Cool
Queenslander: Designed for a flat, viewless lot in Queensland, Australia.
The traditional pyramid peaked roof covers the sunken living room with clerestorey
windows providing cross ventilation above. Notice the metal gazebo and trellis
on the north side of the house - designed to be covered in shade providing
creepers (bouganvillia) to keep the sunny side of the house shaded and cool.
The trellis and gazebo frames rest on 'L' shaped pillars to provide architectural
relief from the simple box-like structure.
Security
was a prime consideration - hence the privacy gardens off each bedroom and
bathrooms have security grills which can be released from inside in case of
fire. The garden was walled with a guard dog run and metal see-thru gates.
(See drawing left). A lap pool was installed in the walled front garden with
pool equipment and pumps loacted in the 'pool stuff' room opening into the
front garden. Two 2hp pumps provide turbulence and a current to swim against.
Passive
cooling: One of the design stipulations was to provide passive cooling systems
- not to rely exclusively on energy consuming air conditioners. The traditional
high pitched ceiling over the living room was surrounded with 3 ft. square
opening windows to allow hot air to escape with cross ventilation. The flat
roof ceiling sections were severely insulated with 16 inches of fibreglass
batt material. The roof drains were elevated by 3 inches so that the roof
could retain 3 inches of water before overflow drainage - and water could
be added to the roof in hot weather to protect the roof deck from the sun
and to provide cooling due to evaporation. The privacy gardens off each bedroom
have trickling water fountains and lush greenery - providing shade and evaporation
- and the security grills allow residents to sleep with doors and windows
open into these cool gardens. All windows are louvred with built-in burglar
bars - allowing the windows to remain open at night to cool the house - closing
the windows during the day keeps the heat out. Small air conditioners were
installed in the bedrooms to provide comfortable relief on those few exceptionally
hot nights.
Pillars:
The peaked roof is supported on 12 round concrete pillars (see drawing above)
and notice that there is a 4 ft. wide open passageway surrounding the sunken
living space. The open cabinet between the entrance hall and living space
houses TV and audio equipment. Since the residents spend much of the summer
months eating outside under the gazebo it was required to be close to the
kitchen. For more details read the 'detailed description' link below.
