| BJA Awarded 2nd Prize | Sustainable Housing | Ecological, Social & Economic |
BJA won Second Place in the Sustainable Housing for Life competition organised by Northern Rivers Councils and Environment groups; Seven On Sibley or Seven Sibley Street – The Sustainable Living Hub aligns with the Sustainable Nimbin Community Plan (SNCP). The brief required designs to address sustainability from an ecological, social and economic perspective.
The Baxter & Jacobson Architects proposal was for a modular, prefabricated system allowing for the incremental growth of the building from a simple living unit to a more flexible arrangement that could accommodate varying lifestyle choices.
The awarded tiny home submission provided solutions which could be applied as cost-effective and swift solutions to issues of housing shortages and affordable housing.
Ecological Sustainability
• Solar orientation
• Renewable energy systems
• On-site water harvesting, recycling and management
• Considerations to thermal mass relevant to the climate zones
• Extent of off-grid services
Sustainable material selection and options
• Non-polluting, non-toxic
• Low carbon footprint materials
Social Sustainability
• Adaptability to the changing needs of inhabitants
• Accessibility; Gold level or Platinum level
Economic Sustainability
Economic sustainability can be a complex equation involving many, sometimes competing elements. The proposal for this Sustainable Housing for Life considered:
• Land cost
• Construction cost; fabrication, materials, transportation, erection, on-site work & site services
• Maintenance and running costs; materials, electrical, water, gas
• Potential income; rental option & home office option
