Project: Alexandria House, Aqua Perma Solar Firma
Architects: CplusC Architectural Workshop
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Completed 2017
Photography: David O’Sullivan, Michael Lassman, Murray Fredericks
Text by CplusC Architectural Workshop
Description by architect: The Alexandria House is tailored to the needs of a modern, environmentally conscious and socially responsible couple. From the street, the initial view is of a spiral staircase which has been integrated into the front façade as a sculptural element in response to the narrow yet deep lot size to maximize the useable floor space.
The glass and timber battens which form the stair enclosure allow light to penetrate through the façade into the living room whilst preserving the residents’ privacy. Inside, a central courtyard allows for natural breezes to cool the house in summer and provides a constant visual link to nature and the outdoors which many inner city terraces lack.
The vertically hung timber framed counterweight glass doors and louvres which enclose the courtyard enable the kitchen, living and dining to function as one big warm and open space when open and maintain a visual connection between the spaces when closed. The timber detailing found throughout the house continues into the back garden where sliding doors open to allow the kitchen and dining areas to spill into the outdoors.
Alexandria House – Aqua Perma Solar Firma is the most sustainable project we have made. The project includes an aquaponics system for fish harvesting, rain water storage for use throughout the home, a wicking bed to filter water, compost, a worm farm and chicken coop working in harmony with a productive vegetable garden, an evacuated glass tube solar hot water system and a 3KW photovoltaic power generation system to run the home and charge the couple’s electric car.
