We spent many hours determining our requirements and critically reviewing each potential site.

Site & Ecology

We knew that the site we selected would have a huge impact on the house design and the ability to reach our net-zero energy target.

A site will often impact on:

• Construction costs and in some cases the construction materials
• The layout of the house
• Solar passive design features that could be included in the design
• The ability to utilise natural ventilation
• Permeability between internal and external spaces
• The character of the house
• The general ambience of the house and the occupants well-being and happiness

The site; Point Chevalier, Auckland (Taken : May 2010)

...its north facing aspect has allowed us to design-in passive solar features.

We spent many hours determining our requirements and critically reviewing each potential site.  We selected the site because it is conveniently located for access to amenities, work, the city, friends and local cycle and public transport networks.  It is easy to build on because it is flat and its north facing aspect has allowed us to design-in passive solar features.  Whilst the location of the house on the site has mainly been determined by the Auckland City Councils (ACC) District Plan requirements we have tried to maximise the garden size to the North and East. This will provide us with a reasonable sized sunny garden that will be good for growing fruit and vegetables and has facilitated indoor spaces that link to outside, allowing interaction with the street as well as providing the desired level of privacy.  From the first storey there will be pleasant views over Western Springs park and even a glimpse of the water from north facing windows.

Design Opportunities Matrix

The matrix below shows the key design features related to the site and ecology in the left column and the project goals listed along the top. The coloured boxes indicate the goals that the design considerations contribute towards. The matrix is colour coded as follows:

•  Indicates that the design feature has a positive effect on the goal
•  Indicates that the design feature has a negative effect on the goal
•  Indicates that the design feature can have a negative or positive effect on the goal

The sections of the website listed in the top menu bar are evolving and details on the design initiatives will be added to these sections as we develop the design and build the house. 

 

	Project Goals
Design Feature	Energy Efficiency & GHG	Low Embodied Energy	Water Conservation	Health & Comfort	Waste Minimisation	Low Pollutant Emissions	Durability
Solar access [more] [details] Good solar access all year round to maximize passive solar heating benefits Living areas and bedrooms located on the north side of the house to benefit from the warmer temperatures and more daylight
Public transport [more] [details] Excellent public transport links to commonly visited areas that cannot be accessed by walking and cycling Reduces transport emissions Supports city infrastructure and public transport workers
Walking and cycling [more] [details] Walking and cycling to main facilities including shops, cafes/restaurants, friends and work Reduces transport emissions Good for health and well-being
Topsoil retained onsite [more] Topsoil kept on site during construction and used for planting Avoids unnecessary transportation of soil to or from site Minimising topsoil movement to help minimise disturbance of organisms in soil Retain responsibility for soil regeneration
Onsite produce [more] Allow for some self-sufficiency - espaliered fruit trees, vegetable patch, worm farm and micro-beehive Good for health and well-being