‘Alkira’ the Stamp House

Project type: Residential

Location: Daintree, QLD, Australia

Year completed: 2013

• The project re‐introduces the surrounding native wetland

environment
• Massive cantilevers mitigate impact from potential flooding
and cyclones
• Materials are chosen for long life cycle efficiency and
properties to deal with the harsh, corrosive wet tropical
environment
• “Off the grid” and carbon neutral in operation

OVERVIEW

‘Alkira’ the Stamp House is particular to our client, a stamp dealer among other things including property
developer, who had purchased 26 hectares of beach front land in the Daintree. The clients had a strong
desire to develop a sustainable and robust estate which would ideally operate as carbon neutral in its off‐
grid location. They had concerns regarding the annual cyclone season and associated events such as
storm surge associated with king tides. They also wanted to enhance the site’s natural wetland
environment.

A safe and secure off‐grid structure, carbon neutral in operation, Stamp House is a luxury retreat and
sanctuary – an enigmatic bunker. A new tropical architecture of resilience, both brutal and elegant. We
liked the idea that the concrete over time will age well and feature a ‘patina’ further enhancing its sense
of place in the sited environment.

Awards: 2014 AIA Far North Queensland House of the Year;

2014 AIA Queensland House of the Year
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PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

Integration of allied disciplines was

critical to the successful delivery of
the vision, in particular the
hydraulic and structural
engineering which not only
facilitated the advanced
sustainability initiatives but also
the practical requirements for
withstanding annual cyclonic
weather events.

The leading edge hydraulic services

engineering design enabled
practical and cost effective solutions by understanding the potentials and constraints of designing in a
tropical environment.

The building sits in an engineered water ecosystem which was the result of lengthy liaison and
collaboration with National Parks, Environmental Agencies, State and Local Government.

The project was developed and procured through an intensive value management process, resulting in a
highly cost‐effective solution specific to the client’s requirements.

SITE

The home is situated on land that adjoins the Daintree National Park. The Daintree is a vast area of
tropical rainforest wilderness in Far North Queensland, Australia. This rainforest is of immense biological
value to the wider scientific community due to its incredible biodiversity and high levels of concentration
of plant and animal species that are found nowhere else on the planet. Daintree National Park houses
the oldest rainforest on the planet – the closest living counterpart to the forests that once covered the
ancient supercontinent of Gondwanaland.
(http://www.daintreerainforestinformation.com/About_Daintree.html)
 CASE STUDY: ‘Alkira’ the Stamp House 3

In the Daintree region, the rainforest meets the sea and this property is situated on land that has a
beachfront and behind it a natural low wet‐land. The project re‐introduces the surrounding native
wetland environment through the newly engineered water ecosystem.

DESIGN

The building envelope is designed to extend out six fingers using massive cantilevers to also mitigate
impact from potential flooding and king tide inundation associated with cyclonic activity. The home is
category 5 cyclone proof and therefore classed as a cyclone shelter.

The building is literally reflected in the lake and the cantilevers dramatically increase the vibrancy of the
form and shape of the home.

Critical to the design approach is developing new ways of living in the tropical latitude. The design
provides secure yet flexible open areas for all functions including living, entertaining, dining, recreation
and swimming. These spaces are completely naturally ventilated and further enhanced by integrated
building systems.

The flexible main living areas oscillate around the featured central pool that is shaped like the ‘One Pound
Jimmy’ stamp. The landscaped courtyard is complemented by the cascading waterfall features. The water
features give off an evaporative cooling effect in the drier months.

Natural light abounds as the

design gives each room and
external wall with windows and
large door openings. Some of the
windows are portholes which
casts perforated light into the
property reminiscent of stamp
edges.

Bedrooms are designed so that

each has a particular character by
virtue of its orientation and
unique aspect at the same time
providing privacy. The under‐
croft of the house has utility areas
for plant equipment.

MATERIALS

The home has an innovative combination of in‐situ and precast concrete. The concrete structure is
considered ideal for this home in this location due to its inherent long life cycle efficiency and material
properties to deal with the harsh, corrosive wet tropical environment.

The concrete has been engineered and insulated to reduce its thermal mass and capacity to retain heat.
This achieves a constant cooler and more comfortable ambient temperature year‐round.

The roof is shielded from the sun as its total surface is solar panels.
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ENERGY

Stamp House is ‘off the grid’ and

stands alone with no mains connected
electrical power. It is Carbon Neutral
in operation. The renewable energy
system harvests solar energy via the
large photovoltaic array on the roof of
the house. This system incorporates
batteries for energy storage and re‐
use. There are no fossil fuel based
generators.

The renewable energy generation

powers efficient air‐conditioning
systems that are rarely used as the
house is passively designed to
maintain cooler temperatures. The design also enables a high level of natural light to all parts of the home
during the day and energy efficient LED lighting is used only at night.

The focus on managing energy for its conservation is controlled using a building automation system
(CBUS).

WATER AND WASTE

The entire roof area harvests rainwater. It is collected into a 250,000 litre in‐ground water tank and
integrated with the plumbing/ hydraulic systems. The grey water is recycled and there is also an on on‐
site Advanced Tertiary Sewerage treatment plant.
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OWNERS/USERS STATEMENT

“In all of our work, we strive for innovation and new solutions to the problems of living with climate
change in the 21st Century. This home is an exciting working example of a new sustainable tropical
housing prototype for off‐grid coastal locations.” Charles Wright

“This house is an extraordinary response to a very personal and adventurous brief for a new type of
tropical house in a remnant paddock in the rainforest. The concrete fabric chosen for permanence,
robustness and thermal mass is placed on a man‐made lake and shaped and patterned around its quirky
personal spaces to somehow make its other worldly presence take its place in the world's oldest and
most pristine landscape.” AIA Far North Queensland 2014 Awards, Jury citation.

PROJECT TEAM

Base building architect/ designer: Charles Wright Architects

Other architect/ designer: Landscape Architect: Andrew Prowse
Civil engineer (Site and traffic): McPherson MacLean Wargon Chapman
Structural engineer: G&A Consultants Pty Ltd
Services engineer (mechanical electrical, hydraulic, fire): Gilboy Hydraulic Solutions, MGF Consultants
Builder: PD Builders
Photographs courtesy of Patrick Bingham Hall and The Cairns Post newspaper.

For more information visit: www.jcu.edu.au/tsd

www.greenbuild.com.au

Information and photos are supplied by the project owners and designers. The
Tropical Green Building Network and James Cook University (the administrators) The project has been funded by the JCU Sustainability Fund and
cannot guarantee the accuracy or authenticity of this content. Produced July 2014. supported by the TGBN powered by GreenBuild.com.au.