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Tocumwal Revival

Ngunnawal,
O'Connor,
ACT
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About this home

My home is a mix of old and new, with a heritage-listed cottage at the front, opening out into a new modern light-filled open plan extension at the back.

Q & A

What motivated you to build or retrofit sustainably?
I chose to buy a heritage-listed house because I loved the character and features that came with it. So I was keen to reuse elements that would help retain the character. I also know that building a home is resource intensive and there is a lot of waste, so I wanted to reduce waste where it made sense to do so. And with Canberra being a place of extreme temperatures, I was also wanting to make use of the northern sun in winter and seal the house really well, to reduce my bills.
Demolishing the old extension and building a new north facing open plan kitchen, dining and living area has made the biggest difference. It has improved the livability of the house immeasurably. The living areas are now separated from the bedrooms which makes the home more flexible and gives family members space and quiet when they need it. The sun streams in during the colder months which limits the use of heaters, and there is now direct access to the garden, meaning I spend a lot more time outside.
I wish I had known how many decisions I would still be making during the build. There are a lot and it can get overwhelming, so the more decisions you can make before you start with the assistants of architects, builders and interior designers the better. Those early decisions can also help to reduce unexpected cost increases during the build.
Type: Standalone house/townhouse
Project: Renovation or extension
Architect: Neighbourhood Architecture
Builder: Edward Robert Builders
Size: 150m²
Energy Rating: 7.5
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2

Sustainability Features

Building Materials & Envelope

Draught-proofing/air sealing
High-performance insulation
Double or triple-glazed windows
Sustainable or low-impact materials
Recycled or reused materials

Heating, Cooling and Ventilation

Passive heating/cooling (north-facing glazing, cross ventilation, thermal mass, shading, etc.)
Ceiling fans
Heat pump (reverse-cycle) heating/cooling

Energy and Appliances

Efficient lighting (LED, daylighting, solar skylights)
Electric cooktop - induction/ceramic

Water & Waste Systems

Water-efficient fixtures
Rainwater tanks
Greywater system

Landscape & Biodiversity

Native garden
Edible garden

Climate Resilience

Heatwave

Accessible & Flexible Design Features

Design for flexible use
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