Winner 2018 - BDAV 10 star sustainable design challenge

The BDAV’s 10-Star Challenge is for conceptual projects that combine admirable architecture with efficient planning solutions and materials utilisation. The Challenge offers Victoria’s building design fraternity the opportunity to design 10-Star energy efficient homes, and be recognised for their design abilities and expertise in sustainable design responses, as well as positioning BDAV Members as leaders in environmentally sustainable design. The Challenge aims to raise awareness that good design reduces greenhouse emissions and household bills. The BDAV acknowledges that, although 10 Star houses are probably only appropriate for those in the community who are totally committed to ‘making a difference’, those designers who ‘know what it takes’ will design cost-effective 6, 7 and 8 Star houses with ease.

The idea for our entry this year was to mold a house form around simple passive house principles while creating visual interest. The north facade was zig-zagged to represent a hacksaw allowing the northern sun to penetrate deeper into the floor plan. 
Materials were carefully considered to be affordable while low in embodied energy. 

Plant shading on the western facade also helped create a direct connection to the natural environment. 
Most of all we wanted to create a house that we wanted to live in.