Hi all, I’m struggling to design for this location. The direction is southwest and northeast. How to maximise the view of the lake and minimum the southwest sun. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Wow, this is where I grew up. Tomato Lake. I went to the high school just other side of lake , before it became the Islamic college. We did our cross country around the lake. That was late 1970 s!! I would position as per drawing. With the outside area on the north west side. With lots of shade planting and structural sun and rain protection. A really wonderful area to build your new home.
Oh great that you used to live in this area. Thank you so much for your suggestions I was thinking the same with you? How about putting the garage in the Boucher road?
You want to utilise as much of the north aspect as you can. If you put the garage on Boucher road, this will block the northern sun. The south west will be hot and cold so better for a garage.
The plan orientation depends how you live. Do you want the external living behind the house or overlooking the lake? Something like this using your current plan.
Firstly, I'll what I'm not an expert, but I think it is a pretty tough orientation to deal with.
Ideally - ignoring things like privacy, views, wind direction - I'd locate living areas north, bedrooms south & east, garage & rarely used rooms to the west.
But once you rotate the block 45° from a cardinal point, things get very tough. As windows in all four sides are now effected by summer sun.
But for this orientation I'd generally say bedrooms to the SE, living to the NE (NW if you must), garage & rarely used rooms to the NW/SW.
But your situation is more complicated, once we consider views, & privacy. NE facing living areas will lack views, staring straight at the neighbours AC unit. SE facing bedrooms may lack a bit of privacy, from what looks like the outdoor area for number 19, & maybe their upstairs area (though the fact their windows are clerestory highlight windows should greatly reduce overlooking).
So what to do? It's a tough one, to certainly needs advice from experts well versed in passive solar design, orientation & energy efficiency.
But like your plan, I'd maybe forego the idea of NE living (which is rare for me), locating the garage in that NE corner. Giving you access to the SW views from both levels.
The other option, like number 19, is the garage to the SW, with an upstairs living area above it. You may even consider an upside down house, with all the main living areas upstairs, bedrooms downstairs.
Whatever you choose I would have a lot of external shading, particularly in the NW & SW. Adjustable external shutters on the NW, which you'll often want closed in summer, but not winter. A large covered alfresco/balcony to the SW.
I'm not sure whether you get good access to the Fremantle Doctor breezes in summer afternoon/evenings. But I think it's generally from the S-SW? So you should try to maximise how breezes will flow through your home on summer evenings, & should probably also consider how it will affect outdoor areas.
In any case, with this orientation, you're probably going to have reasonably high energy usage. So I'd be designing the roof with a large solar PV system in mind (we should all do that nowadays in any case).
This means an uncomplicated roof, with large areas facing north, west or east. North for maximum generation, east/west split for great all-day generation.
Your neighbour, in number 19 has a GREAT roof for solar (minus the pesky dish on the north). This skillion roof has a single, large roof area facing NW. As it's a northerly aspect, it will give good generation levels. With great afternoon generation, perfect for afternoon AC use over summer, though lacking a little in early morning generation.
I'd consider creating a twin. Using this NW skillion roof line (with TV antennas & other obstructions on the SE side), & the large SW facing covered balcony (with shutters).
I am building a house with North on the back corner although don't have to consider a view. If you have the open plan living on NE, try a big opening with a 45 angle facing North. Both Solar Dwellings and one of the builders suggested it and it works really well as a triangular space with the kitchen on inside apex. Should give a lovely private alfresco as well.
dreamer
Helen DrewOriginal Author
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