Aquaponics for Sustainable Living - The Jungle House, Sydney, Australia, CplusC Architects

 

Built on the site of a derelict house, The Jungle House was designed as an experiment in sustainable urban living.

Carbon-neutral living, blending sustainability, landscape, fauna and architecture allowing them to exist symbiotically. Acting as a billboard for sustainability, the architecture has made a deliberate attempt to connect the children directly with their food sources.

The aquaponics system is situated on the rooftop structure, designed to hold all the drainage from the open-air pond and planters for beds of fruit and vegetables.

Nitrogen-rich wastewater from the fishpond, which is located between the home's outer façade and inner skin on the first floor, irrigates and fertilises the garden. Rainwater drains into an underground tank, is filtered and pumped back up to the pond.

Sadly, climate change may have already negatively affected the house's aquaponics system. During Australia's bushfires back in 2020 a layer of ash settled in the open tank and all the fish died.