Challenge

Alice Springs, almost at the centre of the continent of Australia, is in the desert with an extreme diurnal range. The temperature can vary from below zero to above 40 degrees. Our clients love the weather in Alice Springs, because there is always a part of the day that is comfortable to be outside; you just have to know the place.

Response

This house is built into an existing cutting, allowing us to use the thermal mass and more even temperature of the shaded earth. We super insulated the house, but gave it very little thermal mass of its own. The walls, floors and ceilings have an R value of over 6, and then we built a fly roof over the whole house, placing it always in shade and creating a natural updraft that we can capture to purge the heat from the building. It was the builder that said it was like an esky with a hat, and we think it is a pretty good description.

When the weather is benign the house opens into a large courtyard deck and garden, or out to a viewing deck looking towards the magnificent Tjoritja (West Macdonnell Ranges).  When it is not, the house closes down and retains all its warmth or coolth from the other part of the day.

This house has been cited and studied all around the world as an example of how to live sustainably in the desert.

This house won the 2014 Institute of Achitects Award for Architecture (Houses) and Sustainable Architure Award. It was also awarded a Commendation for New Houses (over 200m2) by Houses Magazine.