North Bondi House by James Garvan Architecture

When three friends who are an architect, interior designer and a builder collaborate on a sustainable home you can only expect a well considered result. North Bondi House is a re-imagined take on a traditional semi-detached home which typically have problems with limited sunlight, little connection to the outdoors and an even lower consideration of sustainability attributes. The owner, who is also the builder, laid down the challenge to solve all three of these problems and the resulting eye-catching white home does that in spades.

To bring sunlight deep into the home large skylights were installed over the home’s core which floods the house with light and provides glimpses of the sky as you move through the space. Operable facades and screening were installed to allow for cross ventilation, easy access to views and for solar control.

The gorgeous white facade provides a modern and minimalistic reference to the geometry of the property next door.

Sustainability specs:
– Solar panels supply 100% of the home’s energy
– Large rainwater tanks provide the majority of the home’s water
– Durable and low-embodied materials used throughout
– Cross ventilation and solar protection provided by operable screens
– Skylights are used to bathe the house in light, lowering electricity requirements

The optimistic intent is to advance the traditional semi-detached housing type to better reflect the contemporary social and cultural context of Bondi. The unadvanced, ornate and traditional context inspired an optimistic, ambitious and contemporary response. Paired with its ornate neighbour and set amongst the backdrop of vernacular semi-detached houses, the project relies on the simplicity, clarity and strength of the geometric refence to traditional gable-ended semi-detached houses.