can't cook in a small kitchen and hate small bathrooms 
can't cook in a small kitchen and hate small bathrooms
I cannot fathom why so many contemporary homes are built in metropolitan WA using double brick, cement block/face brick/rendering with clay tile roofs, given our climate?
I don't get big kitchens/bathrooms.
Kitchen: The best way to cook is to minimise the amount of washing up/cleaning up, use high heat and cook quickly. I use my gas BBQ 4-5 nights per week from September to March as I find it minimises energy consumption and clean up. I figure if I need a heap of bench space to prepare and cook, I am being inefficient and doing something wrong.
Bathroom: Shower, shave and cut hair. Baths are a waste of time/space. Girlfriend uses a portable backlit make up mirror if she feels the need. I like toilet/ bathroom/laundry in one as cleaning is easier and I like clever/well utilised space.
I guess my architectural tastes are influenced by Japanese and Asian residential designs. Less is more in my opinion.
create a design that incorporates enough windows{ ie louvres} that will provide the ability to have cross flow ventilation, also have vents in ceilings and roof spaces that can be opened/closed depending on climates to reduce the build up of hot air, this will also reduce aircond costs and create a healthier living environment, a house does require constant changes of air, also have reverse cycle ceiling fans in order to recirculate hot air from ceilings,
A company called HRV, a new Zealand company specializes in energy efficient cooling and heating systems than can be incorporated into both new and older homes, I don't have associations with the company, I have built using these principles into all the homes that i have built for myself for years now and are amazed at the reduction in energy usage and how simple the application of can be, you can work your home by these methods to reduce consumption rather than flicking a switch to heating or a/c.
Also open plan homes are great for living/ entertaining but you do require the ability to close of spaces, this can be done with sliding doors back into wall cavities, not necessarily by using cavity sliders as this reduces acoustic ratings.
create an environment that is fun to live in that is cheap to run, easy to maintain and then you will have more time to go surfing and with the family.
always happy to give my two bobs worth on your plans
from reading the comments here. I think you need to be very careful to think about a Victorian house as opposed to one from elsewhere in the country... especially re a house that holds heat... it's not going to make much difference on an August morning when it's been dark for 14 hours...
Can you find out who has recently built a house in the area that you're building in - and then ask them?
Ockanui, sounds like its based on the old system they used in Persia (Iran), back in the ancient days, known as windcatchers.
Hire a wicked van instead of building.
Then you can live with million dollar veiws every day,
move to shady or sunny position depending on the climate,
and they usually have hot half naked euro chicks hanging around them.
No rates,no water or electricity bills,no lawns to mow or fences to paint,very little cleaning for the misses,and the best locations to live in aus.
You can even get a replacement if it breaks down,at no extra cost.
Thats just sooooo wicked.
not sure toots of the history involved, but to create air movement is vital, the old principle named after a town over your way the "coolgardie safe" the house I have built in Vic has lots of windows facing east and north which can be shaded from the high summer sun whilst allowing for solar gain in winter .
windows positioned on all sides to capture breezes from all points of compass.
I think as someone mentioned here too just build big is dumb, to design multi use rooms is better and to have an environmental smaller houses is smarter, not meaning all the hippy stuff but contemporary design that cover all aspects.
whatever the thought processes are in building, the main criteria is not to lose the opportunity to do better and not repeat the mistakes of the past. its not all about creating a pleasant facade
the advice my brother gave me is dont bother with formal living dinning areas he spent a fortune on these two rooms & has only used them twice in 12yrs .also in regard to the eaves it was sutherland sire council that removed the eave requiment on houses so they could have medium dentsity houseing after a few yrs the electricty grid fails as all these houses need airconditiong running 24hrs a day they have now made it maditory to now have 600mm eaves on all new housing the freaking idiots they should have just left it alone at 450 & then there wouldnt have been a problem & guess who is going to pay for electricity upgrade
Get a builder who knows what the term "square" means and gives a stuff about making sure that everything is. Just spent 2 full days installing a decidedly square wall unit into a corner that decidedly wasn't.
r]Build your house so that the main roof expanse faces north
The idiot neighbors though of that and will soon be staring at the back of my 40 foot shed..Why the hell would you build facing someone elses property I dunno what would posses anyone to build on such a ****ed up angle. Bet yah there regretting it now for the sake of a few dollars in heating and cooling.
Build parallel with your block ffs.
Red,
Lots of advice here, most of it on design aspects which you may already have sorted.
I am just at the tail end of a rather large owner builder project and can give lots of advice if you are thinking of managing it yourself. there are so many ways to save money or get a better product for the same price.
Different story if with a building contract, but can be done.
As for your request for things to put in during construction, this is a small sample of mine:
1) data cabling to every room, cheap to do it now, expensive later.
2) wiring for security/and or CCTV system, including outside sensor lights
3) plumbing/power for an outdoor BBQ if you might need one down the track
4) in wall HDMI cables and extra noggings for wall mounts for that 80inch plasma you will buy in 5 years
5) same with speaker wire etc for your sound system, including outdoor speakers.
6) work out if you want a front door intercom/doorbell etc and allow cabling for it.
7) if your roof truss allows it, find a way to put in an access hatch and flooring in the ceiling to use as storage - with a power point and light.
8) we had the carpenter install a secret compartment (with false door) in the ensuite to store valuables.
We built a solar passive house around 6 years ago and only have a wood heater for heating and despite living in TAS rarely use it. We have an airlock front door area and a laundry acting as at airlock at the back of the house. House faces NNW and has an insulated concrete slab and concrete filled besser block internal walls, all for thermal mass. All windows are 12mm gap double-glazed with tint incorporated. We put the thickest insulation we could everywhere (every gap), had sisalation wrapped around the outside and another concertina-type sisalation on the inside. Large eaves and blinds to pull down to stop afternoon summer sun if too bright/hot. Also got special down-lights that can have insulation up against them. House temperature sits between 17-23 degrees pretty much all of the time (currently 19 after a cloudy cold day with snow on the mountain). Everything helps!! We also made it 20% bigger than our original design for more room!!
Half-way through:
Floating is certainly an issue in the right (or wrong) conditions, but adequately assessed and addressed in my case, without the need for pumps thankfully.
My main issue was that before the roof downpipes were hooked up to the water tank (seperate tank) they drained the whole roof into a small area that regualrly flooded to near slab height. This would have been fine except the power and air con conduit for the cellar came out in the same area near top of slab.
Consequenlty I have now emptied the bloody cellar 3 times.
Downpipes are now in place so no longer a problem. Air con goes in shortly and wine straight after that! well, lid and lock to keep the wife out, then wine...
