Verandas and shade structures

Shelter from the storm, shade in the hot summer sun and set up to allow winter sun to penetrate deep into the building, the verandas and shade structures perform and important role

Blackbutt cladding and shade structures

Veranda awaiting roof sheets

Bring on the power

Inside the locked up building in wall rough-ins are progressing with electrical and hot and cold water loops installed

Electrical circuits

Hot and cold water loops

Finish the in ground works

With the reliably dry March weather all the in ground services were completed. Waste water connections to waste system, storm water collection to storage tanks, potable water supply to the buildings, farm water connections to garden and cistern loops, gas mains and underground electrical and telephone connections.

Multi services trench

Building locked up

With windows in place and cladding complete, the lock-up target is accomplished. Meanwhile the salvaged granite flooring is starting to take shape.

Eaves linings and Axon wall claddings to the ensuite areas

Salvage granite is carefully cut to create a crazy paved hard wearing floor and more thermal mass.

Feathertop burns

Progress on the building took rest as resources were diverted into managing the impact of the Mount Feathertop bushfire on the horse tour business and farm property.

Fire looms in our big backyard!

Limestone walls

An important element of the passive design of these buildings was the creation of a thermal mass within the building envelope, to act a temperature moderator between seasonal and night day cycles. Wanting to use a masonry product with a low carbon footprint, we sourced some salvaged limestone blocks from Richmond in Melbourne.

Some of the blocks with tags and art retained.

Salvaged Blackbutt re-purposed as shiplap cladding

Considering the bushfire BAL 12.5 applied to the development, we needed to source a cladding that meet the requirements of the attack level. Choosing timber cut that choice down to a few species and blackout was one. This cladding material had been used by Tubemakers in Port Kembla as pipe stacking bearers, until reclaimed and milled into shiplap profile. We love the look of this special material.

Blackbutt cladding on the end gables.