Herbert Jacobs House 2, Assessment 2 FINAL

Herbert Jacobs House II by Frank Lloyd Wright
by Samantha Dunne 450532812
Sustainable Building Design Principles
DESC9147 Semester 1, 2015
Redesig�ed for the Sydney Climate
(Australia.com, 2015)

Table of Contents:
1. Table of Contents...........................................................................................................................................Page 1
2. Int�oduction...................................................................................................................................................Page 2
3. Backg�ound and Objectives........................................................................................................................Page 3
4. Methodolog�..................................................................................................................................................Page 4
5. Sydney Climate Analysis.............................................................................................................................Page 5
6. Ideal Environmental Solution for Climate, Site, and Ty�olog�..........................................................Page 6
7. Weaknesses of the existing building in a Sydney Climate.................................................................Page 7
8. Desig� Modiﬁcations to the Original Building Desig�:
8.1 Optimize the site: location and orientation..............................................................................Page 8
8.2 Optimize the site: topog�aphy.....................................................................................................Page 9
8.3 Optimize the building for�, plan, and section ........................................................................Page 10
8.4 Optimize the nat�ral environment: ear�h shelter...................................................................Page 11
8.5 Addition of a g�een roof............................................................................................................Page 12
8.6 Optimize building ser�ices: shading and cooling.................................................................Page 13
8.7 Optimize building ser�ices: heating........................................................................................Page 14
9. Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations..................................................................................Page 15
10. Bibliog�aphy................................................................................................................................................Page 16
11. Appendices
11.1 Building description - plans elevations, sections.............................................................Page 17
11.2 Project reﬁnements and process for environmental analysis.......................................Page 18
1
(Rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au, 2015)

(C2es.org, 2015)
Int�oduction 2
Post World War Two era in the United States experienced many changes in the housing and development industries. Urban sprawl began to manifest due to
soldiers reuniting with their families, and being determined to live out the “American dream”: a home in the suburbs with a yard for the kids to play in. At this
time, the demand for this type of living was so strong that cookie-cutter suburbs began to take over the countryside. These suburbs consisted of identical
homes, street after street, constructed and designed in the cheapest way possible. This way, even lower-income families could be contenders for the
“American dream.” Unfortunately, although this movement provided many families with a significantly elevated quality of life, the environment suffered great
damage. Toxic products polluted the air and water, energy usage soared, and CO2 began to be dumped into the atmosphere at an alarming rate due to the
new necessity of single-family owned vehicles. Fortunately, simultaneously to this degenerative movement, there were a handful of people reacting to these
new demands in a more ecologically sustainable manner; one of those people was Frank Lloyd Wright.
Frank Lloyd Wright, an American architect, believed in the importance of using local materials, minimal energy, and integrating the building design with
the environment, rather than just inserting a cookie-cutter home on a flattened lot. in 1946, Wright began working on a home for the Jacobs family using
these same principles. This home is now known as Jacobs House 2, and will be referred to throughout this project as “JH2.” This house was designed for the
climate of rural Wisconsin so the Jacobs family could live out their own American dream. With its innovative shape, usage of local materials, and passive
heating/cooling abilities, the JH2 was regarded as a model home for ecological design at the time.
As it has been nearly 70 years since the design of the JH2, there have been many changes in the culture of the building industry, as well as advances in
ecologically sustainable design. These changes came directly out of the devastating results of decades of poor industry practice and the escalating fear of
irreversible global warming. According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (CCES)
based in the USA, buildings contribute to 39% of the total emissions of the country. The graph
on the right demonstrates this breakdown of emissions. Of the emissions from buildings, CCES
states that “nearly all of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the residential and commercial
sectors can be attributed to energy use in buildings” (C2es.org, 2015). In order to address this
problem, it is critical that Ecologically Sustainable Development teams are integrated in the process
of any new construction or retrofitting of a building. The role of these teams is to ensure proper
climatic and functional design for a building so that minimal energy usage is required.
CCES suggests the following ways to reducing a building emissions ”by increasing the amount of
electricity generated from low- and zero-carbon technologies, retrofitting existing buildings to reduce
energy consumption and improve energy efficiency, and constructing new buildings to be low- or zero-energy buildings” (C2es.org, 2015).
In any one of these scenarios, it is necessary to evaluate the embodied energy, building design, building envelope, on-site or distributed power generation,
and how energy is used in the building. All of these factors affect building emissions and therefore must be assessed properly in order to improve the carbon
footprint of the property industry (C2es.org, 2015). Looking at this information, however, would be trivial without considering the climate in which the
building exists. In order to design the most efficient and sustainable building, all the factors mentioned above must be looked at through a lens of climatic
integration. To demonstrate the importance of climatic design, this project will analyze the operational efficiency of the JH2 in the context of a new climate.
The features of the JH2 that were regarded as being great ecological innovations will be tested against the climate of Sydney, Australia. This project aims to
encourage climate consideration for all building design, in conjunction with other sustainable practices listed above. As JH2 refers to the house designed for
the climate of Madison, Wisconsin, this project will refer to the new design as “JH3” -- the revised design for the Sydney climate.

