Russell Island House.

Abutting a tranquil waterway passage in Moreton Bay, this home is designed as a flexible and sun filled subtropical home that takes advantage of its views over the bay through the mangroves, with flexibility and entertaining at its core – whist maximising privacy to the street and nearby neighbours

With 10kW of solar PV connection the house is designed with passive thermal management incorporating ventricular passageways and glazing elements that move cooling airflows throughout and allow the home to ‘breathe’. In addition, the internal courtyard pool allows air to be cooled and then drawn into the homes as it passes over the pool surface. The house also incorporates a well-sealed envelope, large eaves and is coupled with correct insulation to improve thermal comfort in winter and high summer when artificial climate management is needed via air conditioning, with doors and windows closed.

The U shaped design format provides private living and bedroom spaces for both the owners and guests, with internal indoor/outdoor living extending out from the kitchen and dining area to the pool and BBQ for maximum entertainment opportunity. The kitchen incorporates a walkthrough scullery and pantry.

A home build on an island in Brisbane's Moreton Bay that abuts one of the main channels, with absolute water frontage, Russell Island is only accessed by ferry - so the building program requires careful finesse to ensure that build is on budget and on-time. The home is oriented to the south east to capture prevailing breezes and views of near islands and waterways. Given global warming and the fact that the site is only 8 meters above sea level, the design is on tall piers with a large undercroft with floor level above 100 year tidal extremes, to deal with any inundation due to future weather events.