Inglewood house is located north of Adelaide on a 3.2ha property with extensive planting.

The building is partly settled into the north-facing sloped site, providing earth-sheltering on the south for high thermal mass, with doubled-glazed windows to the north.

Firewood is supplied by a native tree plantation watered by an on-site sewage treatment system, and viewed from the house across a picturesque dam.

A strategically placed micro rainforest garden generates cool air that is drawn into the house at ground level, along with air from an underground “cold air storage”.

A 90,000-litre concrete rainwater tank supports the building structure at one end.

Other energy efficient and environmental design features include:

• A Trombe wall which generates heat
• A tower which traps heat in winter and vents in summer
• Insulation and thermal mass to walls
• Central fireplace in the living room for ambient heat and hot water supply