Backg�ound and Objectives 3
Background
The Herbert Jacobs House II was built by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1946-1948. It was the second project completed by Frank Lloyd Wright for the
Jacobs family. Due to its erection during the post WWII period, JH2 was a low-cost construction. This forced the family to participate in the actual
building of the home, and to use local materials to reduce costs. The house remains located in Madison-Wisconsin, USA, which was a rural area
at the time it was built. The house is surrounded by a forest, eliminating any type of urban heat island effect.
The design of the house is based on a semi-circle, deemed the “Hemi-cycle.” This was the first residence of its kind at the time. In addition to the
shape of the house, it was the pioneer project of passive solar design and radiant floor heating. Additionally, the design of the home utilized the
environment to drive the internal temperature of the home through partial earth berming and a sloping patio to drive the direction of the wind.
JH2 is primarily constructed out of local limestone, cement and local timber.
Objectives
In redesigning JH2 to JH3, it is important to maintain Wright’s basic sustainable design principles, while adding upgrades and modifications to
ensure the best solution for the Sydney climate. The primary objectives of this project are:
The following pages will commence with a an analysis of the Sydney climate, followed by the weaknesses of the JH2 design in Sydney, a detailed
assessment of the modifications necessary for the house to maintain an ecologically sustainable operation in Sydney, and concluding with
findings and recommendations derived based on this project.
1
2
3
Utilize natural elements to regulate internal heat loads, eliminating mechanical heating/cooling if possible
Design a green roof
Integrate building into existing space with earth berming

Methodolog� 4
Interpret Wright’s design
of Jacobs House 2
Analyze the climate
of Sydney
Identify then changes
that must be made to
Jacobs House 2
Use Climate Consultant
and Ecotect to create
detailed design solutions
for the JH3 in Sydney
Assess final design
decisions for practical
and environmental
impact
(Johnwoodcockillustration.co.uk, 2015)

