Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Modernism Meets Ultra-Sustainability in Melbourne
For this eco-conscious couple, pushing the boundaries of a sustainable build was as important as creating a functional family home
Set against a tranquil backdrop of native plants and a natural swimming pond, the crisp white exterior of White Pebble House stands majestic and proud. For its owners, Frances Cosway of White Pebble Interiors, and her partner Neil Dicker, the house is the result of many years of work and dreams that have finally become a reality.
The eco-conscious couple not only wanted a modern family home that was relaxed and versatile, they dreamt of a highly energy-efficient house that would minimise their familiy’s impact on the environment. The key to this success is the passive-solar design that has dictated the layout and orientation of each room, helping the house work with the climate and its natural environment, not against it. This crucial element, along with many other eco-friendly components, is why this huge build was awarded an energy rating of 7.3 – an exceptional achievement considering the building’s size and Melbourne’s climate.
The eco-conscious couple not only wanted a modern family home that was relaxed and versatile, they dreamt of a highly energy-efficient house that would minimise their familiy’s impact on the environment. The key to this success is the passive-solar design that has dictated the layout and orientation of each room, helping the house work with the climate and its natural environment, not against it. This crucial element, along with many other eco-friendly components, is why this huge build was awarded an energy rating of 7.3 – an exceptional achievement considering the building’s size and Melbourne’s climate.
Inspired by the iconic mid-century architecture of Palm Springs, Cosway and Dicker’s goal was to create a high-end contemporary home that met all the requirements of family living, while still achieving extreme sustainability on a budget comparable to a ‘standard’ build.
Some of the impressive sustainable features include the passive-solar design, which means there’s no need for artificial heating or cooling, while cutting-edge insulation and a highly efficient thermal mass keep the house at a constant comfortable temperature. An airtight building envelope and heat-recovery ventilation ensure fresh, clean air without energy loss through uncontrolled drafts, as well as solar hot water minimising the family’s impact on the environment.
Some of the impressive sustainable features include the passive-solar design, which means there’s no need for artificial heating or cooling, while cutting-edge insulation and a highly efficient thermal mass keep the house at a constant comfortable temperature. An airtight building envelope and heat-recovery ventilation ensure fresh, clean air without energy loss through uncontrolled drafts, as well as solar hot water minimising the family’s impact on the environment.
The block’s sloping gradient was a surprising advantage for the couple, who also wanted the front and backyards to be highly sustainable.
Featuring native Australian plants chosen for their drought tolerance, the outdoor areas combine to create a tranquil haven. A waterfall in the front yard works organically with the natural slope of the land and can be heard from the home office, while the backyard features a natural swimming pond. “We were keen to have a pool but something reflective of the natural environment and 100 per cent chemical free,” says Cosway. “We opted for a custom-built, naturally filtered swimming pond, with basalt boulders to capture the natural landscape of Wannon Falls – a sentimental spot for us.”
Landscaping: Sam Cox
Featuring native Australian plants chosen for their drought tolerance, the outdoor areas combine to create a tranquil haven. A waterfall in the front yard works organically with the natural slope of the land and can be heard from the home office, while the backyard features a natural swimming pond. “We were keen to have a pool but something reflective of the natural environment and 100 per cent chemical free,” says Cosway. “We opted for a custom-built, naturally filtered swimming pond, with basalt boulders to capture the natural landscape of Wannon Falls – a sentimental spot for us.”
Landscaping: Sam Cox
Non-slip, timber-look porcelain tiles were chosen for the deck area to minimise the care and maintenance needed. With a low-volatile organic compound, these were Australia’s first tiles to be Green Tag Gold Plus certified. “We’ve used the same tiles for both inside and out to extend the floor space and create a seamless flow,” says Cosway. An ornamental grape vine softens the edges of the contemporary exterior and hints at the couple’s Mediterranean influences.
Timber-look porcelain tiles: White Pebble Interiors
Timber-look porcelain tiles: White Pebble Interiors
Intended to be their forever home, the couple went with a future-proofed layout designed to grow and adapt with the family at different life stages. The open-plan living space is where most of the daily activities take place, while the rest of the rooms are multi-functional so they can be repurposed in the future.
Choosing the fixtures and fittings came naturally to Cosway, who has been designing interiors for many years. “I believe interiors should be a journey of your life and only reflect what you love; I’ve designed our home to show our family’s story, not to follow any trend or fashion,” she says.
High-efficiency LED lighting has been installed throughout the house, and a lighting designer was engaged to develop a solution for optimal indirect lighting in every room.
Stools: Tonon Furniture; solid acrylic benchtops: HI MACS
Choosing the fixtures and fittings came naturally to Cosway, who has been designing interiors for many years. “I believe interiors should be a journey of your life and only reflect what you love; I’ve designed our home to show our family’s story, not to follow any trend or fashion,” she says.
High-efficiency LED lighting has been installed throughout the house, and a lighting designer was engaged to develop a solution for optimal indirect lighting in every room.
