Hardwick Family House 2025

Hardwick Family House

Jess and her husband had long dreamed of a parkside home, and when this 1959-built home became available, it was the perfect opportunity. Rather than expanding, they focused on thoughtful, high-impact changes to enhance functionality while celebrating the home’s original character.

Sustainability was at the heart of the renovation. The internal footprint remained unchanged, reducing material use and embodied carbon. Removing carpets revealed pristine brushbox timber floors, and the original pink steel bathtub was retained. With the help of Five Mile Radius, the home’s terrazzo was repurposed into a stunning concrete benchtop. Locally sourced materials, including handmade tiles, brass, and timber, create a warm and timeless interior.

One of the biggest transformations was opening up the kitchen, dining, and living areas, removing a rear sunroom to create a generous outdoor room and abundant breezes through the home. This new space blurs the boundary between indoors and out, optimizing cross-ventilation and natural light. A green-hued timber batten balustrade allows the deck to recede into the surrounding parkland, preserving privacy and enhancing the home’s connection to nature.

Underneath, excess concrete and retaining walls were removed to restore the landscape, making way for the JHA studio. A sweeping concrete bench mediates the transition between built and natural spaces, fostering a seamless connection between work and home.

By prioritising reuse, thoughtful design, and passive cooling strategies, the home is more energy-efficient, comfortable, and cost-effective to run—proof that sustainability doesn’t require excess, but rather a deep respect for what already exists.

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2025
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances
      Energy monitoring
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Cross ventilation
      Deciduous planting around house
      External planting
      Passive solar designed home
      Shading
      Thermal mass
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans
      Split system airconditioner
    • Water heating:
    • Solar hot water (flat panel)
      Water heated by PV system
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Rainwater storage - Above ground
    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • Poly tank
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • 5000L
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Natural daylight
    • Window Protection:
    • Adjustable Shading
      Awnings (external)
      Blinds
      Deciduous tree/vegetation
      Drapes/curtains
      Eaves
      Louvres
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Sustainable materials:
    • Maximising re-use / minimising demolition Prioritising natural ventilation Upgraded ceiling fans (Big Ass Fans) Master-planned approach to the roll out of additional sustainable upgrades Water storage
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Aggregate
      Appliances
      Basins/sinks
      Bath
      Benchtops
      Cladding
      Concrete
      Doors
      Floorboards
      Glass
      Insulation
      Roofing material
      Windows
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
      External walls
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk – polyester
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • 3.5
    • External Walls Rating:
    • 2.5
    • External Walls Type:
    • Bulk – polyester
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • Yes
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Solar PV grid connect
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Total cost of home when constructed:
    • $320,000 at the time
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • approx $450,000 today
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • Unsure, we didn't live here prior to renovating
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 139 m2
    • BAL Rating
    • No BAL rating requirements at time of construction
    • Roof
    • Metal (Colorbond)
      Tiles (Clay)
    • Wall Materials
    • Lightweight construction (timber frame)
      Timber
    • Window and Door Types
    • Awning
      Casement
      Louvre windows
      Stacking windows/doors
    • Universal design accessability
    • Adaptive design
    • Universal Design Features
    • 80cm minimum door opening width
      Contrasting colours and material for vision impaired
      Hobless showers
      Lever handles for doors (no knobs)
      Minimum 110cm wide hallways
      Rocker style light switches
      Shower head on rail for various heights
      Slip resistant flooring
      Tapware to be easily accessed from outside the shower
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 3
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 1
    • Healthy Home Materials
    • Cabinet design to minimise dust collection
      Carpet free - tiles/concrete/timber flooring throughout
      Chemical free cleaning products used
      Cross flow ventilation
      Formaldehyde free cabinets
      Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
      Natural fibre furnishings
      Natural light and ventilation
      VOC free paints/sealer/varnish
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Chickens
      Composting
      Edible garden
      Native plants
    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Compost all food scraps
      Pickle and preserve food
      Recycle
      Swap with friends and neighbours
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Cabinet design to minimise dust collection
      Carpet free - tiles/concrete/timber flooring throughout
      Chemical free cleaning products used
      Cross flow ventilation
      Formaldehyde free cabinets
      Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
      Natural fibre furnishings
      Natural light and ventilation
      VOC free paints/sealer/varnish
Location
Geebung QLD 4034
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • Renovation
    • Builder
    • Eclat Building Co.
    • Designer
    • Jessica Hardwick

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