Sustainability

This Northcote house is a beautiful reflection of environmental sustainability. Using cross laminated timber (CLT) as the main floor, wall and roof elements, this house has set the standard in significantly reducing its carbon footprint compared to its neighbours thanks to all of the carbon that is sequestered  away in the timber. The lightweight nature of CLT and off-site fabrication meant the house could be rapidly assembled with just a small site team. Added to that, with the concealed CLT connections ,the CLT panels could be exposed as a feature, showcasing a clean and simple structural  form whilst giving the home a ‘natural’ feel. With a CLT structure and the use of recycled bricks, the house provides a unique quality of living! Partridge were engaged to carry out the structural analysis on the building and to design and certify the structural safety and performance of the building. We ensured the CLT was used efficiently by even pushing one of the upper storey CLT walls to act as both a wall and a deep beam in order to create a large open space on ground level without the need for conventional steel support structure. Partridge was also engaged to provide civil design and documentation including the inground stormwater drainage requirements.

Overlooking the Megalong Valley, this structure is the result of many hours of dedicated work on an approach to affordable housing, using pre- fabricated cross laminated timber construction. The house is nestled into a sloping site, with a concrete raft slab on ground and concrete block retaining walls around the basement excavation. The remainder of the structure is entirely constructed with cross laminated timber (CLT), including the walls, ground floor, mezzanine floor, and roof. WInner of ‘Small Budget’ category at the Australian Timber Design Awards.

Partridge played a pivotal role in Brisbane Airport Corporation’s pursuit of a major renewable energy project to address the substantial electricity expenses associated with running an airport. With the aim of generating over 9,315,000 kilowatt hours annually, we implemented a 6MW solar PV system comprising 22,000 panels spanning an impressive area of 36,000 square metres. Notably, the international terminal alone supports 1.98MW, with 7,133 panels covering more than 11,675 square metres. This remarkable achievement marks the largest single rooftop solar panel installation at an Australian airport and the largest commercial rooftop solar system in the Southern Hemisphere.

The sustainable and economically viable LNCH Minihouse is a two-story standalone structure spanning 38 sqm. Engineered recycled timber was chosen as the primary material, offering both environmental benefits and cost-effectiveness. The structural core comprises 105 mm CLT panels, strategically elevated on exposed 500mm concrete walls to prevent moisture issues. To harmonize with the neighboring building, the roof takes on a 3-dimensional folded design, cleverly adapting to the shadow impact. Protection for the CLT is provided by Colorbond corrugated steel and polycarbonate panels, which feature perforations on the North facade. This facade serves as a circulation space, climate buffer, and vertical veranda, ensuring solar protection and promoting air ventilation. With the help of our team, this innovative Minihouse stands as a testament to sustainable design.

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