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Emerald House
Project type
New Build
Location
South Yarra Melbourne
Emerald House is a high-performance home designed with a strong environmental conscience. One of only a small number of carbon-neutral houses in Victoria, the project incorporates German Passive House principles, including a highly insulated thermal envelope, airtight construction, heat-recovery ventilation and rooftop solar and thermal panels.
Passive solar design informs the planning of the house, with living areas oriented to the north and thermal mass used to stabilise internal temperatures through burnished concrete floors and honed concrete block walls. A 20,000-litre underground water tank and evacuated tube solar hot water system further support the home’s self-sufficiency.
The house takes an S-shaped form stretched along the site, bringing light and garden into the centre of the plan while separating living and sleeping areas. Architectural elements reference the surrounding neighbourhood, including a customised diamond zinc façade inspired by St Thomas Aquinas Church and mid-century block walls echoing nearby buildings.
Developed in collaboration with specialist energy engineers, Emerald House demonstrates that rigorous environmental performance can be achieved without compromising architectural expression.
Photography: Richard Glover
