This Off-Grid Limestone and Timber House Is One of Australia’s Most Sustainable Homes

Tucked away in Melbourne's eastern suburb of Toorak sits a sculptural limestone home surrounded by lush gardens that can generate, capture and provide everything it needs on-site. The owners approached John Wardle Architects for an off-grid home that could accommodate their children, grandchildren, and interstate guests and be one of the most sustainable homes in Australia.

To achieve this ambition, John Wardle Architects pursued two voluntary standards; Passivhaus, all about creating an incredibly high-performing building envelope, and the Living Building Challenge, which focuses on healthy, local materials and an off-grid approach. The home is built with Mt Gambier limestone and complemented with recycled blackbutt timber, reclaimed Tasmanian oak, and siltstone.

Website article with photographs and the floor plan;

Watch more home tours;

John Wardle Architects

Grounded Gardens

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The Design Emotive

Produced by The Design Emotive
Filmed and Edited by The Design Emotive / Anthony Richardson

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#OffGridHouse #HomeDesign #InteriorDesign #HouseTour #OffGrid #Sustainable #HomeTour

[SimpleDwelling]

Thanks for watching, let me know what your favourite part of the home is!

Website article with photographs and the floor plan;

Watch more home tours;

[Nabiry]

This channel should be called 'Never Too Big'

[BillWoodillustrator]

I love the way that the mature Chinese Elm tree kisses the second level wooden facade. Can’t criticise any house that steps so lightly on this earth.

[kayelle]

Love, love, love

Would have been interested to see a couple more streetscape images to understand how the building looked in its environment.

[SusieQSydney]

That’s what I call off the grid living at it’s best!

What a stunning and inviting home love it!

[juanabekinschtein]

So incredible proud of my son's knowledge, creativity and beautiful mind!

[facetoface]

Very impressed with the sustainable aspects of this home. Aesthetically and functionally impressive as well.

[KimNgan-pyqi]

trully beautiful home. one of the home(s) that i even find the overall structure on blueprint magnificent. 👏👏👏💗

[AnnMarieKing]

The living and dining areas are very thoughtful.

[jujubean]

Amazing house. Great architecture and the limestone is truly beautiful.

[SamGiles]

Such a remarkable house. Thank you for sharing!

[jolewis]

Well this is quite magnificent..I think this may be your best video so far.. wonderful 😊

[noahprince]

Anthony, this is like a corner house in suburban Tokyo! idk where to start. Lemme gush abt d free flowing posterior design of d limestone cladding. I'm sure that stone will give cool breeze inside home. I love again d warmth of timber n stone combo u can see all thru out d house. It well accentuate d fixture n furniture at home. Making it very inviting. D inside-outside concept again was done properly with d help of d bay window and shoji doors[pocket doors] i love how d design to support d structure of d house that corners r cut by d bay windows.

D sustainability aspects was good as well. The form of d house shows breeze coming in n out of it. The small skylights that help natural lighting around d home. D courtyard just give d home extra warmth from surrounding nature.

Off-grid homes r essential nowadays. I always love homes w/solar panels. The rain catcher used from surrounding ponds and roof saves a lot of energy for misc bills w/ water treatment facility.

[davids]

The sustainable initiatives are commendable and the architecture interesting and finely crafted. However, is this a building with a shopping list of ‘sustainable’ consumables (potable water/grey/black water plant, pv cells, or were decisions made about the projects lifecycle and embodied energy? And what about eaves along the northern face to protect against the summer sun and reduce cooling/heating costs/energy or is it mostly shaded out at the moment?

[GetInOurHome]

Brilliant video! This home is absolutely stunning, we've been documenting homes in Ireland for the past year and can honestly say this is one of our favourites we've found online!

[danna_taz]

Amazing project, very well thought! Love it!

[tukek]

I wish you would have done a walk through from the entry all the way through in one continuous line. It helps get a good feel of the layout.

[WLTRego]

Really beautiful, I'd love for my own home to be inspired off of this in some ways!

[marisasm]

Great video! By far the best house presented so far. The exterior (which should have been the thumbnail - as I voted😁) already predicted that the interior would be spectacular. The angled walls and windows, the central courtyard and pond, the mix of materials inside and outside, it's all very good. It's living in a sculpture and not in a house. I wonder what the next door neighbor will think 😆

[artel]

Great episode, I’m very interested in the grey & black water treatment infrastructure.