The tension between northern sun and southern views called for a house with two aspects, with the added difficulty of a flame-zone bushfire classification. The unusual approach to a passive design solution includes composite aluminium-timber double glazed windows and doors, polished concrete floors with inbuilt solar hydronic heating.

The client’s wish for a more conservative appearance to sit comfortably in the suburban context led to the hip roofed bungalow form. The design proposal is a two storey timber framed house on a concrete ground slab. The plan has been opened up to north to allow solar access to living areas, and cross ventilation in summer. The living areas are on the southern side in response to magnificent views of Sydney’s Middle Harbour valley, to the south. Additional heating is provided by an in-slab solar hydronic system. Thermal performance is enhanced by very high insulation levels to walls, and correct shading of all high performance double glazed windows and doors.

Rainwater is harvested for whole of house use, plus a permanent fire fighting reserve. Allowance was made for a later waste water treatment system, which could not be approved at time of construction.

All structural and joinery timbers are either local plantation softwoods (including hoop pine), or bamboo. The high-performance composite timber-aluminium windows and doors (by Rylock and Breezway) use Victorian Ash from a private plantation.