Modern edge meets eco-living: Striking low-carbon home up for auction in Wright

Low-carbon home design focuses on reducing emissions generated in the building process, particularly through materials, transport, construction and waste.

Reclaimed materials, such as old timber, carry almost no new carbon cost as their emissions are already baked in — and that makes them a smart, low‑impact inclusion.

Tyran Murphy of Hayman Partners, who lists this week’s Wright feature property, says the three-bedroom home has also given other low-carbon materials a starring role.

“One of the most distinctive visual design aspects of the home is the incorporation of eco-friendly plywood lining on the interior walls,” he says.

“That, along with the incorporation of steel, glass and polished concrete, gives the home an organic feel with a strong indoor-outdoor connection.

“It also offers impressive energy efficiency through double glazing, solar panels, a heat pump and in-slab heating.”

Low-carbon design advocate Jenny Edwards of Light House ArchiScience recently embraced recycled materials in a very personal project.

“I’ve just renovated my 18-year-old apartment in the city,” she says. “I laid 60-year-old timber flooring salvaged from an old high school and similar aged timber from the old CSIRO Phytotron building for my benchtops and a desk.”

Edwards says incorporating recycled materials is part of the approach to low-carbon living.

“The building industry is now much more familiar with the circular economy and the importance of reducing waste,” she says. “Repurposing materials strongly aligns with those principles.”

Carbon dating

Bespoke

Eco home builders value low‑carbon, low‑impact and sustainability‑aligned materials. Designers observe the authenticity, durability and character these materials deliver in creating spaces that feel grounded, storied and environmentally conscious.

Reduced costs

Low-carbon materials dramatically cut project costs while reducing landfill waste and carbon emissions. They offer high‑quality resources without the environmental footprint of new production, making sustainable building affordable and responsible.

Low energy

Reclaimed timber, brick, metal, and fixtures conserve natural resources and reduce carbon emissions. Each piece reduces demand for new materials and supports circular economy principles, blending sustainability with resilience.

Feature Property

Price withheld

28 Peter Cullen Way, Wright ACT 2611

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View property

Auction: 10.45am, March 14

Agent: Hayman Partners, Tyran Murphy 0428 036 790

There’s little doubting the appeal of home builds that are gentle on the environment, that reduce construction waste and which incorporate low-carbon inclusions wherever possible.

This two-storey home in Wright also embraces solar-passive principles in creating a home that’s low in impact and high in energy performance.

But this is not a passive home when it comes to design.

In fact, it rocks with its adventurous incorporation of Colorbond, plywood-lined walls and ceilings, and a restrained palette of neutral colours.

The floor plan is simple – a central living area and three bedrooms; one downstairs, two up.

A modern kitchen offers generous bench space, soft-close drawers, an island bench with a breakfast bar, a built-in Smeg multifunction oven with an induction cooktop and a newly installed Miele dishwasher.

Large north-facing stacking doors draw in natural light and connect to the outdoor entertaining deck and rear garden.

The home really delivers when it comes to energy efficiency, with a 3.5-kilowatt photovoltaic system with panels above the deck, a solar inverter, and double glazing throughout. It also incorporates skylights, low-energy lighting, a heat-pump hot-water system, and hydronic in-slab heating.

Outside, beyond the deck, is a standalone studio for a home office or workout room.

The backyard has been landscaped with native gardens, vegetable, herb, and fruit gardens, while a 5000-litre rainwater tank is positioned beneath the deck.

The oversized single garage offers mezzanine storage and houses the laundry.