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| PHILOSOPHY Location | Plan | Objectives | Scope | Model | Landscape | Contacts | Home |
Homes in The Chimneys will follow current best practice for sustainable building; will be functional in their design and appropriate to their semi-rural setting; construction details will be well resolved; and will follow the principles set out in the Design Guidelines. The character being sought for the Village is best described as “contemporary rural”, and dwellings must be constructed from materials which are listed in the Building Materials and Colour Palette. Dwelling designs which mimic historic styles will not be allowed, nor will dwellings proposed to be constructed from materials or colours not conforming to those in the Guidelines. Dwellings must meet the minimum performance standards specified. The materials prescribed are selected for their qualities and colours so as to achieve maximum durability and performance; to achieve easy and fast construction; to avoid incorporating materials which have very high embodied energy; to avoid materials which have embodied toxic elements; to avoid materials which require high maintenance; and to achieve a cohesive development. Applied external finishes to large wall areas are to be avoided; materials should be left and expressed with their natural colours and textures. Similar considerations apply to design elements throughout the Village, including community seating, letter boxes, lighting, signs and graphics and community facilities. The scale, form, colour and texture of the buildings which make up the Village will establish its identity, its character, its “sense of place”, and its attractiveness as a place to live and, in some cases, work. It is essential that these physical characteristics are also appropriate to the locality and responsive to the climate. That is why the Design Guidelines, and the Building Materials and Colour Palette, have been formulated, and their implementation will help ensure that the outcomes achieve the objectives as well as protect the living environment and the long-term investment of residents. Each lot in the Village has been planned with a Building Zone which establishes the area within which the building footprint should be located, an Amenity Zone which suggests the area of the lot which can be allocated for outdoor living and recreation, and a Productive Zone which can be developed for vegetable and herb garden and fruit trees. Building is not allowed in Amenity Zones or Productive Zones. These plans are incorporated in the Development Control Plan, and are to be used as a guide to lot planning and dwelling location and layout. They have been developed to avoid things such as overshadowing from neighbouring dwellings, to make it easier to plan for good passive solar design as well as visual and acoustic privacy, to facilitate access, and to design homes to maximise views and the features of each lot. ENDORSEMENTS The following people and organisations have kindly offered their encouragement for The Chimneys sustainable village concept.
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