The outdated rear addition to this double-brick heritage home near Ballarat made way for an enchanting garden room and new living spaces.
The clients entrusted Envirotecture to design new living spaces that were warm, healthy and environmentally responsible. They also wanted the renovation to incorporate a garden room—a greenhouse to extend their growing season and provide an inviting liminal space that connected them to their garden all year round.
The architectural design was inspired by the surrounding established gardens, the possibilities afforded by a passive solar approach and the insights that spring from the firm’s expertise in the Passivhaus certification standard.
The new spaces used the footprint and existing concrete slab of the original rear addition, which reduced construction waste and the embodied carbon emissions associated with the renovation. The new wall assembly was thicker (140mm vs 90mm) to allow for higher insulation values and thermally-broken aluminium windows specified. Careful solar design draws in low winter sun to warm the living spaces and external shading protects from summer overheating. Careful attention to detail by the builders ensured no draughts or uncontrolled heat loss.
These factors combined to create a new bathroom, kitchen, living and dining room that are a comfortable, stable temperature all year round. Excellent indoor air quality is achieved by a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery that was installed throughout the entire house. The energy efficient design means lower bills for heating and cooling and much more comfort compared to life here before the renovation.
This project exemplifies the wonder of biophilic design, an approach that creates built spaces that connect humans to the natural world through all of our senses. Carefully placed glazing connects the house to its extensive gardens and allows for cross-ventilation in warmer months. The garden room literally brings the garden inside. It’s an appealing space in which to work or relax in any season and belies its inner-urban surroundings.
Other notable aspects of the design include rooftop solar, electrification of hot water and cooking functions, low-VOC materials and sustainably sourced timber floors plus wall and ceiling linings. The passage from the rear garage to the greenhouse entry will readily accommodate a future ramp for universal access, as required.
Awards
Awards
Awards
