Off Grid House

July 25, 2024

Architect: Anderson Architecture
Builder: Against the Grain Building + Renovation
Location: Megalong NSW

This timber home was the result of a collaboration between the architect, the architect’s father – Bill Anderson, a retired civil engineer, and Partridge. Notably, the dwelling is equipped with independent on-site power generation, water collection and waste treatment.

By working closely with the architects, we were able to translate their vision into a structurally sound and sustainable reality, while ensuring the project’s functionality and resilience.

One of the house’s defining features is the extensive use of site-won timber. Recycled trees, felled onsite were used for the rafters throughout the build. While milling and seasoning timber on-site offered environmental benefits, it necessitated careful structural considerations.

Detailed calculations determined the optimal size and spacing of the rafters which support the building’s dead and live loads, factoring in the potential variations in timber dimensions/geometry due to moisture loss during the seasoning process to ensure structural integrity.

Another challenging aspect of the project was the frameless glass junction at the corner of the building that opens onto the deck. Achieving the large open spans at this critical junction required the clever use of the high-level concrete walls as deep beams that cantilevered out to the corners, and thus removing the need for conventional supports.

The house is situated in the picturesque Blue Mountains, but this rugged forest location comes with the challenge of bushfire risk. Our role involved integrating fire protection measures seamlessly into the design, by assessing the specific BAL rating of the location, which determines the necessary level of fire resistance for building materials.

We specified appropriate fire-resistant materials for walls, floors, and the roof, considering the use of concrete pods for enhanced resilience.

The canopy over the outdoor living space functions not only as a shelter but also serves a critical fire safety function – designed as a fire shutter that can be lowered to protect the building from radiant heat during a bushfire event.

This project demonstrates how well-considered structural engineering in a timber house can contribute to bushfire resilience without compromising the architectural vision.

https://www.againstthegrainbuilding.com.au/new-homes/off-grid-house

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