Brand New Dream Home
West Auckland
This new energy efficient home includes many future proof features. It was constructed on a north facing bush clad section with the windows positioned to capture solar heat during the day. The heat is absorbed by the concrete mid floor during the day and released during the night providing a warm comfortable living space. To keep the heat inside the home, the 150mm thick exterior walls were filled with insulation and fitted with composite double glazed joinery (aluminum on the outside and timber on the inside). Thicker than normal insulation fitted into the ceilings provide a very energy efficient home to heat during winter. On those days when the sun doesn’t shine, heating is provided by an efficient hot water heat pump system. The system heats both the water that is piped throughout the concrete mid floor to heat the home and the domestic hot water supply. Opening roof windows are fitted to vent the home during the warmer summer months. Rainwater is collected from the roof into an underground tank. This water is used by the toilets and for general garden use.
This new home was fitted with a corrugated Coloursteel roof, timber bevel back weather boards, double glazed composite joinery and a plaster coated, concrete filled polystyrene block basement.
The kitchen features timber doors, Quartz bench tops, stainless steel appliances and coloured glass splash back behind the hob.
Ensuite bathroom with tiled shower, custom double vanity and under tile heating is simple yet functional.
Looking north from the living room to the bush, through the composite double glazed aluminum windows with ‘low E’ glass (aka low emissivity glass). Polished concrete floors release warmth from the hot water filled pipes within the concrete.
Motorized opening roof windows are fitted allowing ventilation during the summer months.
The Process: Forming the house site and driveway from the steep bush covered site.
The Process: Excavating the house site without causing any damage to the surrounding native bush was a condition of the building and resource consents.
The Process: Pouring the basement concrete floor with a boom pump ensures placing the concrete where you want it, when you want it.
The Process: The 180mm thick concrete mid floor is almost ready for its concrete topping. The white pipes provide the hot water that heats the concrete floor. An efficient heat pump system heats both the hot water for the concrete floor heating and the domestic hot water supply.
The Process: The team working on the 150mm thick exterior wall framing that will accommodate thick wall insulation. The basement is built from polystyrene blocks. These blocks are filled with reinforcing steel and concrete producing strong insulated walls.