Tesla Powerwall 3 launched

I was excited to be invited to the launch of the Tesla Powerwall 3 home battery storage system in Sydney recently. This upgrade to the current Powerwall 2 product brings with it a variety of new features which enhance performance, increase durability, make installation easier and reduces packaging waste - to make what Tesla calls “the best value home battery solution on the market”. Without testing the unit personally to confirm these claims it’s hard to confirm or deny, however on paper the unit does look impressive.

While the physical size and battery storage capacity remains the same as the Powerwall 2 at 13.5kwh, the main performance upgrade the Powerwall 3 gets is an integrated solar inverter which increases the solar to grid efficiency to 97.5% (as opposed to 87% of a typical external inverter - I was told by staff). This means the unit can support up to 20kw of solar power input (roughly 50 x 400w panels)

The Powerwall 3 supports 3 solar inputs and can deliver up to 10kw of power on backup power, up from the 7kw of the previous unit. The battery is also scaleable up to 4 units, and coming in 2025 a system expansion feature will be launched, allowing further capacity.

Tesla claim that with current energy market prices the Powerwall 3, when coupled with a solar PV can deliver savings of 77% over 10 years. Given the fluctuation in energy prices seen in recent times now that renewables are powering 39.4% of the Australian grid (Clean Energy Council figures) Tesla are spruiking the benefits of the product as a standalone installation without solar. Being able to draw energy from the grid at times of low cost (middle of the day on sunny/windy days), then using this at night time when demand is high is reported to reduce a yearly energy bill by more than half.

The new unit is IP67 rated and can operate in temperatures from -20 > +50º C, we don’t recommend installing in water features like the above image, however we’re impressed by the overall durability of the unit. The Powerwall 3 also features battery pre-conditioning technology, which will anticipate when power from the sun will be available, and pre-heats or cools the battery cells to ensure optimum conditions for charging.

Great work Tesla, I’m looking forward to seeing one of these units go into one of my projects soon…

Camperdown Residence Approved

Thrilled this week to receive approval for our Camperdown residence project in the Inner West Council. The scheme proposed a new rear laneway crossover and parking space, first floor additions and an attic conversion with rear facing dormer window. This provides much needed space for a growing young family, in close proximity to parks and schools in the thriving King Street precinct.

Bondi Beach Apartment Tender Issued

We’ve reached a milestone this week on our Bondi Beach apartment project, with tender documentation heading out to selected builders. This exciting project sees the existing apartment completely re-envisaged, with new kitchen, bathroom, laundry, robe joinery, lighting, electrical and finishes thoughout.

Our main challenge involved the demolition of some internal structure to create a new open plan living, kitchen and dining space, while maintaining a functional layout for dining and lounge areas. Privacy issues were address to neighbouring buildings by modifying some openings, while a large pass-through window to the kitchen helps activate the large outdoor terrace dining area for summer afternoon bbq’s.

Coogee Residence approved

We’re thrilled to announce our Coogee residence gained DA approval this week in Randwick Council. The scheme includes a new third storey addition and rear garage studio to provide for the needs of a growing young family.

Erskineville Residence construction starts

We are thrilled this week to see our Erskineville residence commence construction. The team from Frontier Projects, who also built our Darlington Residence, are well through demolition, as always uncovering some interesting existing conditions. This is always the challenge dealing with terrace homes with shared party walls, layers of existing construction hidden under floors and behind walls, rising damp and poor termite protection.

We are looking forward to sharing further progress on this exciting new project as works progress.

Woollhara DA Approved

We are thrilled to see our Woollahra project approved at the Local planning panel meeting this week. This contemporary new additional sits harmoniously in its heritage context and provides a much needed upgrade to the existing dwelling.

Rear Garden View

Street Photomontage

Coogee DA Lodged

We are pleased to see our Coogee Terrace project lodged with Randwick City Council this week. The project involves a new rear garage studio addition to provide much needed extra accomodation for visiting relatives, and a new third storey master bedroom suite to the main dwelling. The scheme respectfully considers the existing building form and offers a clean new coastal palette to the home.

Erskineville DA Approved

Another win in council this month with our Erskineville terrace project approved in the City of Sydney. We managed a great outcome for our clients with 2 additional bedrooms and bathroom located in a new second storey addition.

Surry Hills DA Approved

We’re thrilled to announce that our Surry Hills terrace project has been approved by the City of Sydney. The scheme includes a new attic conversion to create an additional bedroom with front and rear dormers, and a new kitchen, laundry and bathroom at ground level. we look forward to beginning construction documentation on this wonderful project.

Surry Hills DA Lodged

To round out a busy month we have just submitted our Surry Hills Terrace project to the City of Sydney for development approval (DA). Our clients came to us with a clear brief in two parts for this home - utilise the existing attic space for an additional bedroom or home office, and modernise the existing kitchen and garden at rear to take advantage of the north facing lot.

Our design approach took cues from the clients existing internal works and overlaid a contemporary design language in the new kitchen addition. A new skylight over the kitchen brings an abundance of light deep into the home, while a new rear shroud provides as much winter sun into the new kitchen. Retractable sliding doors open up the new kitchen to a courtyard garden.

Erskineville DA Lodged

We’re happy to announce DA lodgement of our Erskineville project. The existing home is a single storey terrace row dwelling with south facing rear yard. Our clients required additional space for a master bedroom and home study, which meant a second storey addition. We carefully reviewed the scale of the new addition to mitigate overshadowing to neighbours and the existing rear yard, and instead of costly glazed roofs we developed the concept of a brickwork screen at the rear of the dwelling that reflects northern light back into the living spaces, while visually screening overlooking neighbours to the rear.

Woollahra DA Lodged

Some good progress in the office this week with our Woollahra project being submitted to council for development approval. This project is in collaboration with Alwill Architecture and involves substantial alterations and additions to an existing two storey semi-detached residence. Taking cues from recent development in the terrace row, our proposed scheme provides a new open plan living, kitchen and dining space at ground floor with a new storey above housing two new bedrooms. The finely crafted new addition respectfully retains much of the existing building form.

Read more detail on this project.

Queens Park DA Approval

We are delighted to have our Queens Park project out of council this week with full approval granted. This project is a holistic alteration and addition to an existing 3 storey dwelling, which seeks to modernise and add amenity to the home. Additional space is added internally for the clients work from home arrangements, while new landscaping and front fence is designed to mitigate privacy issues from the street.

Living Village competition placing

We are thrilled to announce our third placing in the Living Village design competition, which was held by the South Australian Housing Authority in conjunction with the City of Unley. The project asked entrants to consider an existing site for a new residential village showcasing innovative design for residential living.

Read more about the project on the Citylab website.