Sydney Climate Analysis 5
The following climatic analysis pertaining to Sydney’s climate is according to the Observatory Hill weather station. This is the station that is the closest station
to the site that will be recommended for the location of the JH3.
Temperature
According to the Köppen Climate Classification System, Sydney’s climate is cataloged as
“maritime temperate,” (Ayton.id.au, 2015). A maritime temperate climate is characterized by its
warm or hot summers and cool but mild winters (Ayton.id.au, 2015). Due to its proximity to
the ocean, Sydney’s weather does not demonstrate extreme differences between seasons
(Wikipedia, 2015). The graph on the right represents the temperature in Sydney across the year. By reading the
mean temperature for each month, it is apparent that the difference in the average temperature between
winter and summer is a mere 10 degrees.
Rainfall
Maritime temperate climates are also known for predictable moderate rainfall. In Sydney, the average annual
rainfall over the past 150 years has been 120cm, with the summer months experiencing slightly higher
averages, however the rainfall is generally spread evenly throughout the year. The average number of rainy
days in Sydney is between 100-115 days (Bom.gov.au, 2015).
Sydney’s Seasonal Averages:
Heat Island Effect
Considering the size and density of Sydney, Heat Island Effect is a significant issue. The city retains more heat than its
pre-urbanized state, therefore creating a micro-climate. In turn, this reduces air quality, intensifies heat waves, demands
higher energy use, especially during peak hours. The map on the right indicates the various heat zones of the City of
Sydney. These affected areas are important to consider -- and avoid if possible -- when choosing a location for the JH3.
Extremes
Due to its juxtaposition between the ocean to the East, and the desert to the West, Sydney occasionally experiences
extreme weather events. Consideration must be given to these events when designing the JH3 to ensure proper shelter.
-heavy downpour of rains
-residual cyclones
-hail storms
Predictions
The future of Sydney’s climate is anticipated to be characterized by unpredictable rainfall, higher temperatures, and
intensified, more frequent drought. These predictions should also be taken into consideration when planning for new
building construction and city planning.
Climate Consultant 5.5 [Accessed June 10 2015]
Annual Temperature in Sydney, Australia
(Anon, 2015)
City of Sydney Heat Island EffectSummer
temperature high: 27–30 °C
rainfall: 99mm
Winter
temperature low: 8-9°C
rainfall: 103.4mm
-flash floods
-dust storms
-drought
-bushfires
-wind storms

Site: the rural location maximizes the usage of
the natural environment
-unpolluted natural ventilation
-no heat island effect
-noise reduction
-local materials used (limestone, timber)
-bermed earth (natural protection from
cold winds and reduces heat loss
Ideal Environmental Solution for Climate, Site, and Ty�olog� 6
As mentioned previously, the Herbert Jacobs House II was designed according to its geographical location, specifically considering the climate, site, and
typology. The ideal environment for this home is a humid continental climate in the Northern-Hemisphere -- specifically the precise lot in which it currently
stands. Therefore, the current design is totally incompatible with the Sydney climate, in regards to energy efficiency and resources.
Climate: designed for a long cold winter & short warm summer
-thermal mass (heat retention)
-radiant floor heating (heat radiation)
-natural ventilation (passive cooling)
-shading (passive cooling)
Typology: the hemi-cycle building form
allows to access sunlight year-round
-maximizes passive solar heating
-maximizes illumination
Ideal Environmental Solution-3995 Shawn Trail, Madison, WI USA
SOLAR PATH & SOLAR ACCESS
1. South facade follows solar path during
warm and cooler seasons
2. Warm season: improves daylight
illumination. Shading systems are
considered.
3. Cooler season: Improves daylight
illumination. Advantage for heating-
passive heating.
WIND DIRECTIONS

Weaknesses of the Existing Building in Sydney’s Climate 7
Considering the climatic differences between Madison and Sydney, some strategies from the JH2 will be ineffective and possibly problematic for
the JH3. To identify these issues, the JH2 was thoroughly analyzed in terms of site, structure, and operations. The site of the JH2 proved to be
ineffective for the JH3 in a few critical ways. The results are detailed below.
Now that the design issues have been outlined, the following pages will address each individual design flaw with the necessary modifications
for the optimal resign of the Jacobs House 2 for the Sydney climate.
Weakness of JH2 design Ideal design for JH3
Site
orientation Faces South Faces North
location Rural Coastal
Building Layout
plan Bedrooms & kitchen along bermed wall Bedrooms & kitchen along window wall
section Separation between facade and upper slab Upper slab and facade flush
Natural Environment
back landscaping Partial berm, North side Total earth sheltering, South side
front landscaping Patio Sloping earth
Roof
function Shelter Green roof, skylights
Building Services
shading Fixed Operable
windows Single-paned, unglazed Double glazed Low-E on skylights
back-up services None Yes
Water
harvesting None Yes

