07: DESIGN SUBURBAN DELIGHT
LOCATION NORTH SHORE, SYDNEY
It’s possible to redesign and create a lot
more liveable space all without extending a
building’s footprint. By absorbing the unused
strip verandah at the front of the home into
the home’s interior, adding windows and
timber slats, there’s a lot more space for this
family to enjoy. The double skin of the home’s
facade lets cooling breezes in, and the timber
slats off er privacy. Melonie Bayl-Smith says of
the design: “The owners didn’t want to make
it bigger. It’s about sustainability – how can
we make better use of what we have? Small
changes can aff ect a large transformation.”
Architect and Interior Design Bijl
Architecture (bijlarchitecture.com.au)
Builder Wilkinstruct
Photography Katherine Lu
08: DESIGN HEMP HOUSE
LOCATION TARANAKI
It might be hard to imagine a home clad in
hemp, but industrial hemp (not the kind you roll
up and smoke) has eco-friendly properties that
make it a sustainability star. Homeowners Greg
Whittam and partner Gayle Avery bought a
4-hectare block and built a 320-square-metre
family home, deciding they wanted to add some
unique green features. The hemp cladding is
made from hemp that is ground up and mixed
with lime-based binder and water, forming
Hempcrete. It has sound thermal properties and
is fi re-retardant. The composition of the hemp
plant (coupled with the magnesium oxide boards
used for the internal lining) allows the claddingto breathe, helping to rid the home of toxins. The
couple also installed mesh EMF shielding to the
master bedroom to screen it from EMF radiation.
Architectural Design Stanley Gray
(stanleygray.co.nz)07
08