Killarney Retreat

A sustainable (and sustaining) house for a couple and ocassionally friends, on 50 ha of open, gently undulating country on the upper reaches of the Condamine.

Distant and beautiful views to the north east around to the south west.

The climate is "tough": harsh dry heat in summer; "weather" from the south west (summer storms and cold winter winds); "biting" dry cold in winter. But its nearly always sunny and nights are cool in summer.

There is no power or water connection to the site: its "off the grid".

With solar/battery, gas and wood energy, solar hot water, rainwater storage and treatment, a 9.5 star BERS rating and a small budget, this may be Australia's least expensive "zero carbon" house.

The building is a simple but sophisticated response to solving the problems of the location and site. These determined its form and materials.

The design project was a deep examination and re-direction of needs and wants and desired experiences.

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