Desig� Modiﬁcations - Optimize the Site: Location & Orientation 8
In order to have the Jacobs House II function most efficiently in its new Sydney climate, some major modifications need to be made to the site. Most
importantly, the location, orientation, and topography must be optimized for the new climate. The following analysis led to the site selection of an
undeveloped lot in Balls Head Reserve, in Waverton, Sydney.
Location
Balls Head Reserve is located on a small peninsula on the North Shore of the Sydney Harbour. Due to its preserved natural state, it is described as an “urban
bushland,” (Council, 2015). Placing the JH3 in this particular spot will allow the home to be truly connected to the environment, despite the proximity of
metropolitan Sydney. The occupants of the home will experience less noise and air pollution compared to a lot in a more developed location, as well as
increased privacy.
Orientation
The JH2 was originally oriented according to the needs of Northern Hemisphere, specifically in the state of Wisconsin, USA.
This meant that the structure would be built so that the southern facade was exposed to the sun for longest access to natural
illumination and passive solar heating. However, the new location in Sydney requires a 180 degree rotation to have the same
effects. Since Sydney is located in the Southern Hemisphere, the facade which receives the most sun year long is the North
facade (refer to Solar Path Diagram, Appendix 3)
Using the original design of the building, the side of the building that is facing the solar path (in Sydney’s case, North) will be
composed of floor to ceiling windows. Having a full glass North facade will enable the house to benefit from passive solar
heating during the winter. Passive solar heating is the warming of a space using the heat gained from transmitted radiation
through the windows (refer to page 14 for passive solar heating analysis). This effect is only desired during the cooler months.
Since the sun follows a low angle path during the winter, having North facing windows will allow that low-angle sun to
penetrate into the space for the maximum hours during the day (Alison Kwok, 2011).
Additionally, having the house face North will help to prevent the cold Southerly winter winds from infiltrating the building
(refer to Wind Wheel, Appendix 4). In summer, when winds are desired for natural ventilation, the house will be protected from the
powerful winds that come off of the harbour, and exposed to the pleasant North-Westerly Summer winds (refer to Wind Wheel, Appendix 4).
Latitude:-33.840945°
Longitude:151.196333°
Elevation:1m - 40 m
(Google Maps, 2015)
N
N
N
JH3 placement in Balls Head ReserveBalls Head Reserve
(Google Maps, 2015)
Balls Head Reserve Bushland
(Sydney NSW, 2015) (Council, 2015)

Desig� Modiﬁcations - Optimize the Site: Topog�aphy 9
Topography
In addition to the orientation of the building, topography is also an important aspect to modify for the new site. The original house was built on a primarily
flat lot, and then excavated the South side to create a lower patio in front of the south window facade. The excavated earth was then used to create a berm
on the back of the house, reaching up to the second floor. This berm protected the home from the cold winter winds. In Sydney, the JH3 will also benefit
from an earth embankment, however a total earth berming versus partial coverage will be the most beneficial here.
In order to turn the JH3 into an earth shelter by means of total earth berming, it is necessary to locate the building on a sloping site. The location chosen at
Balls Head Reserve provides and ideal slope for an earth shelter. The image on the right is the elevation map of the reserve. As indicated by the scale, the
peak of the reserve reaches about 40m above sea level, while extending all the way down to the water, at 0m
above sea level. The highlighted elevation on the map indicates the elevation at the proposed location for the JH3.
The house will be situated between 26m and 30m above sea level, as to provide an adequate distance from the
water, while still benefiting from the sloping land.
Natural Ventilation
In addition to the necessity of a sloping lot for the
construction of a earth shelter, the chosen location
will also benefit from the slope for its natural ventilation
techniques, involving air being driven up the slope and
into the home. (refer to Services, page 13).
Flooding
Another topographical factor that must be considered, particularly since the JH3 will have close proximity to the Sydney Harbour, is its elevation. As
indicated previously, the house will rest between 26m - 30m above sea level. Although this height is safe for occasional flooding from Sydney's heavy storms,
it also needs to ensure the building will be save over the long term. According to Geoscience Australia, a division of the
Australian Government, Balls Head Reserve is predicted to be minimally affected by the expected 1.1m sea-level rise over
the next 100 years (Ozcoasts.gov.au, 2015). On the map to the right, the light blue indicates todays levels, while the darker
blue indicates the combined effect of a 1.1m sea-level rise and the highest astronomical tide. The unit of measure used in
this map is AHD, referring to “Australian Height Datum.” According to this map, the main area that will be affected is the
beach to the North of the proposed location for the JH3, and a small amount of the perimeter around the rest of the
peninsula. If JH3 is placed at a 26m elevation, there will be no concerns regarding the longevity of the building due to sea
level changes or flooding.
Aesthetics
Finally, by earth berming the home into the natural topography of Balls Head Reserve, the building will become seamless
with the natural terrain and environment. Instead of being visually intrusive, as a traditional home built on a nature reserve
would be, the JH3 will cause hikers, homeowners, and environmentalists to rethink the purpose of a home.
(Reserve and Reserve, 2015)
(Ozcoasts.gov.au, 2015)
windsforced
up
theslopefrom
the
harbour
cross-ventilation

