Designs on eco-living
by Emma Masters
At first glance, UniSA industrial design lecturer Martin Freney's house looks like any family home.
But looking closer, you will find not only a place with charm and character but one with environmental principles underpinning its design and construction.
For Freney and his partner Zoe, the path to owner-building an environmentally friendly eco-house began after attending a permaculture course in the late 90s.
“After the course, Zoe and I were really inspired to try to live a more sustainable, healthy life,” Freney said.
“We wanted to grow our own herbs, fruit and vegetables, and when we bought a block of land it all snowballed from there.”
Their Cherry Gardens home, which was three years in the making, has earth-rendered straw-bale walls and passive solar design, which Freney says keep the house cool in summer and warm in winter.
“We started with builders and architects, but moved into owner-building so we could have more control of the process,” Freney said.
“My drafting skills were really useful in the design stage.
“All our family and friends got involved – you can even see their finger and hand prints in the rendered plaster on the walls.”
One of the stand-out environmental features is a reed-bed that filters the home’s grey water. The cleaned water is then used on a fruit orchard they have established on the 1.5 hectare property.
The home also has solar electricity and water, rainwater tanks, a composting toilet and the entire floor is heated through water pipes connected to the wood-fire stove. Construction of a cool room for food storage is underway.
“In keeping with our sustainable focus, we reused building materials wherever we could,” Freney said.
“The floor boards are all recycled. Zoe also scouted around salvage and second-hand furniture places to furnish the home.
“She had some amazing finds and had fun restoring them.
“We just love it up here. The air is fresh, our little boy Zephyr is so happy – and so are our alpacas.”
The owner-built, eco-house has been a feature for national Solar House Day over the last two years where more than 350 people have visited the Freney home.
Many UniSA architecture students have also visited the house as part of their studies.