At Designology we think sustainability considerations through. Did we mention we’ve won awards for this stuff? Our designs manage water catchment, waste management, solar orientation, solar power supply and passive heating.

The Convertible Homes prototype achieves a 6-star energy rating and this can be increased to meet your sustainability requirements. The building materials specified have been carefully considered and selected using set criteria. Read more about our sustainable convertible homes here.

Steel Colourbond CGI

Steel Colourbond CGI (corrugated iron) roof and wall cladding has been specified for its inherent properties – durability, low thermal mass, low maintenance, bushfire and storm resistance and economics. It’s also ideal for rain harvesting and provides an appropriate architectural response for both rural and coastal locations.

Plywood

Plywood was the world’s first engineered timber product and has been predominantly specified for the ceiling and wall linings while also assisting with bracing the structure. The specified plywood is produced from 100% renewable and sustainable plantation resource timber, is economical and has an environmentally friendly manufacturing process using 100% resource landscaping materials – bark and log cores. Other inherent qualities including low toxicity, low embodied energy, low thermal mass, high uniform strength and low shrinkage, versatility, lightweight and impact resistance make it an appropriate choice.

Steel – the lightweight one

The main superstructure has been designed using lightweight steel framing. Although steel has relatively high embodied energy compared to timber, unlike timber it’s infinitely recyclable. Steel has been selected for its superior strength to weight properties, durability, stability and versatility. All of the framing components can be pre-cut and/or pre-fabricated to the required shape and lengths thereby eliminating the need for additional cutting on site and wastage. Most of the members can be quickly and easily assembled using self-taping screws or bolted connections.

Stir in a bit of rice and wheat straw and voila!

Internal walls are non-load bearing and can therefore be constructed using a variety of lightweight materials, such as timber or steel stud framing. The prototype dwelling’s internal walls have been made from a combination of compressed rice and/or wheat straw (renewable raw materials) rigid infill panels which are easily cut and shaped and plaster lined timber stud framing.