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With a compact 99m2 ground floor footprint the two-storey dwelling under construction on Tonbridge Street is direct response to site restrictions and ground conditions. The design makes clever use of a tiny 278m2 site.
An east-west orientated site allows maximum sun exposure captured by the north facing windows to provide warmth into the house throughout the day. Highly insulated walls assist in keeping this heat in. Oversized North facing eaves protect from overheating during the warmer months.
Soft TC3 ground conditions meant a slab foundation was not an option. In order to achieve valuable thermal mass, a hybrid floor comprised of TTT foundations, cross laminated timber floor panels and a concrete topping slab have been incorporated. This allows for efficient underfloor heating, connected to a dual-purpose air to water heat pump, powered by photovoltaic panels, also servicing the HWC.
The added benefits of this innovative hybrid floor and foundation are that it is both more earthquake resilient and environmentally friendly, with reductions in the use of both steel and concrete. The suspended hybrid floor allows the house to be relevelled in the event of a significant seismic event.
Both the cross laminated timber and the structurally insulated Ecopanel wall panels were manufactured off site and craned into place allowing for faster on-site construction. The walls, floor and roof are fully insulated to more than double minimum standards with airtightness wraps installed to the interior and exterior to provide moisture control and energy efficiency. Additionally, energy efficiency is targeted through the presence of heat recovery drains in the showers, WELS rated water efficient tapware and LED light fittings.