As part of our Feels Like Home property feature we'll be taking a look inside some of the city's premier properties and talking to the families who live there.
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Bathurst pair Ben and Deb have always dreamt of living in a straw bale home. And their wish has recently come to fruition – thanks to award-winning builders Viva Living Homes – in the form of a stunning four-bedroom dwelling.
The pair were extremely keen to ensure that their project was as sustainable as possible – from start to finish. So, they engaged Sam Vivers, a professional straw bale builder, who shared their passion for true sustainability.
“In our opinion, a sustainable home is made from natural materials (straw, earth, timber, stone) as a basic requirement,” Mr Vivers said. “Many people believe energy efficiency makes a sustainable home. That’s just one part of the mix for us.
“A Viva home won’t have dangerous off-gassing from volatile organic compounds because everything is natural, even down to the clay and lime paints we use. We use as few man-made products as possible, so therefore they don’t need to be labelled ‘eco’ products, they already are.”
This two-storey home is solar passively designed and includes four bedrooms and a large living/kitchen area. It includes straw bale walls and cob walls (solid earth walls) as well as wattle and daub for internal walls, lime render on the outside and clay render on the inside which has been lime washed.
A solar hydronic heating system is in use, whereby cooking is done on a wood cooker with a wet back which transfers heat to the wall panel heaters throughout the home. There is solar hot water and photovoltaic solar power hooked up to the grid.
A worm farm is used to process effluent and grey water on site.
The house achieved an energy rating of 8.5 stars out of 10 and was also tested by eTools and achieved a Gold Medal for its carbon footprint.
“The reason our straw bale and earth homes were designed was so people can live their life and be green .... and not have to give up their lifestyle,” he said.
The Viva team has won two Excellence in Building Awards, presented to them by the NSW Master Builder Association. The company won the most coveted award, best home under $500,000, against all the conventional home entries.
They also took away an award in environmental management which reflects on how environmentally the building site was run from start to finish.
“The industry is recognising our vision that not only are our homes natural, non-toxic and good for the environment, but they are out-performing conventionally built homes as well as so-called ‘sustainable’ homes built with man-made materials,” Mr Vivers said.
Contact Viva Living Homes during work hours on 1300 929 111 or go to www.vivahomes.com.au.
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Do you have an amazing home? It doesn't matter what kind of house you have - whether is architecturally designed or a straw house you built yourself - we're keen to take a look inside. If you would like to have your house featured in Feels Like Home contact chief of staff Brian Wood on 6330 2323 or email him on brian.wood@fairfaxmedia.com.au