Desig� Modiﬁcations - Optimize the Building For�, Plan, and Section
The form of a building has great effects on how it functions in various climates. In Wisconsin, the JH2 benefited from the hemi-cycle shape, a flat roof, and
having a partially earth bermed Northern facade. The majority of these principles are also appropriate for the JH3 in the Sydney climate.
The Hemi-Cycle
A hemi-cycle is a building whose form curves around to create a semi-circle. The concave side of this curve traditionally
is composed of a glass facade which faces the equator. The hemi-cycle design is optimally implemented when the
building has a wide span and a narrow depth. In this case, the dimensions of the JH2 will remain the same for the JH3.
Due to the narrow form, both the daylight and sunlight will be most effective in illuminating the entire space,
considering the entire South wall will be bermed into the earth. If the house begins to get deeper than 4 meters, the light will not reach the space and the
design will require more artificial lighting. Additionally, the curve of the building will help to move air around the entire space. All in all, the hemi-cycle
optimizes passive solar heating, illumination, and air movement through the building.
Flat Roof
JH2 utilized a flat roof not for design purposes, but to save money on construction. A flat roof would also be optimal for the JH3 but for different purposes.
First, a flat roof will function optimally with an earth bermed home (Alison Kwok, 2011). It provides a flat even surface for the soil to lay on, inhibiting excessive
natural erosion (refer page 12 for Green roof specifications). Additionally, unlike in Wisconsin, the JH3 does not have to worry about snow removal, as
Sydney’s climate is too warm for this type of precipitation.
Plan & Section -- JH2 vs JH3
10
16m
4m
Plan - JH2 Section - JH2 Section - JH3Plan - JH3
N
N
In order to optimize the plan, on the second story, the bedrooms and the hall
were switched so the bedrooms are flush with the windows to receive natural
light. The cylindrical chamber that consists of the bathroom on the second floor
and the utilities on the first floor has been removed and those spaces relocated,
since they would not receive any natural light due to the earth berming.
To optimize the section, the upper slab must be made continuous to connect
to the North facade, rather than create a balcony. The primary purpose of
this balcony was to help circulate warm air to the upper floors, but in the
warmer climate, this type of convection is not necessary to heat the rooms.
It is more important to have light reach the rooms, for illumination and SHG.

