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Mornington Peninsula Houzz: An Eco Home With a Special Backstory
These homeowners wanted a true eco home that spoke to its surrounds – and they waited 45 years to achieve it
Back in the 1980s, Joan English and Ken Frey purchased two neighbouring lots in the coastal town of Balnarring, Victoria, for AU$9,600 each. They built a home on one lot and raised their young family here, leaving the site next to it vacant. A few years later, work and school commitments drove them back to the city, but they didn’t break ties with the small coastal town, returning every school holiday to camp near the foreshore.
Forty-five years on, with their children grown and living out of home, the couple decided to return to the area they loved and build themselves a new home on the empty lot. And with the intimate knowledge of the local landscape and conditions they’d gained over the years, they knew precisely what they wanted to create.
Forty-five years on, with their children grown and living out of home, the couple decided to return to the area they loved and build themselves a new home on the empty lot. And with the intimate knowledge of the local landscape and conditions they’d gained over the years, they knew precisely what they wanted to create.
“The owners were passionate about creating an environmentally sustainable home, not only to achieve long-term savings on energy and water bills, but also to reduce their carbon footprint,” says Ton Vu, architect and co-director at Atlas Architects.
“The house needed to be low-maintenance and conducive to their family structure and lifestyle, with the flexibility to accommodate visits from their children. The home’s relationship to the landscape was also important.”
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“The house needed to be low-maintenance and conducive to their family structure and lifestyle, with the flexibility to accommodate visits from their children. The home’s relationship to the landscape was also important.”
Thinking of building your own dream home? Find an architect near you on Houzz
The house would predominantly be used by the couple, however it needed to offer the flexibility to accommodate their visiting children from time to time.
“The couple’s initial idea was to build a one-bedroom courtyard home, which could be extended under stage-two works to include two additional bedrooms for the children. But when the concept design commenced, the clients decided to carry out all the building works at the same time,” says Vu.
“The couple’s initial idea was to build a one-bedroom courtyard home, which could be extended under stage-two works to include two additional bedrooms for the children. But when the concept design commenced, the clients decided to carry out all the building works at the same time,” says Vu.
The proposed plan.
“They were after a home that was environmentally and socially sustainable,” he says. “The building needed to be energy-efficient, have excellent passive solar qualities and natural ventilation. The social aspect and the relationship of the house with the landscape and outdoor space were important considerations.”
“They were after a home that was environmentally and socially sustainable,” he says. “The building needed to be energy-efficient, have excellent passive solar qualities and natural ventilation. The social aspect and the relationship of the house with the landscape and outdoor space were important considerations.”
Frey has a background in civil engineering and both he and English were hands-on right from the start of this project, says Neighbour. “Every internal finish, fixture and fitting was hand-picked by the clients. While a registered builder was employed for the construction of the dwelling, they undertook a number of tasks themselves, such as the construction of retaining walls, landscaping and site drainage,” he says.
“This collaboration between client and builder resulted in a home that met all the client’s specific needs. It also minimised material waste as the client was mindful of what could be recycled and repurposed on-site.
“The outcome is a cherished home with a strong sense of place and an emotional connection to the owners,” says Neighbour.
“This collaboration between client and builder resulted in a home that met all the client’s specific needs. It also minimised material waste as the client was mindful of what could be recycled and repurposed on-site.
“The outcome is a cherished home with a strong sense of place and an emotional connection to the owners,” says Neighbour.
“When analysing the site, it was apparent that the front of the property presented wonderful opportunities, with a wide 29-metre-wide frontage, a northern aspect, gentle topography and existing vegetation,” says Neighbour.
The couple wanted the home to connect harmoniously with its beautiful, coastal environs. “Generous front and rear gardens provide room for diverse activities,” says Vu. “A central courtyard, sheltered from cold south-westerly winds, completes a hierarchy of outdoor spaces and connects interior functions with the external environment.”
The couple wanted the home to connect harmoniously with its beautiful, coastal environs. “Generous front and rear gardens provide room for diverse activities,” says Vu. “A central courtyard, sheltered from cold south-westerly winds, completes a hierarchy of outdoor spaces and connects interior functions with the external environment.”
The layout of the building separates the outdoor space into three zones:
- Front courtyard: A sunken northern front yard that is shielded from the street by shrubs and trees. The generous setback from the street and the landscape provide breathing space and a green outlook from the living and dining areas. The master bedroom is set back further from the main facade, and looks onto a private garden.
- Central courtyard: This private courtyard is a social space for family get-togethers and has direct access to the living and dining areas, kitchen, workshop and entry from the driveway.
- Rear courtyard: A functional outdoor space with firewood and garden storage, a fire pit and vegetable gardens. Tall trees were retained and new, medium-size trees were planted to give it a campground vibe, reflecting the owners’ love of the great outdoors.
“The layout of the house is based on the site’s northern aspect and the private central courtyard,” says Vu. “The key living spaces – the living and dining areas, kitchen and main bedroom suite – open directly to the northern front yard. The living space and kitchen also open to the central courtyard,” he says.
“The southern wing consists of two bedrooms, a bathroom and laundry. This wing still has a northerly aspect and views of the leafy rear yard,” says Vu.
“The workshop and garage are on the east side of the property with direct access to the courtyard.”
“The workshop and garage are on the east side of the property with direct access to the courtyard.”
The AU$600,000 budget for the project was spent on the structure, the reverse brick-veneer building envelope, insulation and services such as solar power.
