Five Design Principles for Living Off-Grid
Architect Rob Mills, director of Rob Mills Architecture & Interiors, shares five design principles for living off-grid that allow for comfort, sustainability and self-sufficiency.
A common misconception about off-grid living is that it requires giving up creature comforts. “If you can find the balance of size of house, energy consumption and energy production, then you can live the life that you’re used to,” says Mills. A key example is Howqua River Lodge, a property in the Victorian Alps that has been in Mills’s family for generations. “It is self-sufficient, sustainable. It generates its own water, electricity, it manages all its own waste, and we sit very delicately on the land that the building is built on.”
One of the most important elements of off-grid living is the air quality inside your home. “If I can emulate the quality of the air we breathe in an undercover outdoor terrace inside, then I’ve really nailed it,” he says. To achieve this, he uses a heat exchanger system that transfers heat between outgoing air and fresh incoming air, without the two mixing.
Thermal insulation is also critical to achieving a comfortable space year-round and reducing reliance on heating and cooling systems. “In summer, the environment needs to be cool and in winter it needs to be warm… how we achieve that is really good quality thermal insulation under the slab, enveloping the building, and wherever there’s glass, it’s double glazed,” he says.
Mills also places significant emphasis on water conservation and management in off-grid homes. At Howqua River Lodge, the property collects rainwater and also utilises a bore drilled 75 meters deep to harvest groundwater from natural springs. The bore water is used for the lawn as well as a sprinkler system that is activated during a bushfire.
Making sustainable choices isn’t just about being eco-friendly in the short term; it’s also about creating buildings that will stand the test of time. “We need to create buildings that are going to last and we need to choose objects that are also going to last,” he says. Howqua River Lodge exemplifies this, as it is constructed from recycled bricks and furnished with high-quality second-hand furniture, while the bathrooms are lined with salvaged stone.
Energy efficiency is another cornerstone of living off-grid. For example, solar panels on the roof can generate electricity, while leaving an air gap beneath them helps insulate the building. A key point Mills makes is to keep buildings small. “Build a jewel box, not a big box,” he says. Smaller buildings require fewer resources to heat or cool, ultimately reducing energy consumption.
Mills reflects on the deeper purpose behind his designs. “If you’re going to build an individual house, then you have a duty… to design something that’s truly loved. If it’s loved, it’ll be nurtured and it will last because it’s been cared for.” His hope is that sustainable homes like Howqua River Lodge will inspire others to create spaces that respect the environment and live more sustainably.
Architecture by Rob Mills Architecture & Interiors.
