Information for Owner Builders & Home Owners about Design & Construction

4  IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER FOR RESIDENTIAL COASTAL DESIGN IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

1 - SOLAR ORIENTATION

While protection of glazing from our harsh summer sun an important consideration in passive solar design, often the capturing of the warm northern winter sun is overlooked. Ideally most of the glazing and living areas will be located facing north, with some overhanging sun protection for summer while allowing the winter sun to penetrate into the house. Glazing facing east and west should be minimised and protected from those hot summer afternoons. Double glazing and Low-E glass can be effective in further controlling heat transfer through windows and doors. The best strategy for reducing summer heat is to stop the sun hitting the glazing to start with. This is where auto shutters and screens can also be useful.

2 - WIND AND COASTAL OUTDOOR LIVING

Most areas have cooling afternoon or evening summer breezes. In the coastal areas of south western Western Australia, it is the the ‘Fremantle Doctor’ which sweeps in from the south west. While it makes sense to use this cooling breeze, on the coast this breeze can be a veritable gale. With this in mind, outdoor living areas should be located on the northern side, using the bulk of the house as a wind break. This northern outdoor living area is also ideally located for access to the warm winter sun, allowing you to make the most of the wonderful climate of Western Australia.

3 - COASTAL WIND AND YOUR HOUSE

Those strong summer breezes may be ideal for cooling your house down but the very strength of them can be a problem. Your design should allow for a free flow of cooling breezes from the south to the north of the house. Obstructions and kinks in the flow of breezes should be minimised. Due to the strength of wind, thought should be put into the size and type of window and doors to the south. Control of the breeze is more important than having large expanses of windows and doors. A standard sliding door or window allow for large gaps through which the wind can push into the house. Alternatively an awning style window stops the direct thrust of the wind, allowing for a gentler breeze to enter around the sides and bottom of the window. A smaller awning window can be just as effective as a larger sliding window but without the feeling that you are living in a wind tunnel. An added effect of smaller more effective southern glazing is the reduction of heat loss through in winter.

4 - BALCONIES

Balconies can not only gain you valuable views of the coast, they can also be excellent outdoor living areas. Care should be taken, just like ground level outdoor living, to protect them from the late afternoon summer sun and those strong afternoon breezes. There are many ways to protect balconies, ranging from roofs and shade structures to windows or wind breaks. Careful design can make a coastal balcony a valuable asset to both your lifestyle and hip pocket.