Baroona Homestead
The new Baroona Homestead replaces an old homestead lost in a fire.
The site is flat and bordered by a grid of established palm trees and white cedar trees on the old homestead yard space.
The building faces north into the stations green space and has an orchard to the south, the Warrego River is just to the east, the driveway and out buildings to the west.
The plan of the building reflects the formal grid of the existing landscape by breaking the building into two pavilions while maintaining minimum external wall exposure to the arid conditions.
The north pavilion houses the living areas and the south houses the sleeping and service areas. The core between the two pavilions houses a courtyard for cool air collection, and evening heat radiation, as well as the working area of the kitchen, study and laundry.
A high ceiling and skylight over the family room allows winter sun penetration to the kitchen area.
The pavilion roofs extend to form porches to the eastern/western ends of the building, providing outdoor areas and sun protection. Evaporative cooling units are located in porch roof space.
The northern verandah is free standing from the residence to allow hot air exit and winter sun penetration into the living areas.
Inexpensive bricks are laid in banding, dark base and top bands to maximise evidence of dust collection and light middle bands provide a light body colour for heat maximisation.
The building is constructed in low technology timber frame, gang nail trusses and metal roofs. The ridge is ventilated to maximise roof space heat loss. The walls and ceilings are insulated.
Courtyards to the south provide, reflect sunlight and echo the tank and roof steel profiles.