This is a working drawing for the first phase of construction, approx 50 bricks in all will be used with MGP10 90X35 timber for the framing and old pillows for insulation. Still undecided about the external cladding and window. Brickies mud will be used for mortor to hold the bricks.

Here's a little animation that shows the addition of weatherboards and roofing materials and then swings around and shows the reverse brick veneer.

Here are the next installments of the Sketchup model with the additions of a window and insulation. The first illustration is a kind of section outlining the different components, Red: Studs, Yellow: Noggins, Blue: Cripple Stud, Pink: Sill trimmer, Purple: Jack Studs, Cyan: Lintel, Green: Top & Bottom plate, plus the timber window and Styrofoam insulationThe bottom illustration is a more complete look of the current stage. The brick component has no structural relevance what so ever, it is mainly concerned with the thermal mass qualities such as R-values, more about that later,
Took a trip to Bunnings Warehouse today to look at which materials are available and discovered the variety was lacking so might try and find a second hand building materials outlet in the local area instead to source materials.

Next installment will include cladding and how to achieve a water proof finish...

I've started to build a 3D model of the 'reverse brick veneer' wall construction on sketch up so we can finally get an idea what we're trying to construct. I'll keep posting images as I go along, there's a possibility that the wall will go through some changes as problems pop-up. So far here's the timber frame wall plus rafters and fascia board with the brick wall sitting 50mm behind the frame to allow for ties so the timber frame can support it. Next will be insulation and window.

Excerpts from Green Magazine Issue 12

The following text was taken from "Green Magazine" Issue 12 2010, from the article "Nicely Clad" by Jane Riley.

The outer skin of a house not only protects its interior and defines its aesthetic but, chosen correctly, forms a crucial part of its sustainable properties and on-going operational efficiencies.
An efficiently run house - where thermal comfort is achieved with no (of minimal) additional heating and cooling systems - is a green one.

"We often use reverse brick veneer because it corrects the poor relationship that traditional brick veneer has to the environment". "Where traditional brick has all the thermal mass on the outside, reverse brick veneer places this internally, helping to regulate temperature highs and lows by bringing stability to the interior. It will keep you cool in summer and warm in winter."
Such cladding means you can have a timber-style home with the same thermal performance of a double-brick home. Using clay bricks , it has embodied energy, or with concrete block, low to medium. It has high thermal mass, low internal maintenance but potentially high external maintenance depending on the cladding. If not used for an entire house, it is especially good for north-facing rooms.

Thermal Mass

Clay brickwork has high thermal mass. If a building with internal clay brickwork walls and concrete
floors is subjected to a heating and cooling cycle that crosses the comfort zone, the brickwork and concrete will maintain a relatively stable level of heat energy for an extended period. In summer, they will remain relatively cool and winter, the same building will remain relatively warm. Link