House on a Hill

One of Christchurch’s lowest energy using architectural homes and used as a showcase for the what TMCo can achieve with several different energy services utilised throughout this centrally heated house. If you are thinking of building and using an architect, contact TMCo to arrange a walk-through and discussion on how these systems could be integrated into your next home. TMCo provided the full engineering package for this large hill residence; structural, civil, mechanical (HVAC), hydraulics, electrical, pool water services, seismic and energy. Space heating is via heat pump (a combination of hydronic underfloor and ducted heat pumps) and is completely remote controllable. Heat loss is significantly reduced by low E glazing and in the summer heat is rejected by architectural glazing treatment. Hot water is heated by a heat pump. Natural ventilation features strongly with the crossflow and stack effect design into the placement of the windows. Full energy modelling was completed on the house to ensure only the minimum systems were installed to make sure heating systems were not oversized, the correct glazing spec was integrated, etc. Earthquake resilience included structural design to 200% of current code. Sustainability included utilising as much of the existing structure, retaining, 100 plus year-old stonework, gardens etc and seamlessly integrating the new with the old and ultimately building the house around the 100 plus-year-old cherry tree.