STATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
DUAL OCCUPANCY
508 BRONTE ROAD BRONTE -JUNE 2004

Site overview

View from site

The client brief centred on their intention to save the interesting existing house from demolition and replacement by a Mc mansion. The existing 1940's house is too undersized for the commercial value of this prized site, so it faced a substantial threat.

We have looked at retaining it within a larger scheme that respects what is a charming early postwar house. The larger scheme has space enough for a dual occupancy design, with adequate room for both.

There is an important benefit for the neighbours in this arrangement because they retain their views almost unimpeded. They have given in principle approval.

We also desired, as set out in DCP20 [cl.4.2-c] and d]] that the scheme be energy aware. Already we have saved the embodied energy in the existing house. But there are solar cells on the garage roof for an active system, and 90% of the roof water runoff is saved in a 30,000 l. under floor tank which will be used in the house and garden. Unfortunately none of these benefits show up in the NATHERS assessment.

The house casts so little midwinter shadow we believe shadow diagrams are unnecessary. The cliff and wall on the south side collects all this shadow except for the portion cast onto the front yard of no 510 Bronte Rd. by the new garage. Even here only the upper 600 mm of the wall is above fence line and the position and effect is similar to the existing garage.

We also considered it important to maintain a view corridor to the ocean from the footpath. The new garage configuration is designed to do that and the 'v' angle also means that the crossing can be narrower than otherwise.There need be no loss of on street parking places.

Although the DCP requires 3 spaces on site for cars, we request this not be enforced. It is a difficult feat on this site which rapidly drops away from the road. Parking would need to be suspended over the site. Such an edifice would surely dominate the existing house.

Generally the new design conforms within all the other code requirements. It does not inconvenience the neighbourhood. It may in fact even illustrate well how the Council codes can achieve the good results intended for the community.

COMPLIANCE CALCULATIONS
Area of Site: = 627.81 sq. m
Area of existing house = 121.33 sq. m
New areas;
Ground floor extensions = 40.56 sq. m.
Apartment/ sunroom level = 114.45 sq. m.
Garages, street level = 49.23 sq. m
Total of new areas = 204.24 sq. m,
Total area of development = 325.57 sq. m.
Area for calculation of FSR = 325.57- 30 sq. m. = 295.57 sq. m.

Allowable FSR 0.5/1
Actual FSR = (295.57/ 627.81 sq. m.) = 0.47/1

Area of main house (unit 1) = 198.06 sq. m.
Area of apartment (unit 2) = 78.28 sq. m.
Area of garages = 49.23 sq. m.

Contact:

John Hamilton Doyle - B.Arch RAIA Architect
Licensed Builder 32712 - ABN: 43 633 197 338
88 Roslyn St, Ashbury 2193
Tel: 61 2 9798 4915, Fax: 61 2 9797 0245
Mobile: 0412 555 935
Email: ejhr@ozemail.com.au