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Maximizing ocean view & managing sun heat in Queensland holiday houses

Posted in Construction & Architecture
Maximizing ocean view & managing sun heat in Queensland holiday houses
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By Tamir Horesh

Expansive ocean and bush views were the basis of the design objectives for two holiday houses on a 1000 square meter sloping site at Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia.

The split level estate is set on the steeply sloping site, and is capped by a large semi-enclosed deck, perched approximately five meters above ground, in the prime view location.

The architect, Graham Anderson, FRAIA, says: “Maximizing ocean views, managing sun exposure and creating a private retreat for our clients in this dual occupancy development were our key priorities. The family home was also designed in a way that contributes to the streetscape at night through the use of semi-translucent multiwall polycarbonate sheeting”. Polycarbonate sheeting was used for external wall cladding, balustrades and courtyard roofs. A 10 mm multiwall polycarbonate standing seam system in solar ice was installed in all these areas.

The use of solar ice polycarbonate wall cladding afforded excellent privacy while allowing extensive soft diffused daylight to penetrate into the houses. The semi-translucent characteristic enabled the use as vast external walls where privacy was particularly needed.

The polycarbonate multiwall sheet system was also used on the deck where, as a railing infill, it again provided visual privacy to the deck from the street, and conversely, blocked the street view from the deck, focusing the occupants’ eyes to the ocean views beyond.

Both sliding and fixed polycarbonate screens are installed on the east side of the deck.

Situated high on an east facing hill, the house is exposed to the strong Australian summer sun from around 5 am. The polycarbonate screen provided excellent shading and heat reduction characteristics, enabling comfortable use of the deck while maintaining excellent and moderated natural light penetration. Therefore, energy savings are achieved twice: the use of natural daylight saves the need for artificial electricity during the daylight hours; and in addition, the heat blocking solar ice tint combined with the polycarbonate sheet’s thermal insulation properties, reduces the need for air-conditioning.

Conversely at night, this design, with conscious backlighting, created a lantern effect to provide a sense of animation to the street at this holiday destination.