Honeysuckle House

As the designer and owner, there was an intimacy of understanding and level of control that facilitated exceptional design outcomes to be achieved. Informed by environmental and sustainability philosophies, we were able to carefully respond to the immediate site conditions, functional constraints, and our lifestyle goals.

Ultimately we wanted to challenge the idea of what we ‘needed’ in a house to design an efficient floor plan that was adaptable as possible. Australians are still building on average the biggest homes in the world – a reduced footprint is the most sustainable outcome. A smaller well-designed home is not only more affordable requiring fewer materials and less energy to construct, but it will also consume less energy, be easier to clean, and lower maintenance meaning more free time and money saved to reinvest into our young family.

Even though it is only one room wide, the house has an illusion of scale created by its length and slight elevation above street level. The visual expression of the home pays homage to the familiar sight of a three-sided hay shed, with the rendered hemp feature wall opening up to the street.

Wherever possible, we sought to maximise the performance of the home for flexibility in both the short and long-term use. With two independent living spaces under one roof, we have left the provision for a door internally between the short stay and the family home to allow for a future 4 x 2. The private courtyard can be opened up via a large gate. Inspired by the washhouses of yesteryear, a well-ventilated laundry has been located outside the main barn, adjacent to the garage. This consolidation of function serves to reduce construction costs, excess humidity, and noise whilst facilitating shared use by both the family and short-stay guests.