Architecture

The Stamp House: a self-sustaining, solar-powered cyclone shelter

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Designed by Charles Wright Architects, the Stamp House in Queensland, Australia, is a self-sustaining home that can withstand a Category 5 cyclone
Constructed on a small patch of land in the middle of a pond, much of the Stamp House is comprised of a mixture of new and used concrete, which provides insulation to keep the temperature more constant throughout the year
Constructed on a small patch of land in the middle of a pond, much of the Stamp House is comprised of a mixture of new and used concrete, which provides insulation to keep the temperature more constant throughout the year
The designers worked with local environmental groups, like the Department of Environment and Resource Management and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, to ensure the project's water system did not interfere with the natural ecosystem
Huge cantilevers prevent water from seeping in and CWA claims the entire structure can stand up to a Category 5 cyclone
Huge cantilevers prevent water from seeping in and CWA claims the entire structure can stand up to a Category 5 cyclone
Visitors reach the house on a raised walkway that stretches over the pond waters to dry land
The Stamp House's main eco-friendly feature though is it's expansive water system, which is capable of harvesting up to 250,000 liters of water for home use and irrigation
Designed by Charles Wright Architects, the Stamp House in Queensland, Australia, is a self-sustaining home that can withstand a Category 5 cyclone
The Stamp House's main eco-friendly feature though is it's expansive water system, which is capable of harvesting up to 250,000 liters of water for home use and irrigation
The Stamp House was recently completed in the Far North Queensland area, but there has been no word yet on what function it will serve
Power is provided by solar panels that almost completely cover the roof and backed up by a solar-powered generator, eliminating the need for any fossil fuels to produce energy
The blueprints show two floors comprised of seven bedrooms protruding from a larger living area
The large living area in the center contains a kitchen/dining space, an open gym area, a few lounges, and several reflective ponds around a central pool
The large living area in the center contains a kitchen/dining space, an open gym area, a few lounges, and several reflective ponds around a central pool
The blueprints show two floors comprised of seven bedrooms protruding from a larger living area
Aside from blending the design with the location's natural resources, the Stamp House is also engineered to protect against cyclones and the flooding associated with them
Aside from blending the design with the location's natural resources, the Stamp House is also engineered to protect against cyclones and the flooding associated with them
View gallery - 17 images

Thanks to its tropical climate, Far North Queensland (FNQ), Australia, is a place where residents regularly have to deal with threats from the environment in the form of cyclones, while being mindful of their impact on the environment. One architectural firm has constructed a building that attempts to address both concerns simultaneously. Designed by Charles Wright Architects, the Stamp House in FNQ is a self-sustaining home that's sturdy enough to withstand a Category 5 cyclone.

CWA built the house for a client with the goal of creating a self-sustaining structure that made good use of the surrounding wetland at the building site. The designers worked with local environmental groups, like the Department of Environment and Resource Management and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, to ensure the project's water system did not interfere with the natural ecosystem.

Constructed on a small patch of land in the middle of a pond, much of the Stamp House is comprised of a mixture of new and used concrete, which provides insulation to keep the temperature more constant throughout the year. The blueprints show two floors with seven bedrooms protruding from a larger living space that includes a kitchen/dining area, an open gym area, a few lounges, and several reflective ponds around a central pool.

Power is provided by solar panels that almost completely cover the roof and which are backed up by a solar-powered generator, eliminating the need for any fossil fuels to produce energy. Visitors reach the house on a raised walkway that stretches over the pond waters to dry land.

Visitors reach the house on a raised walkway that stretches over the pond waters to dry land

The Stamp House's main eco-friendly feature, though, is it's expansive water system, which is capable of harvesting up to 250,000 liters of water for home use and irrigation. Water used by occupants is recycled right back into the system and the site even has its own tertiary sewage treatment plant. All of the required mechanical and hydraulic facilities are cooled by a self-contained thermal storage tank system and are controlled with a C-Bus home automation protocol.

Aside from blending the design with the location's natural resources, the Stamp House is also engineered to protect against cyclones and the flooding associated with them, which is a real concern for that particular area. Huge cantilevers prevent water from seeping in and CWA claims the entire structure can stand up to a Category 5 cyclone – it's actually classified as a cyclone shelter.

Huge cantilevers prevent water from seeping in and CWA claims the entire structure can stand up to a Category 5 cyclone

The Stamp House was recently completed, but there has been no word yet on what function it will serve. Regardless of its use though, it does serve as an excellent example of sustainable housing that's tailored to the environment around it.

Source: Charles Wright Architects via ArchDaily

View gallery - 17 images
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7 comments
Toffe Carling
Very nice design and all, But wouldn't it be lots more economical to use a shape that don't act like an sail for the wind? Round? That wouldn't be so cool looking as this house tho.
ADVENTUREMUFFIN
"Regardless of its use though, it does serve as an excellent example of sustainable housing that's tailored to the environment around it."
At over 5000 sq. ft to heat and cool, rural placement on a wetland, cement walls, in my opinion, there's little that is sustainable about this home.
Wesley Dart
You really could have your own crocodiles in the 'moat' around this castle!
JAT
It's ugly and expensive. Fits into its environment like a pimple on a nose!
L1ma
@Wesley Dart
Queensland has saltwater crocodiles which are a protected species, the problem is not getting them in your moat but getting rid of them.
John in Brisbane
It's a striking design and I appreciate that but overall, it appears more suitable for the head quarters of some international rescue team that deploys rocket planes to disasters.
I object to the term "sustainable" given the amount of energy required to make the concrete and build this structure. The energy budget for the house would be interesting to see - those solar panels would take many decades to repay the embodied energy costs. I like concrete's strength and potential to keep parts of a house cool but in this situation, unless they know more than me about the timeline for the coming zombie apocalypse, I think it is over-used.
Suukyi
Apparently the house is going to be used a holiday rental under the name "Alkira Resort House". Some stunning photos on their FB page and a greater insight into architect Charles Wright's inspiration.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alkira-Resort-House/319337614872719