National Building Design of the Year 2022 / Vic Building Design of the Year 2022, New House $750,001 to $1m Interior Design: Darrin Albert, Sketch Building Design, Iron House

WINNER

National Building Design of the Year 2022 Vic Building Design of the Year 2022 New House $750,001 to $1m Interior Design

Designer: Darrin Albert, Sketch Building Design Location: South Melbourne Web: sketchbuildingdesign.com.au Builder: Hemming & Nicoll Interior Design: Nicole Chapman, Empire Interiors Energy Assessor: Agincourt Energy Rater Photographer: Tess Kelly Photography

The Judges said

Caring for its environment and using every square meter including the roof, this design fulfils the brief, bringing country living and openness to a challenging site. I just love this design response, it is so considered and well executed, it just speaks volumes. The best of compact European design with sharp clear lines, makes this a standout with thoughtful, sustainable selections. Small details so considered with each element just lifting the next. Clean, simple and considered details lift this response above and beyond. Small on space, big on wow!

Materials for the home are a combination of sustainable timbers, locally made fixtures and natural stone.

Sustainability Considerations

Orientation was carefully considered with maximum northern light penetration achieved without compromising the city views. Although the site has built form on every boundary and no street setbacks the electronic louvres and careful window placement ensures privacy. The structure makes use of recycled brickwork under a crisp, bagged finish to the external walls as well as the use of sustainable timber cladding. An underground 2,100 litre rainwater tank is connected to all toilets for flushing and storm water runoff outflows have been managed by achieving more than 45% reduction in the typical annual load of total nitrogen.

WINNER

National Building Design of the Year 2022 Vic Building Design of the Year 2022 New House $750,001 to $1m Interior Design

Project Brief

Set on a petite 120sqm block in South Melbourne’s iconic Emerald Hill precinct, this home sits on a site once housed by one of Melbourne’s historic ‘Iron Houses’ built during the gold rush. The design was therefore inspired by the simplicity of the original Iron House and the contemporary iteration of the former home incorporates aspects such as cross bar steel windows with similar shapes and a simple suite of materials including aged iron. The owners wanted a home that reflected the authentic, relaxed and sustainable lifestyle they enjoyed as children growing up in the country. The design reflected the touchstones of a family farmhouse with a wood-burning fireplace and large kitchen featuring Wolf appliances and over six slabs of natural stone. Materials were chosen for their inherent beauty whilst respecting the simplistic nature of the home that once was. Bagged recycled brickwork and sustainable timbers combined with commercial grade, tinted steel windows and ventilation system married function and form in the home to stand the test of time sustainably and structurally. The tri-level, reverse living abode hosts three large scale bedrooms, a full laundry, mudroom and two luxurious bathrooms on the ground floor. The main living area on the first level hosts a wine cellar, wood storage, generous kitchen with butler’s pantry, powder room, living room and balcony with herb garden all with breathtaking vistas across Melbourne’s city skyline. The third level is one of the highlights of this unique inner city family home, with a custom glass hatch that opens to a limestone rooftop patio. The materials used in the home are a combination of iron, oak, marble and timber reflecting an uncomplicated, relaxed lifestyle.