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FOR Roz and Alan Foster their spectacular eco-friendly Port Elliot home is a labour of love built 12 year ago overlooking the sea at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac.
Detailed care has been taken to use environmentally sound, non toxic materials and finishes throughout plus there’s an abundant organic garden. For the Fosters it’s regrettably now time to downsize and move on.
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How's the serenity?[/caption]
Ray White Goolwa | Victor Harbor Principal has listed 1 Stock Drive, Port Elliot with a price guide of $1.1 million and received a lot of interest so far. The owners got hooked on the idea of a natural house some 30 year ago and they wanted to build a beautiful living space that was also healthy to live in. “For us, there was no going back,” the Fosters said.
Inspired by the ocean. Ms Foster designed the house with curved roofs in keeping with the environment and built two pavilions, one for sleeping and one for living. The sleeping pavilion was elevated to allow the warm air from the combustion heater in the living pavilion to rise up into the bedrooms in winter. Passive solar design principles were followed meaning all of the living areas face due north and they opted for less but more spacious rooms.
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Just 1hr 10min drive south of Adelaide[/caption]
The Colorbond clad, timber framed bedroom pavilion gains some heat in the summer, it also cools down very quickly at night when sea breezes flow through it. It is a common construction method in the tropics for this reason.
“After living within earth walls previously and loving the feel of the quietness and the insulation benefits, we decided to build our living pavilion out of poured earth, a similar finish to rammed earth,” Ms Foster said. “Little was, and still isn't, known about the method, however we had helped friends build one in the Barossa and knew we could do it ourselves, especially with Alan's skills as a carpenter and builder.
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Rendered earth-walled build[/caption]
“After first building the curved roofed garage and bedroom pavilion, we moved in and began work on the earth walls of the kitchen/dining/living pavilion.
“Alan poured the concrete slabs for the garage and living pavilion with the help of two elderly Italian concreters that he knew from Murray Bridge. Both in their 70s, they would travel down together each day to prepare and pour the slab and I would reward them with home cooked cakes at lunchtime. It was a happy time.” Once the slabs completed, Mr Foster set about making the timber formwork for the earth walls.
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Designed and built by the owners [/caption]
They had truckloads of sandy road base and limestone rubble delivered which they mixed 50/50 by the shovel load into their concrete mixer, together with 10 per cent cement and water. It is a wetter mix than that used in rammed earth. The limestone rubble was used to lighten the colour of the yellow sandy road base.
During the build the pair tuned in “religiously” to their favourite show, Grand Designs, which inspired and encouraged them along the way.
The northerly aspect of our house is the single most important reason for the liveability of the home. The next best feature is that all the wall paints and timber finishes are completely non toxic meaning it is a healthy home to live in, and for family and friends to visit.
“We are proud to say that we are self-sufficient in solar power and rainwater and an award winning Biolytix grey/blackwater system treats our waste with the help of worms and filters and then delivers water to our orchard,” the pair said.
“We grow our fruit, veggies and herbs organically and regard living naturally with a holistic approach.
“It is a delight to take a cuppa outside and watch little blue wrens and countless other bird species enjoying our native gardens along with the lizards and insects. It is a non toxic home for them also.
“One last thing about our home that we are sure you will enjoy is the ever changing sea views from Goolwa to the Coorong and the magnificent sunrises you will witness.”
