Urban project, BAROSSA VALLEY

BRIEF: To build a first home, in a regional development on a difficult sloping site on a tight budget, 150m².

CHALLENGES: A sloping 800m² site with 4.5m fall (back to front), high movement soil (97Ys), client wanted capacity to extend house later.

SOLUTIONS: Part cut and compacted fill combined with built up footings.

We utilised the natural slope to capture views and improve bushland integration while avoiding significant cut and fill volumes. We chose waffle pods, as above ground footings, to further reduce the cost of traditional raft slab site preparations. With this focus we reduced the excess soil to just 140 tonnes while eliminating the need for an expensive and technically challenging 4.5m retaining wall. The result was an aesthetically pleasing landscape with the dwelling blending to natural contours. The client was also planning for a future extension but wanted to avoid incurring the capital expenditure on this stage. To support this, we left a gable on the rear to simplify the future extension option. In addition we installed a steel lintel in the brick to facilitate a future internal door and left an in-position effluent tail plumbed for future ensuite.

MATERIALS: Cream brick veneer, waffle pod slab, red Colorbond roof, Travers Construction cabinetry.

FEATURES:

• Cut and fill to match natural bush contour, enhanced views.
• Polished hardwood benchtops in kitchen and bathroom vanity
• Custom built pergola
• Installed retaining, large rocks, paving and drought tolerant landscaping
• Rainwater plumbed in
• Polished concrete floors providing excellent thermal mass combined with northern glazing to allow passive heating
• Carport
• Design energy efficiency rated 7.4 stars, exceeds Building Code of Australia standard of 6 stars at no extra cost

PROJECT VALUE: ~$130k