This project was set out to challenge living well in a small footprint house. The clients were equally passionate to test the opportunities of a 100m2 footprint.

As with all projects it wasn’t without challenges. The clients had a strict budget and the irregular block created constraints to how the house could be designed.

In initial design discussions it was evident that a few key attributes needed rethinking for the success of this small scale home. This included acoustic separation, privacy and the ability to use exterior spaces as another room to the house – not just in perfect weather.

As a result the plan of the house was split down the middle with an undercover veranda space placed in between key activity rooms – living, bedrooms and bathrooms. The veranda acts as an unprogrammed flexible space. It provides a formal entry. A passage between the living and sleeping wings. Assists to draw heat out of each wing of the house through passive ventilation, provides outdoor living and most importantly acoustic and spatial separation of rooms.

Solar, swales and water collection have been included. Along with sustainably sourced materials, paints, finishes and thoughtful construction to allow demountable connections of materials for end of life recycling.

The small footprint house design kept costs lower, allowed for higher quality materials to be used and well performing technology to reduce future bills and reliance of grid power. The remainder of the site is regenerated with local indigenous planting and a productive vegetable garden.

Regular comments of visitors are around the nostalgia it evokes of the traditional beach house; small, robust, open, connected with the streetscape and the focus on outdoor living. The house for the clients has been a testament to having a smaller impact on the land and making them feel inspired about the place they live.

Eucalypt House

Eucalypt House