A carefully designed pergola allows winter sun to stream through the double glazed doors and windows but provides shade to the home in summer. The pergola is constructed from reclaimed Cyprus Macrocarpa. The external cladding is ‘Shadow Clad’ a ply product that allowed the owners to reduce the amount of old growth and native forest hardwoods used in the project.

(above) The extension included a slab on ground for thermal mass. This resulted in a sunken living space that articulates to the dining area but is quite separate. The slab aggregate includes secondhand orange and black glass and the white cement slab is polished and sealed resulting in a spectacular floor finish to the living area. Steps are secondhand Sydney Blue gum and the floor boards in the dining area are secondhand Tasmanian oak to match the existing house. High level, double glazed, openable clerestory windows provide gentle morning light and also allow for heat to purge from the house in the evening.

(left) Sunshine streams into the house during winter and warms the slab. The doors are custom made from second-hand Sydney Blue Gum and are double glazed. The slab extends to form an external dining area under the pergola. The light fitting was custom made using recycled polypropylene.

Double glazed northern windows allow natural light to fill the generous and functional kitchen and family dining area. All windows are openable allowing for good cross ventilation in summer. The floor boards are sealed with a low toxic water based sealer and the light fittings were chosen to allow use of compact fluorescent light globes throughout.

Located on the southern side of the home this functional utility area integrates a second shower and toilet into a laundry space. 9,000 litres of rainwater is connected to the house to flush the toilet and the washing machine. The floor is covered in functional and low VOC marmoleum.