The Gold Coast’s Ecovillage at Currumbin, has recently been awarded three prestigious sustainability awards.
The Ecovillage has been acknowledged as the world leader in ecologically sustainable development. Beating more than 100 international commercial and residential developments, the Ecovillage took out the highest honour in word real estate Environmental Development category at the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) Prix d’Excellence Awards in the Netherland’s recently. In the same week, the Ecovillage was awarded the United Nations Association of Australia’s Environmental Development Award.
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has just announced the GreenSmart Award for the Australian Building of the year and the winner is, you’ve guessed it - an Ecovillage building, the Living Laboratory Home.
At the heart of the award winning home is the roof, providing many unexpected benefits to designer Will Collins. Will said, “The owner originally specified the Ritek custom roof panel which I had not incorporated in my designs before. The roof’s strength allows for large unsupported spans of up to 8 metres and the sleek aesthetic curves complement the Ecovillage’s unique natural environment. The brilliant cantilever capability of up to half the back span provides protection from the summer sun. The thin profile and simplicity of construction meant that supports such as purlins and rafters were unnecessary. The galvanised finish on the roof also ensures high quality water is harvested from the rain and dew.”
As the name would suggest, the award recognises the building’s responsiveness to the environment. The state-of-the-art technology incorporated into its design places the emphasis solidly on innovation and includes smart metering.
The home is owned by the Ecovillage’s Managing Director and founder Chris Walton and his wife Kerry Shepherd. This self-sufficient home captures the essence of what GreenSmart is about, addressing the full suite of sustainability criteria for a building.
The modern architectural design reflects Queensland’s traditional heritage. As well as conserving and recycling water, the building incorporates the fundamentals of sustainability which are good orientation, maximising solar gain in winter while also taking advantage of cross ventilation in summer and large overhangs to provide shade against harmful solar rays. Add to this the latest technology, this Living Laboratory monitors the home’s resource efficiency.
Home owner Chris said “The thermal comfort provided by the Ritek roof helped eliminate the need for air-conditioning. The roof is perfect for innovative, solar passive design with unobstructed views.”
“I wanted to overcome what I call the ‘inertia of building culture’. There is a resistance to moving away from traditional project homes which are usually ‘square’ in shape. They do not take into account solar passive design, so in winter they have bad solar gain and in summer, poor ventilation. In these days of rising prices in fuel and electricity, these homes will not be economically viable in the future.”
The roof panel incorporates Colorbond Custom Orb sheeting as the lining for the roof for both the top and bottom sheets and is bonded by thermal efficient, 95% recyclable polystyrene. When reused in its whole form into another home construction or renovation, it is 100% recyclable.
This same house "The Living Laboratory" has also been nominated for the Queensland Building Designers Association’s ‘Most Sustainable House’ Award. The winners will be announced on 1 August.
Another of the Ecovillage homes designed by Will also with a Ritek roof, has now been nominated for the Queensland Master Builders Award in the category of Most Sustainable House and the winner will be announced on 19th July.
And if you thought you had heard the last of the awards for this amazing development - think again. The Highlands , the final stage of the Ecovillage, the peak 35 lots of elevated prime acreage, is being released next month. A few of these lots have now been earmarked for homes to be designed by the industry’s finest, including names such as Gabriele Poole, Will Collins and Paul Witzig.