2020 Houses Awards: Sustainability

Jury comment

The jury found the deliberation for this year’s Sustainability Award to be a delightful challenge, given the breadth of mature and thoughtful shortlisted work that championed sustainability as inherent to good design. Waratah Secondary House by Anthrosite stood out to the jury, however, in part due to its modesty. It is a home designed and built with affordability, pragmatism and comfort in mind, while also delivering a resolved and thoughtful architectural outcome.

Waratah Secondary House demonstrates something that we need more of – housing that doesn’t cost the earth, literally or figuratively. The jury was particularly impressed by its response to context as an infill dwelling created on a small, challenging site, along with the architect’s focus on creating a high-performance envelope, and on utilizing efficient and low-waste materials and construction methodologies, such as the Structural Insulated Panel System (SIPS) and embracing raw, exposed finishes.

An integrated approach to sustainability isn’t simply about adding technology or satisfying a particular performance rating. And, frankly, size does matter. Waratah Secondary House is a small, humble project that delivers something that we need to see more of in our cities and the jury commends all involved.

The Award for Sustainability is supported by Sussex. See full image galleries of all the winning and shortlisted projects here.