Natural Wonder
An eco-smart, creek-side home project in Melbourne.
Building designer Peter Earnshaw was extremely well placed to redesign this eastern-Melbourne home: he lived in it for almost three years. “When the owners bought it, they asked me to assess its renovation potential,” he says. “My wife and I had sold our home and were looking for somewhere to rent, so we took the opportunity to move in.”
It quickly became apparent to Peter that, as charming as the 1956 home was, this project was more rebuild than renovation. The house sits on a 1400m2 block and is perched on the banks of a creek that floods regularly. “Neither the timber nor the external stone were in any condition to be reused,” he says, “but the owners wanted to retain the feel of the home, with its expansive windows and connection to the bush.” It took more than five years for development approval, with the rebuild finally beginning in 2015.
The new house essentially utilises the existing footprint, but expands the living space with a second storey and double garage. Set on steel piers sunk 4m into the ground, the home’s floor sits 1.5m above the floodline. This height makes maintenance tricky, so Peter opted for durable render and Scyon Linea fibre-cement cladding on the exterior.
Overall, the home boasts some impressive green credentials – solar panels, a 10,000L water tank under the house, a heatexchange system and outstanding insulation – but the star feature is undoubtedly its glorious windows. “The bush views become beautiful, living artworks,” says Peter. Even though he knew the house well, he was speechless the first time he walked through it on completion. “I took in the vistas up and down the creek, across to the mature gums, and was blown away.”
Generous, energy-efficient windows were always going to be an essential inclusion in this home, says building designer Peter Earnshaw. “We used Stegbar Siteline composite windows in most of the rooms because they allowed us to have cedar frames on the inside and durable aluminium on the outside.”
A soaring 4.5x2m plate-glass window is sited directly across from the entrance. It spans both storeys of the home and immediately creates a connection to the bush and creek beyond. Thoughtfully positioned windows frame the northeasterly views from the key rooms and, because most of the windows are double glazed, they boost the home’s eco cred.
Two butt-joint corner windows flank the fireplace in the living room. “They are single glazed, as opposed to double glazed, so we ended up with a clear corner and uninterrupted views,” says Peter.
OPPOSITE TOP A Stegbar Siteline awning window captures the breeze in the upstairs rumpus room. The sofa and artwork are both from Designs to Inspire. OPPOSITE BOTTOM
The centring of a square picture window in the main bedroom turns the tree view into a living artwork. Main walls painted British Paints Refined Stone, feature wall is Taubmans Silver Mink. Bedding from Adairs and Freedom. Bedside lamp, Early Settler. Occasional chair, Freedom. Floor lamp and pendant, Designs to Inspire. BELOW Slate sourced from Slate Discounts surrounds the fireplace in the living room and connects inside and out seamlessly.