STORY - "The House that Peter Built"

A synopsis of the film My Life as a House states: “Architect George Monroe has always dreamed of building his dream house, but life got in the way.”

Carpenter Peter Sim of Scone has always dreamed of building his dream house, but unlike George, he has not made the mistake of letting life get in the way. The Sim family, Peter and his wife Sally, Charlie (18) and Grace (16) moved in to their home on an acreage just outside Scone last November, although the finishing touches are still to be completed.

Like many dream homes, the Sim residence has some striking pieces of furniture with stories attached, glorious views, lots of natural light and an enviable ‘teenagers’ retreat’. Unlike most dream homes, the Sim residence is constructed of straw bales, tightly compacted, covered with cobbing and rendered with clay. The final coat contains rock lime which whitens the home and the sun catches pink flecks in the surface. When completed, it will be a stunning piece of architecture, but more importantly, a shining example of sustainable construction. While its natural tones and generous spaces provide for comfortable family living, it sits lightly on the earth.

Peter and Sally’s business, “Reliable Renovations”, specialises in heritage style extensions and renovations, and Peter has long been drawn to more traditional ways. His home, which draws much local comment and is often photographed by passersby, is contemporary in appearance but the construction techniques used are literally thousands of years old.

Peter says, “The older I get, the greener I get,” and his aim is to perfect techniques of sustainable straw bale construction and build executive level homes for others, and in fact to sell the home in which the Sims currently live. This reporter thinks it will be hard to leave, but the plan is to build – sustainably, of course - another smaller family home on a nearby block.

There’s something beguiling about a man with a dream, and the energy and commitment to make it all happen. Sally, Charlie and Grace support Peter fully, even when a cloudy day means that the solar power generated is limited, so the dishwasher may not be able to be used. Grace, a Year 11 student at St Joseph’s Aberdeen, recalls one occasion when friends were visiting and popcorn was unable to be popped because the power was unavailable. They coped.

Charlie has begun an electrical apprenticeship at Energy Australia in Newcastle and happily assisted with elements of construction and wiring. “It’s really good knowing that you’ve participated in building something that you’re living in,” he said.

As well as solar power, the home is superbly insulated to minimise the need for artificial heating or cooling. Louvred windows and wide decks also contribute to maintaining a comfortable temperature with a constant level of humidity that promotes well being. A square of exposed straw forms a “truth window” to demonstrate that there really is straw underneath the clay render.

A feature of the property is a reed bed treatment system to filter ‘grey’ and ‘black’ water naturally. The reeds’ roots play host to a micro-organism that consumes the effluent; “nature’s filtration system,” as Peter describes it. The treated water is then used for irrigation and to water the garden. Reed beds can be incorporated into landscaping and there is no odour. The only maintenance required is to trim the reeds every six months or so. Red earth worms have been introduced to consume waste products, and their castings will serve as fertiliser later.

Peter is an enthusiastic promoter of sustainable living and belongs to an informal and growing network. The Sims have hosted on-site workshops and find these days exhausting but satisfying. “We all want to live in something that’s a little bit different, and we’re all environmentally aware. The workshop’s the best part because we get to meet like-minded people,” Peter says.

“Most houses in Australia are bowled over in 40 years. We like to think that this house will be here for 100 years, and a lot of them are.” And as Sally adds, “When the house is no longer here, all the materials can go back to the earth.”

Many of the materials used in the building are recycled and Peter is a self-confessed hoarder. All the doors come from Penshurst Public School and lay awaiting a suitable home for many years. Many pieces have been creatively reused: a timber bin from a hardware store is enjoying a second life as a television stand, and a meat safe provides extra storage in the bespoke kitchen.

If Peter Sim had as much time (and money!) as he has energy and commitment, his first straw bale house would be completed and he would be immersed in the next one. As he pursues the dream, however, he’s learning new techniques, meeting new people and converting them, and spreading the gospel of sustainable living. And treading the earth lightly…

If you would like to know more about straw bale housing, visit www.ausbale.org/fusion/news.php
To find out more about solar energy, visit www.solaronline.com.au To know when a workshop will be held, contact Peter and Sally Sim E relrenscone@cnn.net.au

Tracey Edstein

Back to Aurora Homepage