Located in Melbourne, Clarke is the renovation and expansion of a single-story weatherboard cottage by Austin Maynard Architects. The project was commissioned by a family of four, including two teenagers, to address their evolving needs in a home that balances community, privacy, functionality, and sustainability. Inspired by a year spent in Japan, the family sought deliberate, purposeful, and tranquil spaces that encourage both social connection and peaceful solitude.

Sustainable revival of existing structures
The project carefully preserves and enhances much of the original house, significantly reducing its environmental footprint. Structural improvements such as re-stumping, re-plastering, new flooring, thermal insulation, and upgraded double-glazed windows drastically improve thermal performance. The home is fossil-fuel-free, entirely electric-powered, featuring a 6.6KW rooftop solar array, provisions for battery storage, and an electric vehicle charging station. Electric heat pump systems efficiently deliver hot water and hydronic heating through coils embedded within concrete flooring on the ground level and panels installed upstairs, promoting thermal comfort without fossil fuels.

Passive design and material efficiency
The new addition has been strategically oriented to maximize northern and eastern sunlight, significantly enhancing passive solar gain during cooler months. A dynamic external timber batten screen follows the pitch of the original roof, providing necessary shading to large glazed areas during the hot summer months, while welcoming warming winter sunlight to heat the interior’s concrete thermal mass floors naturally. High-performance, thermally broken double-glazed windows and extensive insulation throughout walls (R2.7) and roofs (R6) ensure optimal energy efficiency and year-round indoor comfort. All internal finishes and materials are low VOC and ethically sourced, creating healthier living environments.

Harmonizing form and function with timber battens
The facade of the home makes extensive use of hardwood timber battens, which were designed to unify the original home with its contemporary extension. The battens' orientation echoes the pitched roofline of the existing cottage, creating visual continuity and a cohesive architectural identity. The batten screen also enhances privacy, shading, and environmental control—effectively mitigating solar gain in summer while allowing beneficial sunlight during winter months. The system also conceals practical elements such as storage spaces and mechanical services, further exemplifying the project's holistic design approach.

Integrated greenery and strategic landscaping
The home features thoughtfully placed pocket gardens and internal courtyards that provide abundant natural light and encourage cross-ventilation, significantly reducing reliance on mechanical cooling. These carefully designed spaces offer continuous visual connection to greenery from multiple points within the house, extending livable areas outdoors and improving air quality. A 3000-litre rainwater harvesting tank, complemented by a Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) strategy, recycles rainwater for use in toilets and laundry, further decreasing the home's environmental impact.

Harmonizing practicality and creative design
Functional spaces for bins, bicycles, garden tools, and mechanical systems have been neatly concealed behind sliding timber batten screens, elevating these often-overlooked items into thoughtful design elements. The home's interior layout offers flexible communal spaces ideal for entertaining, along with distinct private areas. A central, perforated steel staircase leads up to a dedicated ‘apartment’ zone for the teenagers, complete with bedrooms, a shared retreat space, and a secret craft room.