The Log Cabin
- Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders in Marine Science
- Courses
- Future Students
- Current Students
- Research and Teaching
- Partners and Community
- About JCU
- Reputation and Experience
- Celebrating 50 Years
- Academy
- ALTAR
- Anton Breinl Research Centre
- Agriculture Technology and Adoption Centre
- Living on Campus
- Advanced Prawn Breeding Research Hub
- Advanced Analytical Centre
- Applying to JCU
- Alumni
- AMHHEC
- JCU Aquaculture Solutions
- AusAsian Mental Health Research Group
- ARCSTA
- Area 61
- Association of Australian University Secretaries
- Australian/NZ Students
- Australian Lions Stinger Research
- Boating and Diving
- JCU-CSIRO Partnership
- Employability Edge
- Career Ready Plan
- Australian Tropical Herbarium
- Careers at JCU
- Careers and Employability
- Australian Quantum & Classical Transport Physics Group
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology
- CITBA
- Chancellery
- CMT
- CASE
- College of Business, Law and Governance
- College of Healthcare Sciences
- WHOCC for N&M Education and Research
- College of Medicine and Dentistry
- College of Science and Engineering
- CPHMVS
- COVID-19 Advice
- Centre for Disaster Solutions
- CSTFA
- Cyclone Testing Station
- The Centre for Disaster Studies
- Daintree Rainforest Observatory
- Diploma of Higher Education
- Discover Nature at JCU
- Research Division
- Services and Resources Division
- Education Division
- Division of Tropical Environments and Societies
- Division of Tropical Health and Medicine
- Economic Geology Research Centre
- Elite Athletes
- eResearch
- ERC
- Estate
- Financial and Business Services Office
- Fletcherview
- Foundation for Australian Literary Studies
- Gender Equity Action and Research
- GetReady4Uni
- Give to JCU
- Governance
- Information for JCU Cairns Graduates
- Graduate Research School
- Graduation
- Indigenous Education and Research Centre
- Indigenous Engagement
- Indigenous Legal Needs Project
- Inherent Requirements
- IsoTropics Geochemistry Lab
- IT Services
- International Schools
- International Students
- Research and Innovation Services
- JCU Eduquarium
- JCU Events
- JCU Global Experience
- JCU Ideas Lab
- JCU Job Ready
- JCU Motorsports
- JCU Prizes
- JCU Sport
- JCU Turtle Health Research
- Language and Culture Research Centre
- CEE
- LearnJCU
- Library
- Mabo Decision: 30 years on
- National Reconciliation Week
- MARF
- Marine Geophysics Laboratory
- New students
- Off-Campus Students
- Office of the Vice Chancellor and President
- Virtual Open Day
- Orpheus
- Outstanding Alumni
- Parents and Partners
- Pathways to university
- Planning for your future
- Placements
- Policy
- PAHL
- Publications
- Professional Experience Placement
- Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Rapid Assessment Unit
- RDIM
- Researcher Development Portal
- Safety and Wellbeing
- Scholarships
- Contextual Science for Tropical Coastal Ecosystems
- Staff
- State of the Tropics
- Strategic Procurement
- Student Equity and Wellbeing
- Student profiles
- SWIRLnet
- TARL
- TESS
- TREAD
- TropEco
- TQ Maths Hub
- TUDLab
- Unicare Centre and Unicampus Kids
- UAV
- VAVS Home
- Work Health and Safety
- WHOCC for Vector-borne & NTDs
- Media
- Copyright and Terms of Use
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
RESIDENTIAL
Key facts
Simplicity, ingenuity and use of locally available materials and resources
Project data
- Location: Julatten, QLD, Australia
- Year completed: 1985
OVERVIEW
This project was initiated in 1984 and completed in 1985. It was not originally conceived as an ecological or sustainable dwelling. However, the open design, the use of readily available materials on the property, and the topographical location resulted in the construction lending itself to be upgraded to an efficient sustainable and comfortable house design.
Over a period of time the owners managed their own renovation and retrofitting project. Custom designed systems and innovation were key to the success.
A new roof was built that included insulation throughout. Timber ceilings were added to the verandas and eaves. All of the log construction was re-sealed. Screens were installed throughout.
The owners custom designed and installed their own PV system, donkey wood hot water system and grey water recycle filter system.
The house site is located on the highest buildable location available on the 14.45 Hectare undulating property. The land falls away from the house site for around 300º allowing a nice outlook and enhancing the natural airflow and natural cooling during the summer months.
The original design for a two bedroom house has been maintained. The house faces North and South with two three- metre verandahs covering the full length of the house on the eastern and western sides.
The two bedrooms are situated on the southern side. The bathroom and toilet is on the west, and the kitchen, dining and lounge open design completes the simple interior layout.
Exterior walls and structure are hardwood logs. Interior double walls are sawn 100mm wide planed Kauri Pine planking.
The floor is concrete. The master bedroom, bathroom and kitchen floors are tiled; the remainder is linoleum.
The roof is galvanised sheet over batt insulation. Doors are solid double planked Kauri Pine.
Interior and exterior paints are water based excluding verandas posts and beams which are treated.
Gas is used for cooking and running one refrigerator. A donkey wood hot water system has capacity for a two day supply on one firing.
The electrical system is a standalone 1500W PV system with 1500 Amp battery storage. A 5KVA backup generator is also available, but never required even during long spells of wet weather. The main purpose for the generator is for running machinery when undertaking repairs or building maintenance.
The services water for this residence is derived from the Mowbray River via petrol driven positive displacement pump. An overhead 4000 litre water tank feeds the house and gardens using gravity. Water is also harvested from the roof into another 4000 litre tank. During the wet season, water is seldom pumped from the river as the rain water from its tank can be transferred to the gravity tank by a small electric pump. Rainfall collection during the wet season is generally sufficient to supply household needs for up to 5 months of a given year. On average petrol used for pumping from the river would not exceed 30 litres annually. A custom designed grey water recycle filter system for irrigation is also installed.
“In one word: ‘simplicity’. The house affords excellent insulation. During winter we regularly register a difference of up to 12ºC higher temperature inside against outside without any additional heating. Just by closing the windows and doors as the sun starts setting and temperature dropping.
In summer it works in reverse though only to about 6ºC to 7ºC. The log construction also offers good sound insulation. The climate obviously contributes, but we do not require air conditioning or heating. We do have a single small floor stand fan which at most we have used three or four times in a year and some years never. The house is energy efficient and cost efficient.
Maintenance is very low due to the robust construction. It was constructed to cyclone standards.
We have no power or water bills and we are very comfortable. The house also offers numerous opportunities to further improve sustainability. It has twice featured in Sustainable house day.” Brian Lambert
Designer and builder: Robert Luis
Photographs courtesy of Brian Lambert
Information and photos are supplied by the project owners and project designers. The Tropical Green Building Network and James Cook University (the administrators) cannot guarantee the accuracy or authenticity of this content. All persons use the case studies at their own risk and the administrators will not be liable for loss or damage incurred by any person who relies on this content.