BDAA 2017 - Chris Reardon Memorial Award for Residential sustainable buildings

Surrounded by native bushland with no neighbours, the house sits unassumingly into the hillside, with a single plane, grey roof, blending with the magnificent eucalypts and bush environment. With round cornered strawbale walls, the sheltered entrance porch looks inviting. The glazing in the hand-made timber door reflects the shape of the high east windows. The design of the house is all about its setting, materials, textures and colours. Cob, timber, cork, concrete, lime renders - all hiding a story behind them of recycled tyres, earth and straw. Northern light fills the living areas and kitchen, playing on the angles and planes where the curved wall meets the high white ceiling with timber ridgebeam and polished feature post. The size of the living space isn't evident from the outside. What looks like a single storey house has three levels of adaptable living space: communal, private, snug, party, deck, garden and storage.