Whadjuk people of the Nyoongar nation
Western Australia
This new 3-bed, 2-bathroom house on a sub-divided laneway block is home to a young family who are very climate and ecologically conscious.
They aimed to dramatically improve upon the status quo of Perth housing, which tends to be oversized and inefficient, and typically provides poor thermal performance and low levels of comfort for residents.
Instead, they wanted a modest home where their family could thrive and grow, that would be comfortable all-year round without artificial heating or cooling.
The resulting design has a very small footprint – just 135sqm floor area on a 470sqm lot – and prioritises passive solar design principles for thermal performance; access to natural light; and connections to the generous garden.
In keeping with their aspirations, their home saves money on energy bills without sacrificing year-round comfort, and offers a flexible plan that works well now and into the future, as their children grow up.
It’s a modest-sized house, and manages to feel very open and cosy at the same time. Within the confines of our budget, we wanted interesting products that we thought should be more widely used.Â
We use almost every square metre of this house on a weekly basis. There’s no wasted space.