One of the most important request from the client, was the possibility to have a building that is energy self-sufficient and "as green as possible". Therefore, great attentions has been put on finding a way to produce energy in the most sustainable way and reduce waste (especially water waste) without compromising the overall design.
To do the above, solar roof tiles, which blend perfectly with the country style sloped roof, have been placed on the west side of the roof, meanwhile, on the east side of the roof, solar glass panels skylights increase the production of energy without compromising the amount of light that comes into the house..
Rain water is collected and, after is purified via filtering tanks and a three stage filter process, is pumped into the house to serve all the needs, from drinking, to washing.
Water waste is then collected and filtered in sceptic tanks and then utilised to irrigate the garden.
Moving inside, one's welcomed by the double height entrance-living area. The open plan kitchen-dining area is well lit by the large skylights and French doors.
A corridor, on the west side, runs along another series of wide French doors and takes to the rooms on the ground floor: a guest room, a massage room and a laundry/bathroom. A fourth room, the technical room, at the end of the corridor, is accessible by the garage.
The light staircase takes to the first floor where there's a mezzanine that overlooks the living area on one side, and the kitchen on the other. The mezzanine serves two functions: as relaxing area and as a study.
A long bridge connects all the other rooms requested by the client on the first floor: two bedrooms for children, a master bedroom and a bathroom. Large skylights illuminate these spaces.
The whole building's structure is made of laminated timber for a more sustainable construction process and charred timber cladding improves durability of the building, giving also a more barn look to the objects, blending it better with the area.