Article source: Apparte Studio

Passive energy design

The narrow house faces north and the front living area becomes flooded with sunlight, penetrating deep into the hallway.

The raised cathedral ceiling draws up much of the hot air during occasional hot summer periods, leaving the lower areas of the house cooler.

The existing house had good thermal properties to begin with. Most of both party walls are shared with a neighbour and there is good cross-flow ventilation to release heat when the front and rear doors are opened.

The large skylight over the dining area to the south saves hours of artificial lighting each day.

Image Courtesy © Christopher Alexander

• Architects: Apparte Studio
• Project: Curtain Cottage
• Location: Carlton North, Australia
• Photography: Daniel Aulsebrook, Christopher Alexander
  
• Software used: Vectorworks, SketchUp
• Site Area: 95m2
  
• Floor Area: 60m2
  
• Construction time: June 2012 – March 2017
  

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