The character of the existing home had been covered by layers of paint and neglected for many years. Oregon beams spanning the full width of the home were revealed and new finely crafted native timber joinery inserted as a nod to the original timber elements the house once had. Single glazing in existing hardwood frames was replaced by new double glazing, and empty cavity walls and ceilings filled to insulate the home.

Previous renovations had clouded the structured planning of the home while ignoring its shortfalls. Our readjustments to the living, bathroom and kitchen freed up access to the front and back to connect the interior to the garden.

The design narrative drew on the surrounding bush landscape, the home’s history and its honest materiality. Along with appropriating from the built context of the house itself, the surrounding and ever-changing colours of the bush landscape informed soft tones, solid materiality and celebration of the figures of local timbers. Refinement and curvaceous details provide a sense of weathering to new elements to settle into the aged character of the house.

2023 Houses Award. Sustainability Winner.

Jury Citation:

“The words “refresh,” “renew” and “refurbish” don’t wholly elucidate the new state of this wonderfully crafted home. This careful rehabilitation of a 1970s home honours and elevates the original design, the lived experience of the home and the environment that it sits in.

Honest and hand-built, homes of this era can feel ephemeral, and many exist on borrowed time. But those who have lived in similar dwellings will feel a warm appreciation for this considerate renovation, which will steward the house into a new era. This is a project that authenticates the sustainable message of repair over rebuild. Resisting the urge to extend down, up or out, the architect-owners have attentively and deliberatively ensured that this home delivers a new standard for comfort, bettering the performance of its contemporaries as well as new builds.

This sensitive restoration rectifies the lacklustre environmental performance of the original structure, enabling better quality of living. The owners are to be commended for their significant efforts to bring new life to existing elements, such as replacing glazing but preserving original hardwood frames. The home has been converted to all-electric power, cavity walls have been properly insulated, new inclusions have been consciously selected and waste has been minimized. Respectfully restored original handmade elements are paired with beautifully crafted new details, achieving a home that is sure to stand the continual test of time.”