Gadigal people of Eora Nation
New South Wales
Tree House gently nestles between a heritage sandstone wall, a park and neighbouring houses. With a character of modern Australian vernacular, use of galvanised steel with recycled hardwood and brick allows the new addition to sit within the adjacent bush regeneration site, while permeable batten fencing and native planting allows biodiversity to filter between the sites. The existing cottage and addition are wrapped in a high performance envelope and the strategic planning arrangement provides more equitable access and a strong connection to landscape – crafting a building which has material longevity and flexibility for future permutations. Through careful design strategies focused on both embodied and operational carbon, the home gives more energy back to the grid, and is calculated to be significantly carbon-negative over its lifetime.
Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
A finely resolved and considered architectural addition to an existing home, with an extremely admirable and hard-fought commitment to sustainability, bio-diversity and a net-zero carbon future, engineered to perform to the highest level of thermal comfort all year round. There has been an honest and robust choice of materials with re-use, recycling, repurposing and retention. A rich timber structure brings a warmth to the ground floor interiors, while on the upper level, generous glazing opens up to the landscape, borrowing space and greenery from the adjacent park, creating the illusion of a bushland setting despite the suburban context.
Commendation for Sustainable Architecture
Tree House demonstrates a thoughtful and rigorous approach to sustainability, balancing high performance with careful integration into its landscape context. The adaptive reuse and extension of the existing dwelling employ passive solar and Passive House principles to deliver a well-insulated, airtight and healthy home.
Through material reuse and considered low-carbon material selection, all-electric operation and on-site renewables, the project minimises environmental impact, achieving a carbon negative outcome over its lifetime, while enhancing biodiversity and ecological connections. The result is a crafted, climate-resilient dwelling that seamlessly extends the adjacent parkland and exemplifies the potential of sustainable urban housing.
Commendation for Residential Architecture - Houses (Alterations and Additions)
A finely resolved and considered architectural addition to an existing home, with an extremely admirable and hard-fought commitment to sustainability, bio-diversity and a net-zero carbon future, engineered to perform to the highest level of thermal comfort all year round. There has been an honest and robust choice of materials with re-use, recycling, repurposing and retention. A rich timber structure brings a warmth to the ground floor interiors, while on the upper level, generous glazing opens up to the landscape, borrowing space and greenery from the adjacent park, creating the illusion of a bushland setting despite the suburban context.
Commendation for Sustainable Architecture
Tree House demonstrates a thoughtful and rigorous approach to sustainability, balancing high performance with careful integration into its landscape context. The adaptive reuse and extension of the existing dwelling employ passive solar and Passive House principles to deliver a well-insulated, airtight and healthy home.
Through material reuse and considered low-carbon material selection, all-electric operation and on-site renewables, the project minimises environmental impact, achieving a carbon negative outcome over its lifetime, while enhancing biodiversity and ecological connections. The result is a crafted, climate-resilient dwelling that seamlessly extends the adjacent parkland and exemplifies the potential of sustainable urban housing.
We are passionate about respecting, restoring and rehabilitating our environmental systems. For a resilient future, we wanted to upgrade an existing home with good bones for re-use, and site appropriateness for onsite food production and renewable energy. The site had great opportunity for northern light and to rejuvenate the natural landscape. A challenge was the sloped site which made access for mobility impaired family members difficult. The ASA team worked collaboratively with council, consultants and the build team to craft a home which allows us to connect to food production and endemic landscape whilst being robust to the intensifying climate.
Hamish Bresnahan, Project Architect
Alexander Symes, Project Architect
Fergus Hayes-Sant, Student of Architecture
Ross Engineers, Structural Engineer
John Oultram Heritage & Design, Heritage Consultant
AHJ, Door and Window Supplier
Quantum Traffic, Traffic Engineer