Scissor Truss House

Arunta,
Aranda,
ACT
This home will be open for in-person tours on the 17th May 2026

About this home

The 2010 main house was architect designed (by NMBW studio) with spectacular northern orientation, high raked ceilings, and interesting finishes. I later did a whole series of energy efficiency upgrades as described on the links below.

Main house:
https://www.nmbw.com.au/archive/aranda-house

https://thermalintegrity.com.au/posts/home-journey/

https://thermalintegrity.com.au/posts/home-ventilation/

In 2023 I built a standalone studio, The Pea Hut, which is approximately (not officially) a "passive house":
https://thermalintegrity.com.au/posts/the-pea-hut/

In 2025 I built another studio, Lime Sublime, of hemp-lime and other natural and recycled materials :
https://thermalintegrity.com.au/posts/lime-sublime/

Q & A

What motivated you to build or retrofit sustainably?
Being cold
Back to 2026 Homes
Type: Standalone house/townhouse, Studio
Project: Gradual upgrades over time
Size: 170m²
Bedrooms: 4
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
Heat pump-powered hydronic heating
Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system

Energy and Appliances

Rooftop solar PV
Battery storage
Dedicated wall-mounted EV charging
Solar thermal hot water
Electric cooktop - induction/ceramic

Water & Waste Systems

Water-efficient fixtures
Rainwater tanks

Landscape & Biodiversity

Native garden
Edible garden

Climate Resilience

Heatwave

Accessible & Flexible Design Features

Design for multigenerational living or dual occupancy
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