2025 Gallery

This renovated beach shack blends cultural reverence with high-performance, climate-resilient design. Central to its success is the strategic integration of passive house principles with passive solar design in a mixed-mode system – balancing airtightness and insulation with opportunities for natural ventilation. A rooftop solar array and home battery system power the all-electric house, enabling it to operate independently while generating a significant energy surplus. This approach underpins its net zero operational energy performance and supports its carbon-negative status, with life cycle analysis confirming it offsets more emissions than it produces over its lifespan. A 30,000-litre rainwater system services toilets, laundry and garden irrigation. Resource efficiency defines the project’s construction strategy. The original shack’s footprint and form were retained to preserve its heritage and minimise demolition waste. Reclaimed timber, masonry and cladding were repurposed to enhance durability and reduce embodied energy, with materials selected for longevity in a marine environment. The high-performance building envelope supports adaptive natural ventilation or complete thermal sealing, aided by high-specification glazing and improved airtightness achieved through collaboration with Australian window manufacturers. Shading and robust insulation reduce summer heat gains, while a heat recovery ventilation system ensures indoor air quality year-round. A landscaped berm acts as a coastal dune for future floor resilience. With a flexible layout that accommodates up to 17 guests, this resourceful and robust project readies a much-loved family beach house for the next generation.