Affectionately known as ‘Cake House’ by local surfers, the project celebrates the existing and prioritises resource efficiency, by recycling materials into a robust beach home for the next generation.

The project champions high craft and high performing, merging Passive House and passive design principles. Strategies included maximising the efficiency of the building form, floor area and operation. The merging of Passive House principles and Passive Design allowed us to create a home that can operate in a mixed mode scenario. It operates as 100 per cent electric and Net Zero energy use (-7,000kWh/yr back to the grid) with an onsite PV system.

The compact building cleverly provides enough space for multiple generations to gather during the holidays and enjoy the surroundings. The Cake House has allowed us to explore opportunities for an “Australian Passive House building model” that focuses on a coastal Australian climate using locally made recycled materials.

Photography: Barton Taylor