Brunswick Courtyard House

Design Philosophy

The Brunswick Courtyard House was procured through a design and construct process, ensuring the project would be delivered on a fixed budget, but was focused to ensure best practice ESD outcomes.

The design uses multiple courtyards to immerse the occupants into the garden whilst allowing passive solar gain into most rooms and promoting natural ventilation.

The sweeping curved windows invite morning light into the living room and bring the densely landscaped garden into the space.

Punctuated with outdoor spaces, the floor plan affords long vistas through multiple rooms and courtyards.

This house demonstrates a sensitive design approach to a site with demanding planning and heritage restrictions.

Sustainable Design Elements

• Stair acts as thermal chimney to release heat
• Curve of floor plan allows engagement with garden while responding to the path of the sun
• Central courtyard allows for passive solar gain, natural light, ventilation and connection with the garden
• Productive garden including vegetables and fruit trees dispersed within water efficient native landscaping
• Pond in garden cools breezes to enhance natural ventilation used to cool the house
• Radially sawn sustainably harvested timber used for fencing and internal cladding
• Solar boosted hydronic slab heating in concrete floor
• Angled louvres allow winter sun to penetrate and assist in heating whilst summer sun is blocked
• Rainwater tanks with grey water recycling used on the garden
• Domestic solar hot water
• Double glazing and excellent insulation