Hotham, designed by Austin Maynard Architects, is a careful reworking of an interwar bungalow in Deakin, Canberra, Australia. Rather than demolishing and rebuilding, the project shows how adaptive reuse can reduce embodied carbon, preserve neighbourhood character, and create a resilient, efficient home for contemporary living.

Preserving existing fabric
The original brick cottage, built in 1937, forms the basis of the new home. Instead of removing it, the project retains and upgrades the structure. Existing red bricks and roof tiles were salvaged and reused in the new construction. This approach reduces demolition waste, avoids new material production, and maintains a visible link to the suburb’s architectural history.

A simple and functional plan
The house is organised into three parts: the preserved central cottage and two new pavilions connected by glazed corridors. One pavilion contains bedrooms and is designed as an insulated, inward-facing zone. The other provides living and social spaces, opening directly to the garden. Circulation is arranged along a central spine, with frameless glass at either end creating visual continuity between internal and external spaces. The layout maximises daylight and garden views while keeping the footprint compact.

Climate response and building envelope
Canberra’s climate is characterised by hot summers, cold winters, and large daily temperature swings. Hotham is designed as a highly insulated envelope, with thermally broken double-glazed windows, robust wall and roof insulation, and external shading through eaves and awnings. Thermal mass in the concrete slab floor collects winter sun and moderates indoor temperatures. For additional heating, the slab contains an electric hydronic heat pump system. Cross-ventilation is enabled through operable glazing, allowing the house to cool naturally in summer.

Energy and water systems
The house is fully electric and designed to operate on renewable energy. A 7.7 kW rooftop solar array supplies the home, with capacity for future battery storage. All heating, hot water, and pool systems run on efficient electric heat pumps. Water management includes a 5,000-litre underground rainwater tank used for irrigation. Landscaping with permeable paths and preserved mature trees reduces stormwater runoff and contributes to local cooling.

Material strategy
The material palette emphasises durability and low maintenance. Recycled red bricks and roof tiles reduce embodied carbon. Internal finishes include polished concrete, terrazzo, natural stone, and ethically sourced timber. These materials provide longevity, reduce replacement cycles, and avoid unnecessary decorative treatments.

Scale and streetscape
From the street, Hotham appears modest. The new pavilions replicate the form and scale of the original bungalow to blend into the suburban context. Roof pitches and volumes mirror the existing house, ensuring continuity with surrounding buildings and avoiding visual disruption to the established streetscape.