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The Challenges
Australia has some of the harshest weather conditions and our houses need to offer protection from extreme elements. In Queensland, it’s mostly about keeping cool.
This was the key challenge for architect Paul Butterworth when designing two beach houses on a large, sloping block located on North Stradbroke Island in Queensland.
Paul’s brief was to maintain the nostalgic look and feel of the traditional Australian Fibro ‘beach shack’ while bringing the homes into the modern world with comfort, updated amenities, and energy efficiency.
Beach houses often serve two purposes: as a couples or retirement retreat, or for large family gatherings or holiday rentals. The home design and materials needed to achieve both outcomes, with the right combination of windows and doors and use of internal / external spaces that ‘work’ in both modes.
Additionally, with the houses located on an island that is only accessible by barge, a lightweight, easily transported product that also saved on construction time was required.
Bondor’s SolarSpan® all-in-one insulated panel, consisting of the roof, insulation, and ceiling in a single panel, provided a cost-effective and thermally superior solution.
The homeowners engaged Allchin Builders and SBM Design & Drafting to review their plans, to take advantage of the block’s stunning location. The team worked with the homeowners to create a resort design that would suit their requirements and budget. The home needed to also accommodate visiting family and friends.
Located near the beach, the external walls needed to withstand the weather elements and sea breeze, so the team decided to specify a luxurious yet sustainable alternative to rendering – Bondor’s LuxeWall® solution.
The Solution
Paul worked hard to design both homes as passive houses, eliminating the need for air conditioning with high ceilings, and big windows and doors, which could be opened to generate airflow by taking advantage of the prevailing south-easterly sea breeze.
“Whether you have the sea breeze or not the Queensland sun is hot,” Paul said.
“One of the materials we used in these houses was SolarSpan® roofing panels, with all-in-one insulation, ceiling lining structure and roof cladding, to achieve the passive house outcome.
“SolarSpan® has long spans that require minimal structural beams for support, which meant we could achieve these high ceilings without the need for additional roofing trusses.
“The high ceilings with ceiling fans and high windows create cross flow ventilation keeping the houses cool, even on the hottest summer days.”
Paul said time and cost were also a factor for the build’s island location.
“Being on North Stradbroke Island everything had to come across by barge, so we needed a product we could easily transport and save us time during construction.
“SolarSpan® was the right choice for this environment because it’s lightweight and so easy to install.
“It also comes in a range of ceiling profiles, so we were able to include a VJ finish to the ceiling of the second home which added another texture to the build,” he said.
SolarSpan® is Australia’s leading insulated roofing panel offering long-spans, low pitch, and high thermal efficiency to satisfy Section J requirements. CodeMark-approved and Australian Standards tested, SolarSpan® features a COLORBOND® steel exterior roof, and EPS-FR rigid insulation core with a pre-finished COLORBOND® ceiling underside in a variety of profiles and colours to maximise creative expression.
“Bondor’s LuxeWall® is an easy-to-install and versatile product that is very well insulated for new homes,” Leigh said.
“It has many advantages compared to a traditional render. Once LuxeWall® is installed, it is finished and requires no additional maintenance such as painting due to its COLORBOND® finish.”
The two-storey home features two separate living zones – the ground floor for children and guests, and the first floor where the homeowners can escape with the views.
“The home features incredible views over Phillip Island Bridge and the ocean. It has a luxurious feel with high ceilings and oversized windows to give it contrast,” Leigh said.
“Every window has a view of Phillip Island. By making the most of the block, we’ve created resort-style living, bringing the client’s dream to a reality.”
