Yarraville Garden House celebrates the sun and seasons through a family home that opens up to the north and a garden that permeates the house and the lives of the family. 

© Peter Bennetts

Architects: Guild Architects

Location: Melbourne VIC, Australia

Architect In Charge: Penny Guild

Area: 257.0 sqm

Project Year: 2015

Photographs: Peter Bennetts

Builder: Weiss Builders

Landscape: Jai Cheswick

Site: 710m2

Site Plan

© Peter Bennetts

From the architect. Yarraville Garden House celebrates the sun and seasons through a family home that opens up to the north and a garden that permeates the house and the lives of the family. 
Axonometric

While the original period home was in good condition, its orientation precluded effective passive solar design adaptation.  Rather than modifying the original home, it remains a bedroom wing, with the extension comprising the living areas that gain most benefit from passive solar design.  This minimised expensive and unnecessary renovations to the existing house (only one room was reconfigured) while maximising the benefits for the family of architectural input.

© Peter Bennetts

A new low roof links the old and new parts of the house while an adjacent courtyard separates it.  This...