Eco online

Fast forward ten, or even twenty years and fashionistas are doing to houses what they've been doing to celebrities for years. I can hear Carlson Kresley and co, condemning today's suburbs as soooo PCC (Pre Climate Change). So as a community service to our dear readers and to help avoid fashion disasters of future decades, I've put together a little Top Ten of don'ts when it comes to designing a house that can withstand the test of future public appeal.

Illustration: Lyndal Chase

1. Plastic products. Imagine future generations looking back at us and saying, You actually burnt fossil fuels and then turned them into toxic stuff that was designed to be thrown away?
2. Big Western windows with no shading or protection -- the eco-house equivalent of black underwear under a white outfit. Not a good look when you are trying to keep a house cool in the late afternoon in summer, (especially kid's bedrooms!). Keep in mind by the year 2020 air-conditioning will be a luxury that was probably dropped off the household budget years ago. If you already have large western windows, look at vertical shading (screens) or vegetation to shade them or replace with smaller windows, (and heavily insulate the wall while you are at it).
3. Air-conditioning. It will probably become cost prohibitive long before it becomes unfashionable, but at some point in our future evolution, we'll appreciate the health benefits of natural heating and cooling without the cost.
4. Facing the˜view, or the street, rather than northern orientation. How many houses have you been to with large windows to the east or west because that's where the view is? Bet no-one sits in those rooms to admire the view for long in summer. As Christopher Alexander said in A Pattern Language, what's wrong with little windows in unusual places that give you a glimpse of something fantastic outside? It actually builds a sense of expectation and transition as you move through a house.
5. Double car garages. Self explanatory really. As we move into an era of diminished car use in favour of public transport it seems almost impossible to think we're still giving preference to the good ole double garage that is often a home for junk, not cars.
6. Up-sized houses. In the same way that large vehicles are copping a bit of flack now, small homes will be beautiful one day especially when they equate to less running costs, less cleaning and more free time!
7. Lawns and other non-productive gardens. I can see a time when it will be very uncool to spend the weekend on ride-on mowers, Jamie Durie-type-makeovers will have died an un-natural death, and gardens that don’t actually do anything (i.e produce food) will be seen as a bit of a liability, as large scale agriculture and supermarket foods start to suffer. And large paved and concreted areas bouncing heat up into the house? What were we thinking?
8. Hidden solar panels and tanks. Rather than being tucked away as an eyesore, these must-haves will be worn loud and proud one day. Bling for your house.
9. Black roofs: the little black dress of house design. Now really, do I actually need to explain why dark roofs are a bad idea? Yes, we can insulate and vent and air-condition our homes to within an inch of their life, to compensate, but a simple choice of a more reflective colour, is going to save us the additional work and cost.
10. And the fashion faux pas to end all red carpet disasters: bad eaves design. I've had three people in the last week tell me how they can't open their windows when it's raining (in summer, when you want to), or that they have unliveable rooms during summer etc, etc.

One day we will all demand homes that are designed for our local climate, and what the sun and winds are doing around us. So there you have it: my Top Ten. I actually have a Top One Hundred if truth be known, but you have to start somewhere.

Advertisement
 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

Related articles:

1. Design for climate
2. Affordable eco-houses