Pavone House 2025

Pavone House

Pavone House won the 2023 Living Future Institute of Australia’s National Biophilic Design Award in the Interior and Renovation category. This recognition celebrates the home’s deep connection to nature, history, and adaptability over time. Located on Wurundjeri land in Melbourne, Pavone House has been in the family for five generations since its construction in the 1950s by Italian migrants.

The home’s 2016/2017 renovation, led by its current resident—an building scientist and architect—prioritised indoor environment quality (IEQ) over traditional energy efficiency strategies. The house, previously uninsulated with single-glazed windows and air gaps, suffered from extreme indoor temperatures. Environmental monitoring confirmed that summer heatwaves rendered indoor conditions identical to the outdoor temperature, making renovation essential.

The redesign expanded the home from 92m² to 155m², balancing heritage with contemporary living. The renovation introduced a “Home for Life” concept, allowing the house to evolve across four life stages, accommodating young children, aging parents, and potential future subdivision. Key features include reinforced walls for grab rails, adaptable room configurations, and acoustic insulation for privacy.

Biophilic elements blur the indoor-outdoor boundary, such as a north-facing pergola with espaliered fruit trees, natural ventilation, and abundant daylight. The kitchen, central to Italian culture, remains the heart of the home, designed with low-VOC finishes and natural materials.

Beyond aesthetics, the home fosters well-being, social connection, and environmental harmony. The renovation celebrates both historical continuity and future resilience, creating a sustainable, adaptable, and deeply personal living environment.

This home is transitioning from gas to full electrification, reflecting how past decisions impact long-term sustainability. Renovated in 2016, the home retained ducted gas heating installed in 2013, when gas was promoted as a cleaner option. With a 9kWh solar array added in 2023 and plans to replace the gas system with electric appliances at the end of their lifespan, the household is carefully balancing environmental goals, financial considerations, and embodied energy. Indoor air quality monitoring shows that an effective rangehood mitigates gas cooking emissions during this staged transition.