Situated on the northeastern slopes of Vaucluse with views to Sydney harbour this home explores the relationships between high tech architecture, materiality, and sustainability. Located adjacent to a small suburban park, the brief included the maximisation of harbour views, retention of privacy, and the provision for large open plan interior spaces capable of entertaining substantial numbers of guests, directly connected to a variety of outdoor spaces, together with the separation of parents and children's social and private spaces. Fundamental to the brief and architectural philosophy, was the desire to create a contemporary home which integrated exemplary sustainable design principles through the use of traditional passive environmental controls, modern technologies and materials, and the ability for operational energy needs to be carbon neutral. Site constraints and opportunities included the elevated natural of the site, the north facing aspect, a number of significant park trees directly on the northern boundary of the site, and both privacy and social issues relating to proximity to the park. The response was to create a building with two distinct forms reflecting their functions, linked by an atrium consisting of folded planes. The entertainment areas address the adjacent park and views and are largely transparent, while the bedrooms and private living spaces are visually protected. Massing and bulk of both forms are orientated and balanced by substantial park trees. Sustainable building materials are used extensively throughout the building, including plantation grown engineered wood products chosen for their low embodied energy, extensive use of concrete

blocks containing 30% waste fly ash for exterior walls, plantation grown hardwoods and recycled sandstone for claddings. The atrium is the central focus of the house, both aesthetically and functionally, the high void enabling passive evaporative cooling in summer with hot air exiting at the upper level through a combination of venturi and convection effects. Carbon neutrality is achieved through the 16.8 Kw grid connected photo voltaic solar cells integrated within the roof. Ambient internal air temperatures are controlled by thermal massing including the sandstone blade wall which also provides lateral structural stability for the expansive open plan areas. Heat gain is controlled by building orientation, roof and balcony overhangs, and where required high efficiency on demand air conditioning results in 70% energy savings from traditional ducted systems. Winter solar access and heat retention is achieved through extensive double glazing and automated north facing timber louvres. Water recycling includes 12,000 litres of rainwater used for toilets, laundry and pool, storage within purpose built tanks encapsulated within the foundation slab enabling passive thermal gain in winter, garden irrigation provided by 14,500 litres of stormwater storage and greywater recycling. I hereby declare that the information provided is correct to the best of my knowledge and I indemnify the Institute its direct and indirect costs in relation to any claim made by a person against the Institute in relation to this entry ( including but not limited to copyright or moral rights )as a result of the Institute using information and entry material contained in this entry.