Key goals were to achieve a sensitive response to the site, be environmentally responsible, minimise running costs, facilitate owner building with simple construction, maximise passive solar principles, minimise toxicity and to work within budget constraints. The household composts, recycles and minimises waste, adopts Feng Shui principles, nurtures and protects the bush environment. Each stage of the house has explored deeper principles as technology advanced and as the architect learned more. 

The house-hold relies successfully on passive solar systems.  Daytime performance during winter is excellent and the house is pleasant without backup heating.  With an outside air temperature of 0 to 2° and without auxiliary heating the interior temperature would typically drop to an overnight low of 16 to 17°.
 
Additional sustainable principles of the house include working with the natural contours with only minimal site manipulation.  The extensions are constructed as low toxic environments.  Formaldehyde based products, plastic based products or any other known unstable or unhealthy materials were avoided. All lights have been selected for energy efficiency, grey water is recycled and all hot water is solar heated.

This house is environmentally sustainable, contemporary and very comfortable

Builder: Owner built with assistance by Tony Tate
Engineer: Joe Mamic and Associates Pty Ltd