, primarily in full or half sheets for aesthetic reasons and to reduce waste.
Sustainable design was important to the clients.
And with this project, Passive Solar Principles were the backbone in the planning, detailing, and material selection.
The house is well insulated to counter the selected black cladding, which was an early aesthetic brief requirement of the owners.
The west wing has been positioned to block afternoon sun to the courtyard space and acts to channel breezes over the pool and through the main living space.
The polished concrete waffle pod floor provides good thermal mass throughout.
Glazing is well shaded in summer, but in winter, particularly in living areas, both glass and slab are bathed in sunlight.
The house has 2 x 6.5 kW solar systems operating on different phases; one phase has a 10kWh lithium battery.
Low voltage LEDs are installed throughout.
Air-conditioning has been installed, however, it has only been used once as the internal temperature is comfortable year-round.
The house has a 13,000 Litre poly tank for irrigation and a 10,000 litre underground concrete tank for toilets, laundry, and irrigation.
A commercial-sized Wastewater Treatment System designed by Wastewater Australia takes all water from the house and recycles it automatically into six separate zones via buried drip irrigation.
Key Products Used
- Polished Concrete Waffle Pod Slabs
- James Hardie’s Scyon Matrix Cladding
- Cantilevered Steel Stair Treads and Off Form Concrete Stair Spine
- Sand stock Brick Feature Wall in Living
- AWS PC Al Framed windows
- Colorbond Roofing
Project Details
Project Size – 470 m2
Site Area – 5,370 m2
Completion Date – 2018
Building Levels – 2
Project Team
Architecture
Matt Thitchener Architect
After working for several high-end architectural firms, Matt Thitchener Architect was born in 2010.
Matt has almost completed his NatHERS Assessors Certificate to ensure the highest level of sustainable design is provided on future projects.
Structural Engineering
Thitchener Consulting
Thitchener Consulting works closely with Architects, Developers, Councils, and Contractors to provide premium structural engineering solutions to projects from major commercial buildings and large mining camps to residential pools.
Landscape Design
Costata Landscape Design
Colin and Lisette Marchant are landscape and building designers. Their landscape designs have won national recognition from the Australian Institute of Landscape Designers and Managers (AILDM) and the Building Designers Association of Australia (BDAA).
Photography
Luke Butterly
Luke is a photographer based in Sydney, Australia, and specializes in architecture photography.
His younger years were spent growing up in Ireland before migrating to Australia.
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail image to enlarge.
Design © 2021 Matt Thitchener Architect. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2021 Luke Butterly. All Rights Reserved.
The Builtworks Quest
At Builtworks, we’re on a multi-year quest to document, showcase, and spotlight the best of Australia’s built environment.
That’s why we’re creating this comprehensive online archive and educational resource that showcases a diverse and eclectic range of project types and scales.
Together with showcasing older exemplars of enduring merit, we spotlight and celebrate the very best new and recent additions to Australia’s built environment.