Product
LowE Plus with Clear for highest clarity and visible light transmittance – while also excellent Insulation performance (low U-Value).
Specification
- Outer: 6mm Clear Toughened
- Spacer: 12mm Warm Edge + Argon Gas
- Inner: 6mm LowE Plus Toughened
Site Address
North Central, Regional VIC
Builder
Bushblend Homes
Architect
Photos courtesy of
Challenge
Archier’s Off-Grid House in regional Victoria presented a unique and complex set of design challenges. The clients’ brief required the creation of an off grid, self-sufficient house that celebrated its rural landscape, incorporated sustainable design principles, and nurtured an extended family. The main design issues included creating comfortable spaces withstanding climatic conditions, achieving energy efficiency, and maintaining a seamless connection with the surrounding environment.
Achieving a balance between an aspiration for extensive glazing to capitalise on views and natural light while honouring the need for energy efficiency and thermal comfort in a variable climate posed a considerable challenge.
Solution
Completed in 2022, Archier’s response is a building that showcases a harmonious blend of aesthetics, function, and sustainability. An origami like multi-gabled roofline echoing the site’s topography characterises the architecture. Inside, the gables on each side capture the fullness of the landscape, from a creek at the bottom of the valley to the ridgeline of surrounding mountains.
To balance the desire for expansive glazing against the requirement for energy efficiency, Archier selected AGG’s Insulglass LowE Plus® double glazing with thermally broken frames. LowE Plus is an ideal glass for cooler climates with maximum visible light, passive heat gain and excellent insulation. It offers the highest visible light transmittance to provide exceptional clarity and maximise the entrance of natural light while also reducing harmful ultraviolet rays.
“Our clients wanted to experience the landscape as much as possible while enjoying beautiful and comfortable spaces with their extended family. Also to minimise their environmental impact as far as possible,” Archier director Chris Gilbert says.
“LowE Plus glazing was a critical dimension in our solution.”
Renewable energy systems give the property off-grid capability. Photovoltaic panels were combined with a sophisticated battery storage system to provide power, while rainwater tanks and a greywater recycling system cater to water requirements.
Archier and their clients selected sustainable building materials to minimise the home’s environmental impact. The builder sourced local and recycled materials where possible, and Archier designed the house using the smallest amount of material.
Through thoughtful and innovative design, Archier created a home that met the clients’ brief, provided a comfortable living environment irrespective of the season and external temperature, and worked harmoniously with the site’s natural beauty.
Shortlisted: Residential Architecture – Houses (New), Victorian Architecture
Shortlisted: New Houses over 200m2 – Houses Awards
Shortlisted: The Building – INDE Awards
Commendation: Sustainability – Houses Awards
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