Desig� Modiﬁcations - Optimize the Nat�ral Environment: Ear�h Shelter 11
In addition to modifications in the building plan and section, another area of the building form that should be optimized is the utilization of the natural
environment. In particular, the JH2 employed a partial earth berm along the back wall of the house to protect from the cold winter winds, and to minimize
heat loss during the winter. However, a partial berm does not have much benefit for the JH3. Instead, a complete earth berming, or transformation of the
building into an earth shelter is proposed.
Earth Berming - JH2
Non-earth roof berming consists of piling earth “against
q exterior walls, sloping down away from the house” without
covering the roof, and exposing windows on one or more
sides of the shelter (Wikipedia, 2015). This type of earth
shelter avoids moisture problems that total berming
experience, however it does not benefit from maximized internal
temperature stabilization.
(Boyer and Grondzik, 1987)
Earth Shelter - JH3
Earth Shelter Types:
Hillside elevational earth shelters have 3 walls and the roof
completely covered with earth. This coverage intensity will
promote temperature stabilization and increase aesthetic
properties of the home. The ideal location for this type of
earth shelter is on a sloping site so it can benefit from
minimized excavation and fill.
insert skylights and light pipes in roof4
1 excavate the site. store removed earth for placement on roof
5 place excavated earth on roof, around skylights and light pipes
3 leave 1m of each side wall uncovered, insert windows
2 build home into the excavated site
Earth Shelter Transformation
Earth Shelter Results
By implementing the hillside elevational earth shelter technique for the JH3, the internal temperature of the home will have increased temperature stability
despite Sydney's constantly changing weather. This earth shelter will promote passive cooling in the summer by blocking the direct sunlight, and promotes
passive heating in the winter my minimizing heat loss (Alison Kwok, 2011). Important for Sydney, the home will be better protected against hail, cyclones,
and noise pollution, all while increasing the energy efficiency of the building (Sustainable Architects Sydney | Melbourne Sustainable Architects, 2015).
Waterproofing
The construction of an earth shelter raises the concern of water
infiltration. During design development, waterproofing should
“enhance the flow of water away from and around an earth
sheltered building,” (Alison Kwok, 2011). Also, it is important that water
can flow unobstructed around the building, with no objects
acting as a dam.
It is important that the total construction occurs above the water
table so damage from leakage or hydraulic uplift can be avoided.
(Theundergroundhome
directory.com, 2015)
(Theundergroundhome
directory.com, 2015)

Desig� Modiﬁcations - Addition of a Green Roof 12
A green roof is a natural and complimentary addition to a earth sheltered home. The flat roof already provides a good structural surface for the placement
of the soil and plants. In fact, a flat roof is optimal, as any kind of pitch will increase the risk of erosion. Additional benefits of green roofs include detention
for rainwater, thermal resistance increase, and a creation of greenspace for both animals and humans, (Alison Kwok, 2011).
Types of Green Roofs
There are two possible types of green roofs for the JH3: extensive and intensive.
Extensive: a shallow soil base (50-150mm) allows for a lightweight structure with limited plant
diversity. Typical plants include: mosses, herbs, grasses, succulents
Intensive: a deep soil base (600mm) allows for unlimited plant diversity and better stormwater
detention. The extra weight requires a solid building structure.
Intensive Green Roof
For the JH3, an intensive green roof was selected due to its seamless integration into the environment,
its better insulating capacities, and the structure of the home (being built with massive concrete walls)
permits the extra weight load.
Typical Structure of an Intensive Green Roof
Intensive roof example
Considerations
An intensive roof requires special attention to the wet and dry
weights of the materials to ensure the structure can support the
loads. Also trees should be placed directly over a load bearing wall.
Wet and Dry Roof Material Weights
Extensive vs Intensive
drainable layer4
1 insulation placed on roof deck
5 filter membrane
6 growing media for plants
7 plants
3 root barrier
2 waterproof membrane
(Machineoffice.com, 2015)
(Dreamgreenhomes.com, 2015)
(Alison Kwok, 2011)
(Alison Kwok, 2011)
(Alison Kwok, 2011)
(Alison Kwok, 2011)

