Page 59 - Green Builder Jan-Feb 2021

GREEN HOME OF THE YEAR AWARDS

CREDIT: CRAFT HOMES LTD.

Sustainable path. Hallways with energy-saving LEDs and flooring made from recycled wood are two
ways Upland Road House shows reduced dependence on fossil fuels. CREDIT: CREDIT CRAFT HOMES LTD.
BY ALAN NADITZ AND
GREEN BUILDER STAFF including a main house, carport and guest Tilsley agrees that good design orientation
HEN CRAFTING cottage. The main house has three bedrooms, plays a big part in a home’s ability to use nature
to its full effect. “In terms of innovation, this
two bathrooms, a walk-in wardrobe, and an
a classy home in open-plan kitchen, dining and living area. home has a lot packed in,” Tilsley noted on the
scenic New Zealand, The cottage has a bathroom, kitchenette and New Zealand Green Building Council website.
two major words open-plan bedroom and living. For example, optimizing seasonal sun path for
come to mind: According to Firth, the house’s location passive solar gain naturally heats the house
W sustainable location. optimizes southern views of the Manukau to approximately 23 degrees Celsius during
Harbor, allows for a north-facing courtyard mid-winter, with the outdoor temperature at
That was the case when Craft Homes protected from winds, meets with the approximately 13 degrees Celsius.
builder and managing director Toby Tilsley, northern seasonal sun path for optimized Meanwhile, thermal mass walls collect
and Solarei Architecture architect and sunlight and passive solar gain, and provides and store radiant sunlight energy, naturally
founder Duncan Firth decided how they a landscape integrated with the not-so- heating the house during winter. During
were going to develop what is now known distant Waitakere Ranges. summer, roof overhangs control high
as “The Upland Road House.” The annual climate consists of cool angled sunlight, preventing overheating.
Upland Road House in Huia, Auckland, temperate winters and subtropical Stack effect and cross ventilation principles
is situated on the Manukau Harbor summers. Winter and summer climate naturally cool the house. Strategically located
overlooking Huia Bay, on the West Coast design principles naturally heat the house corridors, windows and doors allow natural
of New Zealand in the Southwest Pacific. over the winter using sunlight, and natural airflow to cool the house during summer.
The building footprint is 2,863 square feet, airflow cools the house over summer. A 5.2kW solar system with lithium battery

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