44 Hopetoun Avenue

This home is a beautifully crafted architectural experience from beginning to end. The street presentation is quiet and humble yet elegant. This is a lovely introduction to the interior which is dramatic, dynamic and multi-layered.

The home is conceived as two pavilions arranged on each side of a deep courtyard with a large terrace. The swimming pool, conversation pit and garden are at the rear. The front pavilion contains mainly bedrooms and amenities. The rear pavilion contains a variety of living spaces and a large study. The connectivity between the spaces on each side of the courtyard is a delight, as is the ability for all spaces to gain excellent access to light and views of one sort or another.

The courtyard is a source of ventilation and cooling for the home and performs well. It is also ornamental insofar that is has a garden at the base and the side glazed wall to the building has a powerful copper screen element from top to bottom.

The circulation spaces of the home are consolidated along the eastern boundary and are generous in proportion. These areas also benefit from the light from the courtyard and an interior version of the aforementioned copper screen.

The architecture is carefully sculpted to take best advantage of light and views, especially side and corner windows which splay and deconstruct to frame landscape elements and offer light relief to the otherwise solid structure.

The secondary living area on the bottom level of the rear pavilion has a lofty grandeur which is offset by the use of warm interior finishes, details and substantial exterior screening elements.

It’s a lovely surprise to look back at the home from the garden as after the immensity of the interior experience one expects the exterior form to be massive. Instead it appears to have a small and carefully crafted scale, sitting comfortably in its landscape and among its neighbours.

Sustainability has not been taken lightly. 10 × 10kw batteries are powered by 27 solar panels. There is 30,000 litres of rain water collection, planted roofs and careful management of solar access and thermal massing.

The interior design is very well thought through and the details well executed. The construction quality is very high throughout.

Overall, this home is an ambitious and complex project that has been handled with care and grace. It is an exciting piece of architecture yet at the same time and most importantly feels like a home for a family.

Sustainability

Further to mandatory sustainability measures, the house has been conceived all along to minimise energy use. Grouping of rooms around the courtyard plays an important role by providing exposure to natural light and air flow to all living rooms, minimising the need for use of air-conditioning and artificial lighting.

Innovative sustainable design elements:

• High-mass, solid construction in conjunction with ubiquitous planting contributes to a natural control of the micro-climate
• Glazing is restricted to the north and south façades and utilises the latest low-E and double glazing technologies
• Strong articulation of the façades optimises natural shading in summer and solar gain in winter

Environmental footprint of the building is minimised by:

• A battery system harnesses the solar power, effectively making the house energy independent
• An energy efficient low-heat under floor gas hydronic system provides gentle background heat
• The green roof is pleasant to look onto but also efficiently insulates the roof while at the same time greatly increasing the landscaped area