Desig� Modiﬁcations - Optimize Building Ser�ices 13
Wright designed the JH2 so that the home required no mechanical building services. To stay true to this principle of sustainability, the JH3 will need a few
design reconfigurations in order to be efficient without employing mechanical services, especially during summer when the weather is the most extreme.
In order to ensure that the building will be comfortable during all stages of the year, it is necessary to design the “natural building services” (heating and
cooling techniques that are not mechanical) according to the worst case scenario weather in Sydney -- a hot summers day. For the following analysis, the
psychrometric chart for Sydney and its recommended guidelines were employed (refer Psychrometric Chart, Appendix 6).
Natural Ventilation
Natural ventilation is the utilization of winds to remove
heat loads from a space, and provide evaporative
cooling for occupants.
Windows
-remove back wall windows from JH2 design since wall
will be buried in the earth
-add small windows on East and West sides of home to
create pressure difference, encouraging cross ventilation
-make all windows operable and install screens
Building Form
-the long narrow building
plan of the JH2 maximizes
cross ventilation and will
be conserved in the JH3
-open interior floor plan
allows optimal ventilation
Further Considerations:
-wing-walls to drive the direction of natural ventilation
-no need for sunken patio of JH2 due to effects of slope
-refer to Wind Velocity Range chart, Appendix 10 for
monthly wind velocities for natural ventilation
Windows & Shading
North facing windows
Clear, single glazed windows
-refer to page 14 for passive heating techniques
Overhang with operable louvered shading
-can be closed to protect
from summer sun
-can be opened to maximize
daylight penetration in winter
-does not block low-angle
winter sun
East, West windows & Skylights
Double glazed Low-E glass
-resists unwanted solar heat gain in summer
Louvers
-maximizes flexibility across seasons, blocks sun
-refer to Sun Shading Chart, Appendix 8
Thermal Mass
Thermal mass for cooling utilizes massive
materials to store and re-radiate heat at night
when it can be flushed out. It is an optimal
technique for earth shelters. Refer to Appendix 5.
High Thermal Mass + Night Flush
-collects heat load during hot hours of the day
-during the night, the heat radiates back into the
room, so a night flush is required.
-night flush is the utilization of natural ventilation
at night. screens are used here to inhibit
wildlife from entering the home at night.
-concrete slab floors and sandstone walls
Insulation
-the high mass walls are insulated externally with
EIFS foam, exposing thermal mass on interior
-the intensive green roof provides excellent
insulation from heat penetration
Passive Cooling Techniques
Passive cooling design suggestions from Climate Consultant 5.5 [accessed June 13 2015]
(Architectural Glass Selection Guide . 2015)
(Cdn.cstatic.net, 2015)
(Yourhome.gov.au, 2015)

Thermal mass for cooling utilizes the mass of a
Building to collect heat to be able to re-radiate
it at night when it is the coldest. Refer to Appendix 5.
High Thermal Mass
-collects heat load during hot hours of the day
-during the night, the heat radiates back into the
room, allowing the space to heat up
-concrete slab floors and sandstone walls
Insulation
-the high mass walls are insulated externally with
EIFS foam, exposing thermal mass on interior
-the intensive green roof provides excellent
insulation from heat loss through the roof
Desig� Modiﬁcations - Optimize Building Ser�ices 14
The entire North facade of the JH3 is composed of floor
to ceiling windows, covering both stories.
North facing window-wall
Clear, single glazed windows
-maximizes passive solar heat gain
-high Solar Heat Gain Coefficient and
a low U-value to promote transmission
of radiation into the space, while
minimizing heat loss to the outdoors.
East, West windows & skylights:
Double glazed Low-E glass
-low SGHC will block excessive radiation from entering
the room during summer when the sun is high
-will help illumination of space during winter, but will not
contribute to the heating of the space because the
SHGC is too low
Further Considerations:
-refer to Radiation Range in Appendix 7 for details on
when the sun’s radiation is the strongest.
-refer to solar path diagram in Appendix 3 for evidence
on directional selection of windows
Back-up Mechanical Cooling
Due to Sydney’s variable and sometimes unpredictable weather, it is important to have a back up system for heating and cooling in case the passive design
techniques are not sufficient enough. Therefore, both reverse-cycle window air conditioner units and fans will be accessible from storage for extreme
circumstances. Ceiling fans alone can make it feel 2.8 degrees C (Alison Kwok, 2011).
Passive Heating Techniques
In addition to designing passive/natural services to accommodate to the hot seasons, the JH3 must also consider using passive heating techniques. Although
the climate in Sydney does not experience extreme cold temperatures like the winters in Madison, it is still important to plan for cooler days, especially since
the relative temperature will often feel much colder than the actual temperature for Sydney natives. Passive heating techniques are second in rank of
importance to passive cooling, since the cold seasons are much shorter and experience less extreme days than the warmer seasons.
Thermal Mass Passive Solar Heating Internal Heat Gains
Internal heat gain is heat accumulated from
people and things within the house. It is a great
way to provide heat to the space without
requiring a heating system.
Some examples of internal loads include people,
equipment (printer, vacuum, computer),
appliances (oven, dryer, dishwasher), and
artificial lighting.
In order to optimize the internal heat gains, the
room should be insulated properly (see thermal
mass) and smaller room areas are suggested.
(Your-solar-energy-home.com, 2015)

