KINGFISHER HOUSE, GOLD COAST

Join our journey to encourage more luxury Australian sustainable homes

Kingfisher House Gold Coast has a mission: Show people they can build an innovative, good-sized, luxury family home that doesn’t cost the earth.

When people see, visit, or read about Kingfisher House, we want them just to ask the question of their suppliers, builder, and architects ‘what is a more sustainable option?’

We want those same companies to be asking their clients about the impact on the environment and offering better choices. We want people building more houses that are better for the environment, not just meeting the building code with no compromise on luxury and comfort.

We hope we can demonstrate what can be achieved with just a simple question:

“What is the more sustainable choice?”

We acknowledge and pay respects to the people of the Yugambeh language region of the Gold Coast and all their descendants both past and present. We also acknowledge the many Aboriginal people from other regions as well as Torres Strait and South Sea Islander people who now live in the local area and have made an important contribution to the community.

All-Electric, Solar-Powered Home

The home and design minimise the demand for electricity, with a substantial solar panel array and home batteries designed to expand over time. We’ve chosen all-electric appliances, as well as an electric car and electric bikes.

Environmental Credentials

9.1 Star Energy Rated! Carbon neutral construction, including full carbon audit, with life-cycle analysis.

Solar and Battery System

Kingfisher House includes a 17kW solar PV grid-connected system. A 27kWh battery system has also been included, storing excess solar power during the day, and offset peak demand. The system is designed to predominantly run off-grid, with the option to use grid-power on the rare occasion it is needed.

Climate Resilience

The home has been designed to meet the increasing frequency and intensity of storms and bushfires.

Heating and Cooling

Passive and active systems mean the house controls. Passive – windows, overhangs, landscaping, thermal mass, insulation. Active – efficient fans, mechanical ventilation system, hydronic concrete flooring. With air-conditioning for humidity control. Heat pump hot water system drawing from the substantial solar system heats house and pool for year-round comfort.

Landscaping

Landscaping aims to capture and slow water to reduce erosion and make the most seasonal rain. This provides water for wildlife and plants and allows the water to slowly filter through the landscape before flowing to the creek. An edible garden, combined with composting, drip irrigation, and native beehives, focuses on sustainability. We’ve selected edible garden plants, orchard trees, local indigenous plants, native plants, and water-wise plants wherever possible. We’ve ensured any fencing, including dog fencing, is friendly to wildlife.

Glazing

Double glazing throughout reduces temperature leakage and dependence on energy for comfort. Windows feature partially recycled PVC frames that avoid carbon-intensive aluminium frames. Maximized windows facing northeast and working in conjunction with the thermal mass of the slab.

Roofing and Cladding

A natural zinc roof has been chosen to focus on longevity and can last for hundreds of years. This minimises the use of manufactured steel and improves the recyclability of the whole building. Operable Australian-made louvers and twin-wall polycarbonate in a central indoor-outdoor courtyard control temperature and daylight.

Home Automation

Advanced lighting and temperature control, smart watering, keyless entry, smart security home cinema, and more.

Lighting

Efficient lighting, including led lights and high-quality, long-lasting fittings. Additionally, local artisan-crafted lighting features in special areas of the home.

Selection of Fittings

We were delighted to source a concrete bath and bathroom basins from a local and innovative concrete design company. Allergy-free flooring, formaldehyde-free cabinets, low VOC paints, and natural oils and sealers were selected throughout the home.

Water

The home aims to be self-sufficient with rainwater storage tanks, filtered rainwater to the whole house, and low flow taps. There is an onsite sewage treatment system used for irrigation.

Flooring

Green concrete, using waste materials to minimise cement use and reduce the carbon footprint. A low-fossil fuel, carbon-neutral linoleum has been chosen, and a natural alternative to vinyl, antibacterial, easy to maintain, long-lasting. Clay pavers, Australian-made, 100% electricity offset and source waste oil to fire their kilns. We have chosen to minimise the use of tiles where possible. Innovative drainage minimises the need for stainless steel strip drains.

Travel and building methodology

Unfortunately, the main building was riddled with termites. The advice we received was that this would continue to be a problem unless we could better protect the slab. We changed our brief to demolish the main building walls—everything except the lovely chimney. Of course, our instructions were to reuse, sell or recycle everything we could and minimise waste, locally if possible. We reused the existing slab, trusses, and pavers. Throughout the build, we have offset fuel costs whenever we could track them. This includes trades trips to and from the building site.

Wellness, Accessibility and Universal Design

As we get older, things change. Mobility, sleeping patterns and more. The whole design of the building allows good accessibility and easy upgrade for more complex mobility needs. In addition, a Pilates reformer, yoga room, and all-year swimming pool provide exercise options. The ambience of the home – including white noise from the pond waterfall and smart lighting help with sleep patterns and mental wellbeing.