The Energy-Efficient Marvel: A Tiny Oasis in Freshwater, NSW
Introduction
In the lush hilly suburb of Freshwater, nestled in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, lies a remarkable dwelling that defies the conventional notion of space utilization. Gavin and Amber, the proud owners of this extraordinary home, shared their journey with renowned interior design guru and Renovate or Rebuild TV show host, James Treble. Together, they unveiled the secrets behind their energy-efficient masterpiece on a mere 200-square-meter block.
Maximizing Every Inch
Whether you are renovating or rebuilding it is important to avoid waste, be it food, money, or land. This cleverly designed home is innovative in its use of space, highlighting the beauty of maximizing every square inch of a compact block.
“No one wants to waste something as precious as land. I’m going to show you some clever ways of maximizing every square inch of a block and create a comfortable and efficient home like this one here in the hilly suburb of Freshwater in Sydney’s Northern Beaches,” says Treble.
The Serendipitous Search
Gavin says they discovered the block of land completely by luck – the vacant land became the canvas for their dream home. “I had a little bit of money squirreled away, and I went and spoke with a real estate agent. We got to the end of the conversation, and I said, ‘Geez, if I had a magic wand, I’d find a bit of vacant land on the northern beaches and build something interesting,'” recalls Gavin.
In another lucky break, the previous owners’ had a design and secured the necessary approvals. “Because the plans were already designed and approved, we were able to get going straight away. So we didn’t have to go through the whole process of designing and getting the approval. We could just hit the ground running and find a builder,” explains Amber.
Passive House Principles in Action
The energy efficiency aspects of the home were inspired by the principles of Passive House design.
“The builder that we selected is from Germany originally, came out here 15 years ago. And when we got talking to him, it turns out he used to build Passive House in Germany. So we’ve followed the Passive House principles,” shares Gavin.
The couples choice of UPVC windows, not commonly seen in Australia, as a key contributor to the home’s energy efficiency.
“The windows themselves, I’m not sure if it’s really obvious, but they are UPVC, which is not common in Australia” explains Gavin.
Clever Storage and Budget Savvy Design
Amber loves their warm and inviting kitchen and its clever storage solutions. They stayed on budget buy doing clever things like buying surplus floor boards from other projects.
“There’s these great drawers that pull out over the top of the stairs. So they weren’t in the original design, but we built them in and found a little bit more space in our pantry,” says Amber.
Prioritising Energy Efficiency
Gavin and Amber emphasize how the smaller footprint allowed them to prioritize quality materials and energy-efficient features, resulting in a home that is both eco-friendly and aesthetically pleasing.
“It’s one of those things where the really important parts of a house that make it energy efficient are the things you can’t really see. If you want a healthy home, if you want an efficient home, then building things this way is the right way to do it,” asserts Gavin.
This home proves that a smaller footprint, coupled with thoughtful design and a focus on energy efficiency, can create a home that not only respects the environment but also provides a sanctuary of comfort and style. As awareness grows, homes like these might become the new norm—a harmonious blend of form and function.
A small but mighty home!