Award-winning home keeps it sustainable

An array of functional and decorative inclusions allow this Narrabundah home to be as stylish as it is environmentally friendly.

The combination proved to be a hit with Canberrans last week when it took out the People’s Choice category at the ACT Architects Awards.

Matt and Laurie McDonald worked with Adhami Pender Architecture’s Nabil Adhami to create their family home. A chef’s kitchen, a seamless flow for entertaining and a solar-passive design were among their list of must-have inclusions.

Despite the home’s absence of mechanical heating and cooling, its orientation keeps the home comfortable throughout the year. On colder days a feature wood fireplace is put to good use.

A greywater system is used to water the hedges and fruit trees – 10,000 litres of rainwater is also on standby for the  drier months. These sustainable inclusions along with solar panels and solar hot water keep running costs to a minimum.

Proving that a sustainable home can come in a stunning package, the home is beautifully finished.

An entertainer’s kitchen at the heart of the home combines feature tiles, timber details and pendant lighting, while the grand staircase mixes glass, metal and recycled timber rafters from the site’s original home.

A chicken coop, vegie  gardens, a wine cellar, swimming pool and separate studio accommodation for guests are among the home’s features.