Tree House | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design

This house has as its central organising principles two things; the established garden and the kitchen table. During the previous 20 odd years of occupation of this house by the clients those two elements were almost the same thing. The majority of meals were eaten at a large table in the garden, and though the brief was to provide a more all–weather solution to dining there was also a desire to keep the connection and feel of being in the garden.

The design of this house has dual ambitions; to provide a quiet retreat for two busy professionals, and then at other times to welcome family and friends. Further, the house seeks to demonstrate a way of living that creates more gentle density in our established suburbs and to give an old house another couple of hundred years of useful life.

GardenHaus | Linden Thorley Architects

With glimpses of the ocean from the existing front deck, a first-floor addition afforded a vista down the street towards the ocean and connection to the sky. The result is a modern, light filled, energy efficient residence suitable for a young family with an open beach house feel. The new addition seamlessly fits into its surroundings as a contemporary interpretation of the pitched gable roof forms of the street.

Key components of the client brief were strong sustainability ambitions centred around modest scale, a bigger garden, enjoyment of the coastal location and energy efficiency. The building is designed to the Passivhaus EnerPHIT standard for retrofit projects, ensuring 90% less energy consumption to achieve year-round ideal thermal comfort and excellent air quality.