A light-filled, compact home that achieves a 9.2-star NatHERS rating and was adapted from YourHome’s 'Design for Place' Banksia floor plan. The existing Banksia layout was refined to create distinct work-from-home zones, flexible guest accommodation, multi-purpose wet areas and a walk-in pantry to support rural living.
Located on the outskirts of a small rural town, the house sits midway along a gently sloping block with valley views across farmland to the north and native woodland upslope to the south. Its simple, robust form – a contemporary nod to the classic gabled shed – is clad in fire resistant dark custom orb metal and fibre cement sheeting. Inside, the use of concrete block blade walls visually extend from interior to exterior, yet are thermally broken to maintain performance. Strategic framed views from the kitchen, study and ensuite reinforce the connection to the surrounding bushland.
Though modest in scale, the home performs with ambition. All shared living and sleeping areas are positioned to the north for winter solar gain, while deep eaves provide shade in summer. Burnished concrete floors and co block walls offer thermal mass, complemented by high-performance glazing, insulation, cross-ventilation and ceiling fans, all supporting year-round comfort without relying on mechanical heating or cooling.
A fully electric home, its energy needs are met by an 11.44 kW rooftop solar array, battery storage, a smart EV charger and efficient appliances such as heat pump hot water system and dryer. Water-efficient fixtures, a greywater recycling system, and a rainwater harvesting tank are essential in this location without mains water. The house is complemented by native and productive gardens, a small orchard, greenhouse and chickens.