Stools: Tonon Furniture; solid acrylic benchtops: HI MACS
Stunning mismatched tiles by Patricia Urquiola create an eye-catching splashback and enliven the white kitchen units. Cosway spotted these tiles nearly 10 years ago and was finally able to use them in her dream home. “They may not be to everyone’s taste, however, we designed this house for us to enjoy and I wanted to be surrounded by items that tell a story,” she says.
Tiles: Patricia Urquiola
Tiles: Patricia Urquiola
An organic palette of earthy tones and natural textures creates a relaxing and inviting vibe. “My style is definitely eclectic; I love to mix nature-strip finds with vintage pieces and designer one-offs,” Cosway says. “The prints on the wall are actually promotional posters from an exhibition I visited in Amsterdam, another big part of my journey.”
Custom-made sofa covered in Harlequin fabric
Custom-made sofa covered in Harlequin fabric
Indoor plants play a big part in Cosway’s interiors to bring a homey and nurturing feel to the spaces.
A formal dining area sits adjacent to the cooking zone and brings an elegant touch to the open-plan living space. The beautiful rounded arms of the Tonon dining chairs are reflected in the circular mirror display on the wall, while a striking pendant gives a nod to Cosway’s ethnic style influences.
Dining chairs: Tonon Furniture; dining table: Jimmy Possum
Dining chairs: Tonon Furniture; dining table: Jimmy Possum
Bespoke cabinetry makes a bold, yet functional, statement either side of the contemporary fireplace, and the dark timber ties in with the dining furniture for a balanced look.
Cosway designed the ultimate laundry with some ingenious features, such as built-in baskets to separate whites from darks, and a drying rail for hanging shirts and drip-drying wet clothes over the sink. There’s also a wall-mounted, cantilevered drying rack to save space.
Referred to as the ‘Winter Room’, the family living room’s classic scheme is in stark contrast to the contemporary open-plan space. Cavalier wool carpet and sumptuous double-lined taffeta curtains set a cosy tone, while warming textures and natural colours create a cocooning effect. “In the colder months we spend all our time in here and only need to heat this room, which saves tonnes of energy,” says Cosway. “The house has eight heating and cooling zones, which means we only use what we need.”
Positioned at the front of the house, the home office is a versatile space that can be repurposed into a master suite in the future, thanks to the adjoining ensuite and walk-in robe. “This room showcases many of my treasured finds, including the desk that I found on the nature strip,” says Cosway.
While double-lined curtains have been fitted in ‘winter’ rooms to further improve heat retention, north-facing rooms, such as the master bedroom, are decorated with translucent taffeta drapes, teamed with block-out blinds. “The orientation of the rooms works with the passive-solar design, allowing minimal penetration of summer sun into the interior, while winter sun penetrates 60 per cent in all rooms,” Cosway says. “At the top of the house, custom-designed fixed louvres have been angled above north-facing windows to work with the sun and prevent the house becoming a hot box.”
All windows and doors are fitted with high-efficiency glazing, with thermally-improved aluminium frames to reduce air leakage.
All windows and doors are fitted with high-efficiency glazing, with thermally-improved aluminium frames to reduce air leakage.
The master ensuite is a tranquil sanctuary of natural tones, and all the fittings, such as the shower and taps, are water efficient, featuring low-flow designs. “As Melbourne has an average annual rainfall of 602 millimetres, we wanted to maximise this potential and collect rainwater on the roof,” Cosway says. The home’s collection area is around 250 square metres, so about 150,000 litres of water can be captured per year. All rainwater landing on the roof is filtered and runs to an underground 20,000-litre concrete tank in the backyard. This water is then double-filtered and used to supply the toilets, washing machine and garden taps via a submersible pump.
A wall of glass brings the outside into the shower, creating a tropical oasis in the wet area.
After many visits to Morocco, Cosway was determined to bring a bit of the Middle East into her home. She finally tracked down an intricately patterned tile that combined her love of earthy tones with ethnic detailing. “I would have loved to have recreated the Venetian plaster effect on the rest of the walls, but it was way out of budget so I chose the next best thing: a large-format porcelain tile that mimics the trowelled look.” perfectly,” she says.
Similar to the kitchen, the bathrooms feature solid acrylic benchtops, while the vanities have been custom-made to fit each space.
And finally, some top tips from Cosway on achieving a successful sustainable build.
TELL US
Share what has most impressed you about this incredible eco-friendly build by telling us in the Comments below.
- Take time to understand what a sustainable home will offer, and what habits you may need to change.
- Talk to people who have done it before so you can get the best from your build.
- Be aware that a sustainable home works best when things work together; a decision in one area might impact other areas.
- Test. Measure. Evaluate. Optimise … repeatedly.
- Enjoy the journey.
TELL US
Share what has most impressed you about this incredible eco-friendly build by telling us in the Comments below.
Who lives here: Interior designer Frances Cosway, of White Pebble Interiors, her partner Neil Dicker, and their two daughters
Size: 370 square metres; 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Location: Hampton, Victoria
Completed: December, 2014
Builder: Blue Chip Builders
Awards: Winner of Bayside’s Best Ecological & Sustainable Build Award in 2015