Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

This High-Tech Melbourne Home Generates “Way More” Energy Than It Uses

This High-Tech Melbourne Home Generates “Way More” Energy Than It Uses

Thanks to its powerful solar system, the Garden House by Austin Maynard Architects can generate 100 kilowatt-hours of energy in a single day.

Tranquility, flexibility, and self-sufficiency were top of mind when a self-described "kind of quirky" family of five approached Austin Maynard Architects to design a "super modern" home with a private garden in Prahran, South Melbourne.

Viewed from the street, the Garden House sits pretty as a white-shingled cottage complete with an archetypal pitched roof. However, follow the entry path and the facade gives way to a lush retreat-"like discovering Narnia at the end of a literal yellow brick road," say the architects.



The clients sought a sustainable dwelling that catered to their diverse needs, so Austin Maynard Architects decided to divide the house into four main zones-an office, a kitchen/living area, a dining space, and a kid’s area-connected through smart interfaces. Each zone is demarcated by hidden doors that can open or close depending on the occasion, while mirrored glass reflects the garden outside.



In this calm oasis, family life extends outdoors thanks to a heated pool, fire pit, and table for al fresco dining. Borrowing terminology from the tech world, the client brief to the architects detailed "user experience" situations requiring solutions. These requests led to the creation of a netted play staircase, a dedicated bike entrance with storage, and a muesli-making station concealed in a hidden pantry.



"We spent a lot of time getting the kitchen area right, and it works really well," the clients say. "We live in this space all the time, and we’re really happy with it."

The crowning achievement of the Garden House, however, is its environmental sustainability. Designed to function completely off the grid, the house is free from a gas connection. Instead, it’s powered by a solar system, supplemented by battery storage, that generates around 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day. (For reference, the average Australian home uses 19 kilowatt-hours of electricity in a single day.)



In addition, thick insulation, thermally broken aluminum frames, and a fully automated Dynalite / Control4 smart home system combine to temper the extreme heat of Melbourne’s sweltering summers. This considered, integrated solution allows the clients to enjoy their heated pool, hydronic heating, and electric ovens and cooktops with "no guilt and no cost." The house even powers their Tesla Model 3.



"We’re easily generating way more than we’re using," the owner says. "We needed an architect with vision, as we were specific about the things we wanted the house to include. With Austin Maynard Architects…you could tell the homes had been specifically tailored to the owners. Our brief was for a really super modern house, in every sense, but still really warm-and that’s what we have."


Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
×