Cherry

The concept for this house was to divide it into two pavilions situated along the western and southern boundaries. This freed up the remainder of the site to form a north-facing garden, providing an open outlook and solar access for both pavilions.

The challenge was to design a home for a young couple with a growing family who wanted an open, sun-lit home to take advantage of the unusually-shaped site. The site was a 540m2 block set about 2 metres below the street to the north.

The concept for this house was to divide it into two pavilions situated along the western and southern boundaries. This freed up the remainder of the site to form a north-facing garden, providing an open outlook and solar access for both pavilions.

The main pavilion, housing the kitchen and living room on the ground floor and the parents rooms upstairs, was set 4m from the southern boundary allowing a cool summer deck under the shade of the existing jacaranda tree. An access hall was located along the western side of both levels to provide additional privacy to the neighbours and thermal protection to the house from the afternoon sun.

Large eaves and a pergola provide appropriate solar control and rain protection to the windows and doors. The two pavilions are joined by a glazed section, which house the stairs and allows garden views along the access hall.

Simple and intuitive methods for operating the house
Provision of home office facilities
Convenient location of storage space for recycling

Good thermal performance of house
Good natural light and ventilation
Good views to the outside

Good thermal performance to result in minimal heating and cooling
Appropriate levels of insulation and thermal mass
Ability to zone areas of the house
Ceiling fans to bedrooms and living rooms
Well designed natural ventilation throughout house
Good natural light throughout house
Convenient, dedicated, sunny area for drying clothes

High performance water saving fixtures and appliances
Low water garden

Materials selected with thought given to reducing their impacts over their life
House designed to easily adapt to changing family lifestyles

Size of project purposefully kept modest
Land used for building improved by project
Garden design inherent to house design
Connection of living areas to garden to assist in better care