Passively Cooled Home In A Tropical Garden Setting

Designed by: POD (People Oriented Design)

Location: Queensland, Australia | Latitude: 16.75049° S

The idea of a passively cooled home nestled in a lush tropical garden sounds like a paradise for many families. That is what the design brief called for in this home.

“…an efficient, passively cooled family home in a tropical garden setting, made of honest, affordable materials that connected the residents to the natural environment.”

– POD (People Oriented Design)

This brief was the challenge that architects, People Oriented Design (POD), had to design “The Big Small House”. Based in Cairns in Queensland, Austrailia, POD welcomed this challenge since it fits right into their design ideals and principles.

Their trademarked design philosophy of creating “The Least House Possible” is something that they are passionate about in their designs. This design philosophy and workshop series challenges participants about their personal views on the size of their home. It questions the preconceptions of how much house you need to live comfortably in tropical climates.

The Big Small House embodies this philosophy. In addition, it explores a new model of creating sustainable architecture that promotes tropical living. It also grounds itself in successful historical precedents.

House Design Strategies

Built-in 2015, the home contains four bedrooms and two bathrooms. In addition to being a family home, the house acts as an art gallery. This gallery is for the artist in the family. It also had to allow for a variety of mobility needs.

The house has two storeys. There are two reasons for doing this. Firstly, it minimises the amount of land the building occupies. It is on a small suburban lot. Hence, creating a tight building footprint maximises the amount of land area for the garden. The second reason was to allow views into the treetops.

Sections and details of the Big Small House reflect the Queenslanders (a traditional style house from Queensland, Australia). However, it interprets it in a contemporary way that creates double-height, open spaces.

In 2020, the clients made some additions to the home. They include a new covered pool patio and an open carport. In addition, it also consists of a new polycarbonate shading to the northwest elevation.

Materials and Construction

Detailing of this home reflects Queenslanders and vernacular timber construction.

Generally, a level of craft and care went into the construction of this project to achieve its clean aesthetic.

Photo: Nic Granleese

The stair uses a single layer of polycarbonate sheeting on Australian hardwood. Hence, these materials create a translucent box that allows a lot of natural light without harsh direct sunlight.

Block walls have a clear finish with a contrasting white mortar joint. Additionally, the off-form concrete plinths on the terrace are cast in formwork using recycled pallets, which results in relief patterns from the wood.

The effect of the materials and construction methods is a home that is functional and affordable. Hence, the cost per square metre was reasonable for the northern Queensland region.

Sustainability

Sustainability was a factor in many design decisions, from siting the home for climatic performance to material selection.

“Materials include locally sourced plantation timbers, low VOC paints, raw blockwork finishes and E0 cabinetwork.”

– POD (People Oriented Design)

In addition, the house includes a rainwater tank. They also have a 12kW solar system.

Tropical Garden

The landscaping of this home is functional as well as beautiful.

“The surrounding landscape will become the outer filter to the house, providing additional privacy screening and climatic control.”

– POD (People Oriented Design)

Predominantly native, edible plants make up the garden, which contributes to food security.

Photo: Nic Granleese

In addition, the clients have invested time, thought and energy into the garden. It creates an oasis of tropical greenery to contribute to the climatic response of the house. Furthermore, it creates a local habitat for birds and insects.

Climate Performance

The 316m² dwelling sits easily on the 612m² suburban lot. Hence, it leaves more than 60% of the site for landscape and pool.

“Orientation and siting maximise passive climatic performance, capturing breezes, and providing shaded living and garden spaces throughout the day.”

– POD (People Oriented Design)

It also uses principles from the Queenslander homes to provide climatic protection. Queenslanders responded to their climate. They typically had verandas to shade the interior rooms from the sun and rain.

As such, the upper floor overhangs the lower for a similar effect. Likewise, the large roof overhangs protect the upper floor. Therefore, these overhangs protect from direct sunlight and rain to the spaces below.

Photo: Nic Granleese

These overhangs result in a space below that becomes an internal veranda and living space with fluid inside-outside connections.

A central double-height void with clerestory windows ventilates the spaces vertically. Hot air rises and exits through these clerestory windows. Furthermore, the upstairs gallery and breezeway move air throughout the length of the house.

Photo: Nic Granleese

Louvres or jalousies and casement windows, along with large sliding door openings, provide ample natural ventilation.

These factors produce a passively cooled home that reduces heat gain and opens out to nature.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Big Small House blends light, open spaces with passive ventilation strategies to create a contemporary and comfortable home. An abundance of window and door openings, carefully located, supports excellent natural ventilation with indoor-outdoor connections.

Thoughtful material selections and construction techniques promote good sustainable design while being affordable.

“Big Small House represents good value for money whilst delivering high-quality outcomes and finishes in a bespoke house designed for sustainable tropical living.”

– POD (People Oriented Design)

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Designed by: People Oriented Design
Photography by: Nic Granleese & Belinda Allwood