BRD studio's off-grid house in australian foothills implements passive solar design

little granite house engulfs residents in australia high country

Nestled away in the foothills of Australia’s high country, BRD Studio has crafted a sustainable dwelling that subtly settles its inhabitants in the surrounding natural environment. Dubbed Little Granite House, the off-grid home offers a tranquil retreat for its occupants to escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life while immersing themselves in the serenity of the landscape.

Due to the energy use constrictions and extreme climate conditions posed by the site, the architects’ approach implemented a high level of passive solar design, which saw the implementation of double-glazed windows, natural shading, and enhanced insulation. Further, the plan was kept small with just under 100 square meters of internal floor space in order to reduce the home’s environmental footprint while enhancing its energy efficiency for heating and cooling. 

all images courtesy of BRD Studio

BRD studio infuses natural cooling and passive solar design

The design vision for Little Granite House was to craft a sustainable home that integrates with the existing vernacular of agricultural structures in the area. Situated on a former cattle farming site in North East Victoria, the land initially showcased pockets of remnant native vegetation intermixed with native pasture and granite outcrops. Alongside considering the site, BRD Studio had to take into consideration the region’s extreme climate, ranging from -5°C to +45°C, which alongside threats of potential bushfire attack in fire danger periods posed limitations of connecting to mains power and water. These factors presented significant design challenges which were resolved by the architects by adopting an off-grid approach with a focus on passive solar design.

Carefully positioned double-glazed timber windows along with considered shadings invite natural light year-round and maintain a balanced heat gain/loss for optimal thermal comfort inside the home. The team also detailed deep wall frames to incorporate a higher level of insulation than typical homes and installed high levels of insulation within the floors and ceiling. In addition, consideration was given to provide appropriate thermal breaks between the thermal mass elements to minimise heat loss in the depths of winter.

project info:

name: Little Granite House
architecture: BRD Studio

location: Wooragee, Australia

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom