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Olinda House is the result of a love story between owners and their site. Designed for vets and keen gardeners, Matt and Leanne, the home brings the outdoors in and means their daily lives are immersed in greenery. We worked with Matt on his previous house, so when the couple decided on a tree change in the stunning Dandenong Ranges, they asked us to design a home to embrace the landscape with a focus on sustainability.

Built broadly on the footprint of the original house, the design minimises site disturbance and maintains existing trees. Like all our projects, the Olinda House embraces the sun and utilises passive solar design techniques to ensure the home is comfortable and efficient, year-round. The home is long and narrow, stretching from east to west to maximise the opportunity to capture north light. Windows on opposite sides of the home capture cooling breezes. This keeps the interior naturally warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Combined with 60 solar panels on the roof, the home is not just comfortable, but low-energy. The couple estimate their yearly power bill will be around $300!

The leafy surrounds means the site has a moderate bushfire risk with a BAL-29 rating. In order to meet these building regulations and keep the home safe from bushfire, the design and material selection was an important consideration. To help achieve this rating, the home is built on a solid podium of concrete and blockwork: not your typical blockwork, though! Timbercrete, a lightweight, sustainable building block fabricated with waste timber content offers a unique and eco-friendly alternative. The use of concrete and blockwork offers a double benefit; their solidity and thermal mass helps to maintain an even temperature inside the home, enhancing the effectiveness of the passive solar design. With hydronic heating throughout, typically in the concrete slab, even the coolest winter's morning is cozy underfoot.

A split-level design allows the home to hug the natural slope of the land. An added benefit of the split-level is the way it creates living spaces which are connected to each other, while still retaining their own sense of space; it's a great alternative to the common open-plan design which can feel cavernous. Matt and Leanne say their pets love the home, particularly the chance to find a cozy spot in the sun without feeling like they're missing out on the action.

A single-angled roof caps the entire home. Sloping in the opposite direction to the land, the angle of the roof over the split-level design means the living areas can enjoy dramatically higher ceiling heights. The simplicity of the roof form is also an asset on the bushfire prone site, minimising the build up of leaf litter and vulnerable junctions.

Generous windows offer framed views of the landscape from inside. From outside, the windows create views directly through the house to the trees and shrubs beyond, or reflect the surrounding greenery, helping the home feel semi-transparent and allowing it to nestle into the site. Locally-sourced Ironbark, with its natural fire-resistant qualities, is also used for external cladding and helps the home blend into its bushy surrounds. Inside, a palette of polished concrete floors, Timbercrete blockwork and local hardwood creates a warm yet robust interior.

Olinda House creates the perfect sanctuary for Matt and Leanne: a place which celebrates and enhances their site and maximises the benefits of their tree change. Whether it's getting out in the garden, feeling connected to nature (even when inside), or just sitting back and enjoying a slower pace of living, Olinda House makes it a joy.

BENT Team:
Paul Porjazoski, Joanna Butler, Lana Blazanin, Rob Chittleborough, Merran Porjazoski

Builder:
Greg Scott Constructions P/L

Structural Engineer:
Robin Bliem & Associates P/L

Landscape:
Kangaroo Paw Landscapes

Photography:
Tatjana Plitt

Media:
2020 Habitus Living _ ”The Landscape Brings This House To Life”
2020 The Design Files _ ”An Eco-Friendly Home for Tree Changers”
2020 Architecture & Design _ ”The Uber-Sustainable Olinda House”

Awards:
SHORTLISTED _ 2020 Sustainability Awards
SHORTLISTED _ 2020 Australian Timber Design Awards

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About the
Professional

BENT Architecture is an innovative design practice based in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Brunswick. The practice is led by Directors Paul and Merran Porjazoski.

Since its establishment in 2003, BENT Architecture has completed a diverse range of projects which have been locally and internationally awarded, published and exhibited.  The practice has won two open design competitions (‘Growing Up’ Green Roof and ‘Living Places Suburban Revival’ public housing) and has established itself as leaders in all aspects of residential design, environmentally sustainable design, low-cost social and affordable housing, commercial and institutional refurbishments, and green roof design.

The creation of environmentally and socially sustainable built environments is of critical importance to BENT Architecture.  Our practice is passionate about the integration of architecture and landscape and the way people can use and shape their built environment.

The diverse work of BENT, which includes education, commercial, community and housing projects across multiple disciplines (architecture, interior design, urban and landscape design) is process-driven, establishing rich dialogues between context, program and people to create responsive built environments attuned to their site.  Our projects explore the balance between architecture as a place for refuge and a platform for prospect and, whether it be a medium density housing project, a small renovation or a roof garden on a landmark city site, always aim to create excitement, surprise and engagement.

At ArchiPro we recognise and acknowledge the existing, original and ancient connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the lands and waterways across the Australian continent. We pay our respects to the elders past and present. We commit to working together to build a prosperous and inclusive Australia.