Water management in architecture and design

Challenge

Incurring no electricity, sewage or water bills seems like an unattainable dream, but that was the brief to Strine Design for Krawarree House.

Designed for a young family, the brief was to create a warm, sunny and modest holiday retreat for extended stays. Minimal energy requirements and a house operating off the grid were highly sought after initiatives.

An EcoLet makes the grade in a permanent home

Challenge

Joan lives in the Mount Alford area in the heart of the Scenic Rim of south-east Queensland, just 15kms from Boonah and 100kms from Brisbane. Joan wanted a Council approved toilet for her home but it is surrounded by large trees and planted gardens so the space available in her backyard could not accommodate a septic tank. As she lives alone, Joan didn’t want to spend a lot of money on a toilet.

Odourless, waterless toilets that contribute to affordable and sustainable homes

Challenge

Owen and his wife live at Clear Mountain, Cashmere outside Brisbane. As a building designer, with a focus on sustainability, Owen was keen to design a home for his family that was sustainable but didn’t cost a fortune. Their site is not sewered and they rely on tank water so Owen wanted a waterless composting toilet because it costs a lot less than a septic system and doesn’t use any water. In fact, Owen estimates that on average families flush about 30,000 litres down the toilet every year which is expensive if you aren’t connected to a water supply. However, Owen’s wife was sceptical and needed convincing.

User friendly and inexpensive solution for limited water supply area.

Challenge

Mrs Marshall had moved onto acreage outside Goondiwindi to be with her son and his young family. The area is more than 10km outside the town limits and as such is not connected to sewage and also has a low annual rainfall so saving water is a priority. Initially Mrs Marshall used a porta potty but she wanted a more permanent yet inexpensive solution.

A World Heritage Area recognised for both its natural values and cultural values

Challenge

The park needed toilet facilities that would cope with the extreme temperatures as well as the peaks and troughs in visitor numbers. Importantly, the cultural significance of the area and its fragile environment called for toilets that would leave a minimal footprint on the land.

Off grid toilets

Challenge

Kanyana Park is a lookout point with beautiful views out over Moreton Bay. Approximately 16,000 to 20,000 people visit the park annually. There is only tank water on the site, no sewerage and no electricity so a composting toilet was the most practical and economical solution.

Supporting education and better living standards

Challenge

Comunidade Edmund Rice (CER) was established in East Timor in the late 1990s and supports health, education and development projects in partnership with five remote communities, including the village of Railaco Kraic.

With some of the lowest economic indicators in the world and where 50% of population is under the age of 18, education has been identified as key to prosperity for the area. Ensuring the retention of teachers in a remote area like Railaco Kraic is therefore incredibly important. However, a limited and unreliable supply of water and no electricity meant that facilities for teachers where very basic.