Jury comment
Great effort and restraint have been practised in this outdoor environment, from the complete regeneration and rehabilitation of a bushland setting with endemic species to the experimental bio-pool that required extensive research and commitment.
A microclimate was created with a sensitive hand, demonstrating that a small outdoor project can impact significantly on the natural environment. This project is an exemplar for all the community – it advocates an approach to design and the environment that is accessible and does not rely on high technology, and it embraces an attitude that is distinctly Australian. With a sensitive hand and mind we can have our piece of nature, preserve it and share it with others.
The riverbanks have been stabilized and the fauna returned to a familiar and safe environment. The garden is watered naturally by rain and the pool is serviced by solar tubing and power offset by photovoltaic cells. This is a rare project that generously offers an authentic approach to celebrating and preserving our natural ecosystem. It achieves this to the benefit of surrounding properties that now enjoy a small fragment of the Australian bush.
See full image galleries of all the winning and shortlisted projects here.
Award for Sustainability is supported by Knauf.
Credits
- Project
- Fairfield House
- Architect
- Kennedy Nolan Architects
Melbourne, Vic, Australia
- Project Team
- Patrick Kennedy, Rachel Nolan
- Consultants
-
Landscaping
Sam Cox Landscaping
Pool Distinctive Pools and Spas and Natural Pools
- Site Details
-
Location
Melbourne,
Vic,
Australia
- Project Details
-
Status
Built
Category Residential
Type New houses, Outdoor / gardens
Source
Award
Published online: 22 Jul 2016
Images:
Derek Swalwell
Issue
Houses, July 2016