Live Green House
Click on the link below to take a 360-degree tour of the Live Green House as it appeared in Martin Place for National Recycling Week 2009. Live Green House
The Live Green House will next appear as part of Chinese New Year celebrations 12-14 February 2010 at Belmore Park, Sydney.
Time Lapse video see building the Live Green House
The Live Green House is an interactive urban home designed to showcase sustainable living. The house was first installed on Oxford Street at Taylor Square as part of Art & About. See time lapse video of the installation.
The Live Green House
12-14 February 2010, Belmore Park, Sydney
The Live Green House provides practical information on sustainable living. Walking through the house, you’ll discover sustainable solutions for your house or apartment and be inspired by how easy it is to apply these green ideas to your home.
Designed by Terry Bail and Martin Urakawa from Archology, the House features a range of sustainable fittings and products and demonstrates practical ways to reduce energy and water use and minimise waste.
City of Sydney will showcase the Live Green House - complete with a range of experts in sustainable design, energy, water and waste - at Belmore Park 12-14 February 2010 as part of Chinese New Year celebrations.
From the designers of the Live Green House
In the design of the Live Green House, we set out to create a simple kit of parts that could become a lively exhibition space as well as display sustainable technologies.
It was important that the design methodology be translatable to the building of a house, and in this respect the Live Green House can be seen as a prototype modular home. Throughout the design process we approached the Live Green House as a small home, shed, or artist retreat.
The modular components of the house are equal divisions of the source materials - primarily a 1200 x 2400 plywood sheet. This allows for each of the components to be relatively interchangeable, and also minimises offcut wastage.
Another important consideration was for visitors to experience the sustainable technologies and materials in an operating house rather than as a display item.
The principles of construction are:
- Prefabrication of components off site
- Using light weight components that can be moved by hand
- Assembly and disassembly using screws - hand construction
- Modular design to allow a variety of configurations
- Components that have a low embodied energy - locally sourced and produced efficiently
- - Minimal wastage.
Terry Bail and Martin Urakawa
See sustainable design for more information on construction of the Live Green House.
Design and construction of the Live Green House
The timber in the Live Green House has been left unpainted as it was considered important for visitors to see the range of materials used in the house. This includes Australian Hoop Pine veneer on the plywood panels, and a range of recycled Australian hardwood timbers such as Spotted Gum and Blue Gum.
The timber used within the House has been sealed with a citrus based oil.
Painting the timber has been avoided to preserve the texture and character of the timber. The characteristic markings of reused timber are apparent within the House - old nail holes and the typical wear and tear over the previous life of the timber are visible within the House.
Paint invariably loses its vibrancy and needs regular recoating to maintain its colourfastness. Painting timber can also compromise any future recycling.
Energy
Around 90% of our electricity comes from fossil fuels such as coal which generates green house gas and contributes to climate change. Reducing electricity use within the home will save you money and help our environment.
Water
Water is one of our most valuable resources. Protecting our drinking water and ensuring our future water supply in essential.
Find out how to save money and help our environment by reducing water use in your home.
Waste
Australians produce the second-highest amount of waste in the world - we throw out 3.3 million tonnes of food every year. Reducing waste in and around the home - refusing, re-using and recycling - will save you money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help our environment.
Sustainable Design
Sustainable housing design – heating and cooling your home the natural way – will keep your home comfortable year-round, save you money and help our environment.
Kitchen
Small changes in the kitchen can make a significant difference to your home’s environmental footprint – it accounts for 16% of your home’s energy bill and around 10% of your household water use. A Live Green kitchen will save you money and help our environment.
Bathroom & Laundry
The average Australian home uses 230,000 litres of water a year - 40% is used in the bathroom. There are lots of simple ways you can create a Live Green Bathroom, reducing energy and water use and save money.
Living Areas
Living Areas that Live Green can be comfortable year-round, save you money on your electricity bill and produce fewer green house gas emissions.
Outdoors
Even in the smallest urban space you can create an area that lives green.
Links & Resources
More information, sustainable design references and more.
The products displayed in the Live Green House have been provided by sponsors for illustrative purposes. The inclusion of a product in the Live Green House does not constitute an endorsement by the City of Sydney of a particular branded product. There may be alternative products that are also appropriate choices.
Last Updated: Monday 23 November, 2009