The Hütt 01 PassivHaus | Melbourne Design Studios

Built by the architects themselves, as owner builders, on a small irregular shaped and very challenging site, this project strongly advocates for a greater understanding by the broader public that net zero energy homes are the way of the future. Considered materiality, passive solar design principles, a strong architectural form and planning strategy, and opportunities for connection with the street, have resulted in a playful, comfortable and enjoyable place to live that contributes positively both to its immediate neighbourhood as well as to the broader architectural landscape of single residential design. 

The four-bedroom house has an efficient small internal footprint (78sqm) allowing for subtle urban densification on a small site close to existing infrastructure whilst maximising gardens/nature and WSUD opportunities. Utilising CLT prefab methodology and material for the construction not only means substantial reductions in carbon footprint but also a reduction/removal of other finishing materials and trades. Generally all products selected are based on sustainability and/or embodied energy. 90% of all internal surfaces are natural materials. 

As architects we have to think about how we are going to survive the next century(ies), prepare for climate change and how to respond to that. 

2. What contribution does the design make to the lives of the inhabitants? The home has been designed to be flooded with natural/northern light. The dynamics of the house live off the balance between inside & out, between nature & human-made. A biophilic design approach ensures connection to nature is eminent in each fibre of the building. A green roof (above garage), internal green wall, rainwater garden (filtering and detention) and aquaponics system contribute to the positive mental and physical health and well-being of the inhabitants, integrating nature both visually and physically. Creating a building that is not only good for the planet but also good for the people living in it. 

3. What is the relationship of the built form to the context of the project? Hutt 01 mediates between the adjacent apartment block; cascading from 10 stories down to the 3 storey ‘box’ immediately south of the property. The form plays with its triangular site geometry, generating soft lines and angles in both plan & section. It responds to the adjacent train-line - referencing carriage dynamics in design & materiality. The metal facade and roof appear to be almost a single storey volume floating above the continuous brick fence, elevated with the trains. The raw materials & texture - the recycled bricks, charred timber & black metal cladding - sit well within the materials & colour palette of the typical inner-urban bluestone laneways. 

4. Program resolution – how does the functional performance match the clients’ brief?Hutt 01 has achieved the technical benchmark set out within the brief and more. It showcases the idea of “smaller and better” - working within a compact 78sqmmultiplied over two and a half levels - clever spatial and architectural devices provide a sense of volume and light despite the tight plan.

Hutt 01 has achieved an A ++ Life Cycle Assessment rating. The project's LCA calculates the Whole Life Carbon impact from Cradle to Grave, covering all stages frommanufacture to reuse/recycling potential. It has also recently been certified as Passivhaus Premium (in progress).

Integration of allied disciplines – how have the contributions of others, including architects, interior designers, landscape architects, builders and other specialists, helpedachieve the outcome?(99/100)

Considered detailing is evident, from visual structural junctions to ‘hidden’ operable walls and kids play spaces. Services and technology (where required) are integratedand form part of the building structure: speakers concealed within furniture walls, conduits & pipework run in-between solid construction layers, integrated external blinds& shutters are concealed behind the facade. Feature LED light strips are recessed into CLT and Glulam beams. The kitchen and central core wall are ‘sculpted’ out of thecradle-to-cradle certified black floorboards, offsetting the whitewashed CLT timber ceiling. Landscaping was integral, considered early and provided for with multiplegarden uses/areas.

5. Cost/value outcome – how effective were the decisions related to financial issues?Build smaller & build better: Rather than providing many square meters in floor plans, height and volume are utilised to provide a feeling of generosity. Despite their smallfootprint these spaces never feel small.Using innovative materials and finishes (or lack there of) provided savings over traditional finishing materials and trades. Crafted nets instead of balustrades give a senseof proportion to the void areas while allowing the full room height to be experienced. A pre-fabricated build allowed for a reduced construction programme (inclassociated savings) and enabled an owner-builder contract, providing further project savings.

6. How does this project demonstrate innovation and excellence in terms of environmental sustainability?Regenerative design, Passivhaus and biophilic principles are core values of this project, including considerations of being carbon-neutral/negative and near net zeroenergy.

The house combines functional playfulness and attention to detail with highly sustainable construction techniques and materials. The resulting home showcases newconstruction technologies like CLT with natural wood-fibre insulation, triple-glazed windows, heat recovery ventilation, super-airtight building, “Passive house Premium”certification, void spaces/mezzanines, a lot of recycled and/or natural materials, solar PV and batteries, green roof and green wall, aquaponics system and much more.

Passivhaus: resilience/independence from changing climate.Generally all products selected are based on sustainability and/or embodied energy, e.g. recycled bricks (carbon zero), natural wood fibre insulation + mass timberstructure (carbon negative), recyclable (natural oil finish) timber floors, mostly with cradle to grave certification.

Many other considerations have gone into this project, from site selection next to bike paths within close proximity and short walking distance to a train station, allowingeasy use of PT, up to a car parking waiver/provision of only a single on site carpark, with no additional on-street parking - providing extra garage space for bikes andscooters encouraging other modes of transport.

Photography: Marnie Hawson 

Website: https://www.marniehawson.com.au/

Photography: Matt C Photography 

Website: https://mattcphotos.com/