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For architecture and construction firm The Sociable Weaver, sustainability is always front of mind.
Environmental responsibility informs every decision — from the building materials they use, to their construction processes, and even how they engage with their clients.
‘With each of our projects, our goal and purpose is to demonstrate that a well-designed home is inherently a sustainable home,’ The Sociable Weaver architect Noa Hackett says.
This values-driven approach was a perfect fit for a young couple in Melbourne’s inner west, who engaged the firm to create the efficient home they’d spent years planning and dreaming about.
Located in West Footscray, the client’s existing home was a poorly insulated single-storey weatherboard, with a compartmentalised layout, and little connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Any hopes of retrofitting the structure to meet thermal performance standards, and the owners’ long-term needs, would have required significant intervention.
Instead, Noa says they realised a new build offered ‘the best opportunity’ to create a home that was both functional and thermally efficient, with a major focus on passive solar principles — ensuring year-round comfort with very little reliance on mechanical heating and cooling.
‘A simple, well-considered form with high ceilings, abundant natural light, and a strong connection to the outdoors was essential,’ Noa explains.
When it came to selecting finishes, the owners asked for ‘interesting and honest materials’, sharing the Muuratsalo Experimental House by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, built in 1953, as their main inspiration — namely, its central courtyard and brick exterior.
The resulting design sees the entrance of the home positioned on the side of the property, where a curved wall opens up to reveal the greenery of a central garden.
Recycled bricks were chosen for the build, selected for their durability and low-embodied carbon.
And just like Alvar Aalto’s design, the exterior has a wonderful handmade feel — in this case, a bagged render mixed with a natural oxide to create a unique textural finish.
The central courtyard drove the floor plan for two main reasons. Firstly, to provide privacy from a busy intersection on the street. But more importantly, to bring northern light and warmth into the centre of the home.
In winter, the sun hits the concrete slab, which absorbs the heat and slowly releases it throughout the day.
‘In summer, the pergola along the driveway provides enough protection for the internal spaces to remain thermally comfortable,’ Noa explains.
She says this U-shaped floor plan and carefully placed double-glazed windows were also largely the reason for the home’s impressive 8.3-star energy efficiency rating — punching well above the NatHERS minimum 7-star standard now required for all new homes in Victoria.
High-performance insulation also helps regulate the building temperature, and a 10.56kW solar system with battery storage significantly reduces energy consumption from the grid.
Meanwhile inside, a contemporary and playful vibe permeates the interiors. The burgundy kitchen joinery with stainless-steel benchtops were designed in collaboration with the clients, with special consideration of how they like to cook, create, and store their own fermentations and brews.
It’s a home that’s efficient, humble, and full of character, which Noa says accurately reflects both the owners’ lifestyle, and their values.
‘Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that sustainable homes don’t need to be extravagant or experimental — they just need to be well-designed, responsive, and built to last.’
A version of this story first appeared in The Design Files Magazine Issue 03. Get your copy here.
