Home Stay Dome Showcases Energy Efficient Design

Location:	Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Country:	Australia
Construction Date:	December 2005
Client:	Diann White 15 Regent Court Yaroomba Sunshine Coast QLD 4573 Ph: 07 5471 6543
Architect:	Tony Hill Dome Systems 12 Lygon Court Pialba QLD 4655 Ph: 07 4124 6440 Fax: 07 4194 0047
Builder:	Atrium Homes
Products Used:	ZINCALUME® steel for Roofing ZINCALUME® steel for Walling
Awards:	Regional and State Queensland Master Builder Association Excellence in Energy Aware Housing Award and the Sunshine Coast Environment Council Sustainable Building Award.

An award winning home stay residence on the Sunshine Coast has combined energy efficient living with the style of the traditional Queenslander.

Built as both a family home and a home stay residence, the featured atrium construction provides a feeling of space and light within the home and a distinctive look from outside.

Hervey Bay based Atrium Homes, specialising in the construction of architecturally designed, patented steel-based structures, designed and built the award winning home.

It uses a mix of steel, glass and timber to complete the stunning look.

Externally the walls and skillion roof of the octagon shaped home are clad in ZINCALUME® steel.

The steel theme continues internally with a number of feature walls, the ceiling and even a shower wall clad in ZINCALUME® steel.

The three level home features five bedrooms - two available as overnight home stay accommodation - three bathrooms, an office space, open plan kitchen and internal deck, and a mezzanine level.   

This home is a model of energy efficiency, with one metre eaves on the eastern, northern and western walls to protect occupants from the summer sun.

Ten triangular windows around the top of the dome release hot air in summer and trap the sun's heat in winter.

A 22,000 litre rainwater tank sits in the backyard and a solar power system provides up to 80 percent of the home's power needs.

Owner Diann White says she and her husband wanted to build a 'livable' environmentally friendly home.

"We wanted an open, self sustaining home," Diann stated.  "The dome construction provided a light filled design that could be adapted to enhance the environmentally friendliness of the home.

"ZINCALUME® steel provided a striking, environmentally friendly cladding solution that requires minimum maintenance."

Located near Coolum Beach, the home has won a series of awards, including the regional and state Queensland Master Builder Association Excellence in Energy Aware Housing Awards and the Sunshine Coast Environment Council Sustainable Building Award.