When you imagine a person who wants to save trees, you may picture a hemp-wearing hipster holding a placard. This secluded home’s unique design went about saving trees in another way, lightly weaving and tiptoeing around three significant species and their precious root systems to protect them and give them new life.
Nestled quietly within this lush private oasis, the former tired, single-fronted terrace house now makes greenery its main focus. Its four main buildings, elegantly linked via mirrored glass corridors, lets the home’s surrounding nature be the daily entertainment.
Self-confessed quirky owners of this secluded “nature” dwelling wanted a “super-modern”, long-term family home that could adapt and change over time. “The owners came to us with a highly detailed and specific brief,” says Andrew Maynard and Mark Austin, directors at Austin Maynard Architects. “The owners wanted to save as much of the existing garden as possible and build within it a ‘homely’ house that was highly sustainable.”
A family of five, the owners wanted their residence to allow for large-scale entertaining, a space for their three children to grow up and a dedicated office and conference room. However, they didn’t want a big house.
To execute this brief and to also save three beloved trees, Andrew and Mark needed to rethink the flow of the home. Instead of one main path through the entire dwelling with rooms branching off, they created a defined circulation spine with the garden as the reference and orientation point. “The proposition was to save the trees and as much of the established plant life as possible,” say Andrew and Mark. “The home is not simply built around the trees but, in places, suspended — hovering above ground to protect tree root zones.”
By breaking down the house into smaller components, they could weave the home’s sections within its large garden, reducing its visual bulk and allowing the dwelling room to stretch and breathe. Each zone — office and garage, kitchen and living, dining and kids’ pavilion — can be opened up or sealed off, creating a living eco system rather than a complex labyrinth.
Inside, the contemporary home is a textural masterpiece, exuding warmth and creating an inviting appeal. Muted timbers and recycled yellow bricks meander through each space, its colours harking back to simpler times. While strong black accents, seen both in the fixtures and furnishings, contrast these layered warm tones, the sleek 50 per cent fly-ash concrete flooring gives the home a modern aesthetic while also increasing its sustainability.
Cleverly placed double-glazed floor-to-ceiling windows let both light and greenery into all areas of the home and an external automated roller blind protects the rooms from the harsh northern sunlight. Timber panelling on the ceiling invokes a feeling of playfulness and complements the panelled facade, while sections of polycarbonate provide insulation and much-needed privacy from close neighbours. The living, dining and kitchen area all casually open up to the garden, blending the indoor and outdoor worlds. The sleek kitchen hides all messes in its clever hidden pantry and laundry.
On the other side of the garden bridge, which protects one of the three trees, the kids’ zone feels as if it was completely designed by them, with a hidden netted stair perfectly created for little ones to climb to their three bedrooms. This is in addition to the home’s grand transition staircase overlooking the picturesque back garden. The space also includes two bathrooms and a rumpus room away from the more grown-up areas.
Contrasting the sleek and contemporary style of the main living spaces, the colour pop of blue in the bathroom feature tiles gives this zone a sense of whimsy and style of its own.
The parents’ retreat uniquely opens up into an open balcony space featuring an internal balustrade, providing another sitting area to relax in. Nature is still the prime entertainer in the main bedroom and ensuite, with windows looking over a small rooftop garden.
Seasonal outdoor spots are hidden neatly amid the home’s greenery, including a firepit, shaded outdoor table, sunny lawn and heated pool.
Every element of the home honours the surrounding nature and each was chosen with environmental consideration. In fact, the entire abode is designed to run completely off the grid, with passive solar panels and two Tesla Powerwalls installed, providing 100kWh of electricity per day. The smart home is fully automated, with the blinds, lights, fans and HVAC controllable from anywhere. Hydronic heating runs off a Nest thermostat, which automatically optimises usage and features a 15,000-litre water storage tank.
“This home is our most sustainable design yet. More than just a house, it is a power station, pushing far more sustainable energy back into the shared grid than it uses,” says Mark.
“Our home doesn’t feel too big, it feels homely and cosy,” say the owners. “It’s like a little eco system — the more people, the more sense it makes. It’s a multi-tasking house, doing four things at the same time. There’s logical space for it and it all works.”
