Lochiel Park Building_V03.dsb

Townhouse development has been an important strategy to increase densities in Australian suburbs. However, overheating has been a cause for concern, particularly in the upper floors of newly built townhouses. Historically, houses in Australian suburbs tended to be low-rise and often single-storey, benefiting from the cooling effect of a slab-on-ground in the summer. This study explores the potential benefits of ‘flipping’ townhouse layouts as a passive design strategy to enhance resilience to overheating. Using data from a monitored case study house in Lochiel Park, South Australia, and building performance simulations of the original and alternative layouts, this study evaluates alternative configurations and compares how these changes affect the thermal comfort of occupants, as well as the heating and cooling loads of the building. The results show that housing layout flexibility could improve thermal comfort and contribute to more climate-change-resilient neighbourhoods. Consideration and guidance for housing layouts and room arrangements in planning, design, building regulations and policies, could benefit resilience to overheating and create a more livable built environment.