Architect: Maxa Design (extension)

Builder: Sanctum Homes

Design aesthetic and materials (extension): Hearth Studio

Studio + Existing: HeHe Studio

Landscape design: Esjay Landscapes and Pools

Landscaping construction: Sanctum Homes

Location: Wurundjeri country (Warrandyte, VIC)

Stylist: Belle Hemming

Natural Calling

Imbued with a sense of peace and connection to the outdoors going far beyond the notion of a bifold door, this beautiful home close to bushland in an outer suburb of Melbourne has nature right on its doorstep, and inside warm and inviting interiors.

It's no surprise that homeowner Hamish runs building company Sanctum Homes, celebrated tor its sustainable practices and specialising in beautiful high-performing and energy efficient homes, and his wife Lucinda is an ecologist and landscape designer.

"We wanted to utilise as much of the 800 square metre block as possible," says Hamish. When the couple found the house nine years ado it was "literally the worst house on a great street: falling apart with planks leading to the toilet where the floor had been eaten away by termites". Hamish who, along with Lucinda and an extensive and wonderful team of people finished renovations and a new elevated extension at the and of 2020, creating a four-bedroom. split-level home that feels more crafted than built. Sustainable and recycled timbers, polished concrete floors and bold black structures and accents ticked al the couple’s boxes for a home that is "modern hut timeless'.

The main sustainable features of the house are:

• Completely insulated slab for the extension

• SIPs walls and roof for the extension

• Double glazed uPVC for all extension windows and doors, except the tilt door which is double glazed, low-e aluminium

• Most of the existing homes windows and doors were upgraded to uPVC and/or existing timber windows were retrofitted with double glazed units

• Passive Solar design for the extension

• 6.6kW solar system

• The existing homes subfloor has been insulated

• Productive garden including vegetables and fruit + chooks

• An old shed at the back of the property has been turned into a home office using reclaimed, upcycled + recycled materials

Extract from Home Beautiful article by Sue Wheeler.