‘Welcome to the Jungle House’ is a typology for carbon positive living to create both sustainable architecture and a sustainable lifestyle for the occupants. It is architecture that explores active and passive sustainability systems and the poetic, emotional and nurturing capacity of human beings. It is a building that addresses some of the most profound pressures on the natural world, both a functional and a symbolic advocate for innovative sustainable design. It is a paradigm shift–architecture of climate change activism where landscape, food, nature, garden, environment, energy, waste, water and architectural aesthetic exist symbiotically.

The 98 square metre triangular site is situated in an inner-city Sydney Heritage conservation area typified by late Victorian row terrace housing and post-industrial warehouses. Strict heritage controls restricted modifications to the existing spackled cement rendered façade. The home is flexible for a growing family of five devoted to sustainability in all aspects of their lives; environmental, social and economic, without compromising the creature comforts and beauty that architecture offers.

Compressing the lower two levels of the home allowed an open plan upper floor above the existing masonry parapet. Dappled sunlight pours through the nearby tree canopies throughout the day, with warm ever-changing shadow play on the recycled timber flooring and benchtops. An island bench both divides and unites the living space providing abundant meal preparation space and seating and the operable glass inner skin of the home is inset from the outer punctuated masonry façade, providing passive thermal regulation across the upper floors. Planter beds float in between the glass and masonry skins with outlook to greenery and cooling to internal spaces via transpiration. Preferencing the solar panels on the façade worked two-fold, freeing up roof space for the productive gardens while also serving as a billboard for sustainability to commuters and community.

Furniture: Jase Sullivan, Caroline Bourke, Rudi Rocket, Missoni, Heather Rosenmann, Daniel Wegner, Maid By Tait. Suppliers: Unique Fabrics, Spence and Lyda, Foleys Nursery, Rosebowl Markets, Pasadena, Castorina and Co, Orient House, Mitchell Road Antiques, Water Tiger, Perryman Carpets, South Pacific Fabrics, Nickey Kehoe, Lawson Fenning, Hub Furniture, Merchant Modern Venice, Modern Times, Angelucci, Loom Rugs, The Plant Room. Lighting: Electrolight, Eurolouce, Light Project, Arclite, Cetnaj, Atelier Shroeter, FermaxAus, Flexineon, Go Electrical Wholesaler, Koda Lighting, Lifestyle Store, Online Lighting, Seadan, Sprint Intercom, Tovo Lighting, Zetr. Finishes: Byo Fitout & Interiors, AFA Sheet Metal, Continuous Gary, Hampton & Larsson, Architectural hardwood Joinery, Grain Studio Ceramic. Fittings & Fixtures: Miele, Gessi, Fenix, Sirus, Corian, Astra Walker, Toto, Hansgrohe, Winning Appliances, Waterplex, Warringah Aluminium, Ventilation Vents, Unversal Fans, Solis Blinds, RogerSeller, Reece, Lindsey Wherrett, Harvey Norman Commercial, GSR Sheet Metal, Grate Drain Products, George & Willy, Ecosmart Fire, Big Ass Fans, Australian Bidets.

Photography: Murray Fredericks, Michael Lassman