Intro

Introduction:

This Blog will document the build of a new house built for my retirement in sunny (and at times humid and wet) Noosa.

I'll try to keep a diary style blog talking and showing what I'm up to on a day-to-day basis when things are happening.

At this time the status of the build is:

• Land selected and purchased;

• Architect appointed and concept plans finalised;

• Engineer selected for design of wall, roof and slab structural requirements;

• A plan set to allow an owner build to proceed;

• A caravan purchased as temporary onsite accommodation during the initial build phase;

• A 20 foot container purchased as a lockable onsite storage and workshop;

• Dual water tanks purchased to supply water during build and for later utilisation for permanent use;

• Bushfire report for design considerations

• Soil survey completed for engineering and septic designs

• Enviro septic design completed;

• Garden designer selected to advise on appropriate plantings for use and location;

• Temporary letterbox for newly addressed mail;

• Room layout pegged on block to allow for preliminary driveway for access and location of onsite utilities.  

The build sequence, once BA approved, will be to initially start and complete what will be the Guest Room, ie a self contained module which we can use once completed and then dispense with the caravan or hold onto it for a longer period for visitor use.

This first building will allow me to get back up to speed on building, trial the structural design and the architectural style/aesthetics of the vision.  While this is underway, time will also be spent on landscaping where feasible, which will include incorporate overall drainage solutions.

Once completed we can move onto the main structure, the combined garage/living building.

The following photos will show the site (double click to view larger), some examples of the vision we are trying to achieve and the architectural sketches of the design to date.

Terra Casa was the original inspiration, although this build will be somewhat constrained, but the relationship should be obvious; note the seperate modules and central major building. 

This building also shares some of the style to be incorporated, in this case the roof structure. 

Internally this is the industrial style hoped to be achieved, especially the window treatment.

This is a sketch of the design viewed from the south west perspective, showing the Guest Room in the foreground and the Living/Garage (centre).  There is a hallway running along the southern side of all buildings linking them together.  The main Bedroom is the little protrusions top of image, but obscured by the larger main structure. The garage is entered from the northern building side, after entering the property and driving through the hallway, which is a walkway at that point.

I will add a room layout plan shortly. 

Above plan shows the building footprint on the block

This layout plan is the settled design.  From leftGuest, Garage/Living and Main Bedroom (North up)