This innovative and extensive restoration by S2 design includes alterations and additions to a heritage significant, Victorian dwelling in St Kilda.

Providing a best-practice approach to contemporary design and environmentally aware living, the water, energy, material and landscape qualities in this dwelling demonstrate a sophisticated and sensitive approach to sustainable, inner-city architecture.

Key Initiatives:

  • Water supply - 43,400 litres of water is stored in four tanks in the basement to provide water for everything except drinking
  • Food - The 'roof farm' [to be completed] will provide all of the fruit and vegetable requirements for the household
  • Hot water - Solar boosting supplies 100 per cent of hot water for around 70 per cent of the year
  • Electricity - low energy consuming appliances, lighting and sensible lifestyle practices. 50 per cent of usage is currently subsidised by only seven solar panels
  • Air conditioning - is not required, double glazing with Argon insulated air gaps and the application of simple passive solar principles encourage natural heating and cooling
  • Lighting - Skylights, windows, glass walls and glass floors allow natural light to flood the entire house. At night, ambient light from the moon, stars and three surrounding street lights is supplemented by LED and compact fluorescent lamps
  • Heating - is mainly from the sun and supplemented by a highly efficient gas boosted hydronic radiator heating system
  • Cooling - There are three separate, non-refrigerated cooling systems in place: 1. Air is pumped from the naturally cold basement up to the top level living area via an electric fan. 2. Cool humidified air is drawn from the two internal rainforests. 3. Ceiling fans push warm air out through high level windows thus drawing cool air into the house from the ground level courtyards
  • Ventilation - Venturi, stack and convection based systems are used to encourage natural air flow, draw fresh air throughout the house and supplement the assisted cooling and heating systems
  • Materials - throughout the house [where practical] are recycled, plantation grown, zero VOC and/ or naturally occurring. Secondary finishes such as paint have been minimised or totally eliminated by leaving durable construction materials in their natural 'as built' state
  • Waste - is carefully separated to minimise landfill. All organic waste is composted. Paper, glass, plastic and other suitable materials are put aside for curbside collection
  • Grey water - is separated from sewerage so it can be collected for reuse if required

Images: John Gollings & Melanie Faith Dove