Findings, Conclusions, & Recommendations 15
it was not sufficient enough to ensure that on the hottest and coldest days of the year, the occupant would be completely comfortable. Therefore, it was recommended to
Findings
Following a thorough analysis of the Jacobs House 2, it is clear that its original design consisted of sustainable principles that resisted both the
tests of time and location. Although some changes were necessary to integrate the home most efficiently into the Sydney climate, the basic
materials, form, and function remained unaltered.
The elements of the JH2 that worked especially well in Sydney include:
-The design of a complete window facade for the maximization of passive
solar heating
-The integration of natural ventilation to cool the space, through window
design and building form
-The hemi-cycle form of the house improved solar radiation in winter and
maximum illumination in summer in both seasons
-The utilization of thermal mass to heat and cool
Conclusions
After determining the efficiency of the JH2 in the Sydney climate and establishing modifications where necessary, it is important to evaluate the
success of the outlined objectives of the redesign.
“Utilize natural elements to regulate internal heat loads, eliminating mechanical heating/cooling if possible”
Through the use of passive cooling and passive heating, the JH3 will be able to function in close to any type of weather without the use of mechanical services. However,
it was not sufficient enough to ensure that on the hottest and coldest days of the year, the occupant would be completely comfortable. Therefore, it was recommended to
have a back up window unit so that the occupant experiences minimal climate induced stress.
“Integrate building into existing space with earth berming”
The JH3 was successfully able to utilize the topography and site of Sydney to integrate itself into the environment seamlessly. The chosen site, a park reserve, will enable
the house to flourish among the flora and fauna and allow the occupants to experience a true earth shelter.
“Design a green roof”
Due to the success of the earth shelter, a green roof was also able to be successfully implemented. An intensive green roof technique was chosen to best integrate the
roof plants with the plants of the native environment. Additionally, the green roof greatly reduced the visual impact the house had on the space.
Recommendations
Although the overall design of the JH3 was successful, there are a few areas that could be improved for increased efficiency and functionality. For example,
an assessment of the environmental performance of the materials will help to improve the embodied energy levels of the home. Additionally, although it is
ideal for the house to have skylights to allow extra light into the upper floor bedrooms and hallway, there is a practical issue with the installation and
maintenance, and an intensive green roof requires 600mm of foundation, significantly decreasing the access to the skylights and posing problems with a
retaining wall around the windows. Finally, although green roofs improve the detention of water on site, a complete rainwater tank system design is
recommended to capitalize off of this great feature.
The elements that required updates to be efficient in Sydney include:
-The use of a partial earth embankment
-The reliance on solely passive design even in extreme conditions
-The orientation of the building
-The floor plan and section

Bibliog�aphy 16
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Appendices - Building Description 17
Appendix 4: Wind Wheel
Climate Consultant 5.5 [accessed June 10 2015]
Appendix 1: Building Plan
(Cubic Or Not, 2015)
Appendix 2: Building Section
(Heat Flow: EEI. 2015.)
Appendix 5: Thermal Mass
(Earth Dwellings, 2013)Appendix 3: Solar Path Diagram
Ecotect v5 [accessed June 13 2015]
Scale: 1 meter

Appendices - Process for Environmental Analysis 18
Appendix 6: Psychrometric Chart
Appendix 10: Wind Velocity Range
Appendix 7: Radiation Range
Appendix 8: Sunshading Chart
Appendix 9: Illumination Range

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