Design Philosophy
The Butterfly House is a model of contemporary sustainable living, commissioned by Inform Design. The demanding brief called for a beautiful yet comfortable home, adaptable to a wide range of families, suitable for different block orientations, and more affordable than individually designed houses.
Sustainability has driven this project from the outset, with the key challenge of providing good passive solar design in an “off-the-shelf” house, regardless of block orientation. This home offers a unique solution through its distinctive “butterfly” roof over the principal living area, which is rotated to suit each block orientation. The pop-up roof form maximises northern solar penetration in winter and captures cool southerly breezes in summer, while creating a dynamic form and volume both internally and externally. In addition, the roof is perfectly pitched and sized for solar panel integration without additional framing.
Connection to the outdoor environment is an essential feature of the design, with living spaces linked both physically and visually to the garden beyond. Drought tolerant landscaping is sustained by irrigation from rainwater tanks, and a “rain garden” collects overflow and first flush water from the roof while providing a mirror to the seasons.
