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In Victoria, the minimum standard for all new builds is 7 out of 10 stars, according to the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS).
And when it comes to this important metric, which measures energy efficiency and thermal performance, it’s not every day we come across a home like Solara by The Sociable Weaver.
Located in Cape Paterson, a small coastal town in Gippsland, the new build has achieved an incredible 9.6-star NatHERS rating.
It’s an undeniably impressive feat, but project architect Michael Nowlan says the building’s ambitions extend ‘far beyond a performance metric’ to create something even more meaningful.
The team was tasked with creating a handcrafted sanctuary for one of The Sociable Weaver co-founders and his family, taking inspiration from their outdoorsy lifestyle, love of surfing, and deep respect for the surrounding landscape.
‘The house needed to work with the harsh coastal environment with materials that were robust, low maintenance, and with the ability to age gracefully,’ Michael says.
Using cream recycled bricks and natural timber, the resulting house emulates the undulating forms of nearby dunes, with curves both inside and out. The colour palette was also heavily influenced by the location’s rugged shorelines, with stone, blackbutt, copper and concrete forming a robust base that will patina over time.
As with all of the studio’s projects, the fundamentals of Passive House principles ultimately shaped the home’s northern orientation.
In addition to the high-performance building envelope and insulation, carefully positioned glazing allows for winter sunlight, while external shading avoids the house overheating in summer — a combination that Michael says was a key factor behind the house’s outstanding NatHERS rating.
‘Reducing the need for mechanical heating and cooling will generally have a greater and more enduring effect than trying to correct a poorly oriented building through services later,’ Michael adds.
However, what truly set the project apart was the layered and holistic design process. With help from consultants like Wellness at Home, the new build brings together elements from feng shui, biophilic design, and famous patterns found in nature, all of which seek to promote harmonious energies within the home.
As a sign of respect for Bunurong Country, the team enlisted Steve Ulula Parker of Millowl Dreaming — a descendant of the Bunurong, Yorta Yorta, and Erub peoples from Millowl (Phillip Island) — for a smoking ceremony on site before construction began.
‘The entry is intentionally compressed and cave-like, creating a sheltered moment of transition before the home opens into the main living spaces. The kitchen sits at the heart of the house as a place of nourishment, stability and gathering,’ Michael says.
In line with feng shui principles, the curved staircase is deliberately positioned away from the front door, helping the arrival sequence retain a ‘sense of calm and protection’, as the proportions nod to the Golden Ratio — replicating the perfect spiral commonly found in shells.
It’s clear every corner of the house has been carefully considered with the environment in mind: ‘We think that care can be felt throughout the finished house, not only in its larger environmental strategies but also in its smallest details,’ Michael adds.
‘Solara explores how environmental design can shape the emotional and sensory qualities of domestic life: how a house feels underfoot, how it changes with the sun, how it holds warmth, how fresh air moves through it and how its materials gain character over time.’
