Djaara and Taungurung Country
Victoria
The Paddock is a cluster housing development in Castlemaine, Central Victoria, where contributive self-governance, return of biodiversity, food production, water conservation, waste minimsation, and nett positive energy production are core goals.
The site incorporates 26 dwellings and a community house, with a B&B on the first floor. The buildings form six groups of terrace houses in a horseshow formation around shared food gardens, an orchard, shared wetlands and dam and a communal workshop.
Cars are kept to the outer ring and are more and more shared. The site includes three bike sheds. The houses only take up 11% of the site and 80% is owned communally.
All the houses are electric and average 8.2 Stars. Each has a 4 kW solar array which is connected to a microgrid where excess electricity is shared within the estate. The project produces more energy than it consumes.
The Paddock Eco Village is the legacy Neil and I set out to create— a development which challenges conventional norms. Partnering with Crosby Architects, we developed 26 private homes and a community house, each thoughtfully designed to withstand the harsh climate with a minimal environmental impact. We love that homes are built with eco-friendly materials, prioritize energy efficiency, produce more energy than they use and were low waste in their construction. The car-free environment of the large communal space is great for recreation, food growing and native fauna and flora. The result is a resilient, harmonious environment for future generations.
Geoff Crosby, Design Architect
Jennifer Pryce, Documentation & Administration
Kylie Ashby, Documentation & Administration
Lucy Williams, Project Architect
Annabel Mazzotti, Materials Research & Specification
Matt Brebner, Student Architect – Documentation
Bhargav Sridhar, Student Architect – Systems Research, Imaging
Hannah Miller, Documentation
Debbie Taylor, Client & Purchaser & Event Liaison
Bush Projects, Landscape Consultant
Vivid Civil Engineering, Civil Consultant
Remi Rauline, Project Manager
Lycopodium, Electrical Consultant
Vivid Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer
David Broad & Co, Hydraulic Consultant
Alternative Technologies Association (Renew), Energy Consultant
Concepz Town Planners, Town Planner
Lewin Energy Ratings, Energy Rater
EGBP Building Surveyors, Building Surveyor
Adrian Cummins & Associates, Land Surveyor
Blue Environments, Waste Management Consultant
Geotechnical Testing Services, Geotechnical Engineer
Biourban, Ecological Analysis
DBQS Consulting, Quantity Surveyor
Ehpic Assessments, Wastewater Consultant
C J Arms & Associates, Water Balance
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