A restrained palette of spotted-gum timber cladding, recycled clinker bricks and Lysaght Custom Orb corrugated steel in Colorbond Monument speaks directly to the surrounding coastal-town context, while minimising maintenance so the owners can enjoy their weekends.
A restrained palette of spotted-gum timber cladding, recycled clinker bricks and Lysaght Custom Orb corrugated steel in Colorbond Monument speaks directly to the surrounding coastal-town context, while minimising maintenance so the owners can enjoy their weekends.
“The house references the Australian coastal vernacular and the courtyard house typology, both in its form and materiality,” says Vu. “Corrugated iron and timber cladding are both found in typical coastal houses and convey a sense of familiarity with the Mornington Peninsula.
“While the courtyard is the centre of the house, it separates the volume into different wings to make heating and cooling more efficient and to connect all parts of the house with nature,” he says.
“While the courtyard is the centre of the house, it separates the volume into different wings to make heating and cooling more efficient and to connect all parts of the house with nature,” he says.
“Corrugated steel was applied to external walls that face harsher weather conditions, predominately from the south and west. The Colorbond Monument finish of the steel cladding requires no maintenance. Spotted-gum timber cladding, which was used on the external walls that are protected from the weather by deep eaves, softens the facade and provides a warmth that contrasts with the tough corrugated steel,” says Vu.
To make the home energy-efficient, Vu and Neighbour utilised the following strategies:
- Solar control: North-facing eaves were designed to prevent the summer sun from entering the building while allowing the winter sun to penetrate the interior.
- Optimising thermal mass: Reverse brick-veneer construction was used for most of the external walls. The brickwork is on the inside face of the wall and stud frame, with lightweight cladding on the outside. The internal brickwork – together with the insulated concrete floor – absorbs solar heat during the day in winter and slowly release it at night. In summer, as the sun is kept out, the masonry walls and concrete floor keep the internal temperature cool. With reflective foil and insulation on the outside face of the brickwork, heat and cold transmission from the outside environment into the internal spaces is significantly decreased.
The house during construction with newly installed solar panels.
Natural ventilation: Windows and doors were carefully positioned to maximise cross ventilation. A high, angled ceiling and motorised clerestory windows mean hot air can easily escape.
Natural ventilation: Windows and doors were carefully positioned to maximise cross ventilation. A high, angled ceiling and motorised clerestory windows mean hot air can easily escape.
- Solar power: Solar panels were integrated in the north-facing roof, generating power for the hot-water heat pump and split-system air conditioner.
Inax Vaisselle mosaic splashback tiles: Artedomus.
- Smart door placement: The southern wing is separated from the northern wing by a sliding door. This enables a four-zone heating and cooling system, so only the rooms being used are air conditioned.
- Recycled materials: Recycled clinker bricks were used for all the brickwork and courtyard paving. The builder recycled the timber cladding and corrugated iron cladding offcuts to create a built-in bookshelf, fences, gates and firewood storage.
Fiandre Urban White tiles on the shower wall: Artedomus.
- Rainwater tanks: A 2000-litre rainwater tank provides gravity-fed water supply to the toilet and laundry. A 5000-litre overflow tank provides pumped water for garden irrigation.
The house is partially visible from the street, so a major consideration was achieving privacy while keeping it open to its leafy surroundings and northern sunlight.
The building sits 800 millimetres below the natural ground level at the front of the property, so the architects used native vegetation and raised garden areas to provide shelter and prevent passers-by from looking into the living and dining rooms.
The retaining walls within the front yard create a sense of enclosure while maintaining views to tree canopies and the surrounding gardens.
The building sits 800 millimetres below the natural ground level at the front of the property, so the architects used native vegetation and raised garden areas to provide shelter and prevent passers-by from looking into the living and dining rooms.
The retaining walls within the front yard create a sense of enclosure while maintaining views to tree canopies and the surrounding gardens.
The house during construction.
The cantilevered steel verandah awning brings the dwelling closer to the street, without impacting setback regulations. The expression of the steel structure exposes the home’s functional aesthetic.
The cantilevered steel verandah awning brings the dwelling closer to the street, without impacting setback regulations. The expression of the steel structure exposes the home’s functional aesthetic.
The workshop during construction.
Positioned away from the main house is the workshop. “The workshop is our client’s retreat. With a background in civil engineering, our client regularly undertakes home construction projects to further improve the property. This simple workshop relates in form and materiality to the dwelling, yet provides much-needed separation for sound and privacy,” says Vu.
Positioned away from the main house is the workshop. “The workshop is our client’s retreat. With a background in civil engineering, our client regularly undertakes home construction projects to further improve the property. This simple workshop relates in form and materiality to the dwelling, yet provides much-needed separation for sound and privacy,” says Vu.
The house during construction.
Your turn
Are you as impressed with this environmentally friendly home as we are? Tell us your favourite feature in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see another beautiful coastal home? Don’t miss this Queensland Houzz: A Cosy, 90-Year-Old Coastal Cottage Is Reborn
Your turn
Are you as impressed with this environmentally friendly home as we are? Tell us your favourite feature in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see another beautiful coastal home? Don’t miss this Queensland Houzz: A Cosy, 90-Year-Old Coastal Cottage Is Reborn
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple live here year-round and their adult children visit throughout the year
Location: Balnarring, Victoria
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms: Three bedrooms, two bathrooms
House size: 155 square metres
Budget: Around AU$660,000
Architect and interior designer: Atlas Architects
Energy consultant: Energy Lab
Styling: Homely Addiction
Builder: Robert Gibson