Modern house exterior with sliding glass door and lush garden, featuring a path leading inside.

Sunbeams House

A neglected, cold and damp terrace house has a new lease on life - with daylight and warmth filtering into the house from every angle. The homeowners opted to keep as much of the original fabric of the house as possible - and we created a high performance two storey addition at the rear.  With north light being captured in a courtyard between the old and new parts of the house.

When Moo and Simon first contacted us - we provided three different design options running from a low cost, simple renovation to a more involved extension.  “This was really helpful to get us thinking about what we could do with the house, what we wanted to spend, and how long we intended to stay here” says Mooey.

As well as catering to the functional needs of the inhabitants, we wanted to make sure the house was comfortable, healthy and energy efficient and beautiful!

Country:
Wurundjeri Country

Location:
Fitzroy North, VIC

Project Team:
Imogen Pullar + Emilie Brunel + Nayan Puri

Builder:
Healy Constructions

Photographer:
Marnie Hawson

Stylist:
Belle Hemming

Total Cost:
<$700k

Year:
2022

Sunbeam house's Victorian facade with picket fence and front garden, surrounded by trees.
Couple standing on the porch of Sunbeam House. A white Victorian house with decorative trim, surrounded by greenery and citrus trees, barefoot and smiling.
Exterior facade of Sunbeam House. White metal cladding and timber windows, with outdoor courtyard and wooden dining table, surrounded by greenery.
Exterior facade of Sunbeam House. White metal cladding and timber windows, the lush garden has stone flagstone paving.
Living room at Sunbeam house with brown sofa, beige throw blanket, indoor plants, white shelves, blue cabinets, and glass sliding door to garden.
Minimalist living room at Sunbeam House. Blue cabinetry and white shelves decorated with plants, pottery, and artwork. A window curtain is visible on the left.
Modern kitchen at Sunbeam House with a timber staircase, island, bar stools, and a person ascending stairs.
Modern kitchen at Sunbeam house with timber cabinets, round dining table, wooden and white chairs, island with barstools, and pendant lights.
Modern kitchen at Sunbeam house with timber cabinetry, porcelain benchtop, tiles, with light streaming down from a skylight above.

The new addition is set back from the existing structure to create a north-facing central courtyard that traps the sunlight and provides views of the lush garden from the kitchen and living area

Modern living room at Sunbeam house with a view of a small indoor garden through large glass doors, beige curtains.
Sunbeam house's internal courtyard with sliding glass doors on each end, small garden, green chair, timber accents, and kitchen view.
Living room at Sunbeam house. Above the fireplace, there's a floating wooden shelf with a framed artwork and a vase of flowers. A pendant lights hang from the ceiling.
Bathroom at Sunbeam house with a blue vanity, rectangular sink, large mirror, open shelving, white wall tiles, and terrazzo floor.
Bathroom at Sunbeam house with a round mirror, blue vanity, white wall tiles, and terrazzo floor.
Narrow hallway at Sunbeam house with timber flooring, white walls, and ceiling lights; staircase visible at the end of the hallway.
Sunbeam house second floor living area with timber window with batten screening and window seat decorated with cushions.
First floor bedroom at Sunbeam House with a pitched ceiling. Timber windows shows a rooftop view, and dark curtains frame the window. A white wardrobe and a timber headboard.

Sustainability Specs

Maximised retention of the original heritage double brick fabric which is in good repair with good thermal mass.

Existing and new ceilings insulated with R6.0 Batts.

Existing windows double glazed

Insultation under in existing subfloor

New insulated slab on ground for the addition

140mm timber stud walls with R4.0 bulk insulation

Airtight vapour permeable external weatherproof barrier with ventilated cavities.

Double glazed new timber tilt and turn windows and sliding doors

North facing glazing is maximised and shaded with external vertical blinds.

East and west glazing kept to a minimum.

Reverse cycled air conditioning to living areas and upstairs bedroom.

Heat pump hot water

Solar PV array maximised on the roof

Thermally modified FSC timber cladding

Recycled brickwork

Light colour metal cladding for reduced heat island effect

Bedroom at Sunbeam house with timber tilt and turn window, charcoal curtains, white bedding, and a timber headboard.

An abundance of natural light and a clear visual connection to the outdoor areas are highlights of the renovation for the owners, and one of their favourite additions is the upstairs bedroom, which offers a view over the roof and tree canopy. “It’s the perfect spot for a nap because it gets all the afternoon sun,” says Mooey. “We wanted to create a little urban oasis here, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”

Samantha Van Egmond, Inside Out

Floor plans of Sunbeam house
Lush garden with various green plants and a stone pathway at Sunbeam house.

In the media

Inside Out, February, 2024

The Design Files, June, 2024