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The 8-star energy rated home at 22 Murnong Circuit, Torquay, is on the market for $1.175m to $1.225m.
Style and sustainability collide at a cool 8-star Torquay house showcasing a living rooftop garden, recycled brickwork, off-form concrete and copper cladding.
Local architect Lachlan Shepherd essentially modelled his family’s own home in the eco-friendly Salt Torquay estate on a traditional car park structure.
But there’s nothing remotely utilitarian about the playful two-bedroom residence at 22 Murnong Circuit, Torquay.
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In-built concrete couches with custom leather upholstery and handmade copper tapware are among bespoke details that ensure a distinct personality.
A north-facing living zone and the indigenous rooftop garden, that not only delivers thermal benefits but also attracts birds and pollinators, are among eco elements incorporated into the design.
Even the asthma approved lap pool has a chemical-free freshwater filtration system with water safe enough for dogs and humans to drink.
Mr Shepherd worked with Damian Oliveri from Oliveri Design and Construction to explore the idea of building a whole house from concrete.
The kitchen has brickwork detail and a walk-in pantry.
Mr Shepherd used the house to explore concrete in many forms.
There’s no plasterboard in sight.
“It’s essentially like a car park construction in a way, where we have a grid, a set of columns, the ceiling and the roof is concrete and then obviously it’s got a living roof on top of that,” he said.
“It’s an architect’s exploration of materials from my end as well. There’s no plaster in the house, nothing is typical, everything is atypical.
“Luckily my wife is pretty open to the idea.”
With its family growing, the couple has just listed the 331sq m property through McCartney, Torquay agent Tim Carson.
Price hopes are $1.175m to $1.225m.
The rooftop is planted out with self-sustaining indigenous grasses.
A built-in bench seat creates a cosy dining space.
The lap pool has a ‘Naked’ filtration system and less chlorine than tap water.
Mr Shepherd said the timber grain on the living room’s concrete ceiling was his favourite stand-alone feature.
Salvaged Douglas fir offcut destined for the dumpster were laid out on the ceiling to create the pattern.
Almost all the furniture in the living zone is built-in, apart from the stools and a couple of dining chairs that complement a custom bench seat.
The living garden, self-watered via drip irrigation, helped maintain a 21-dgreee indoor temperature during the recent heatwave.
The custom bathroom taps are fashioned from copper.
He said the rooftop also provided for the natural environment in the 7.5-star Barwon Water housing estate, which was developed on the site of a former water basin.
“Once it was recommissioned it was clay in-fill so the fact that we put the same amount of earth, almost, back on the roof, the building is almost giving back to the flora and fauna so that was a secondary aspect of the thermal benefits that you get from the living room so that was interesting,” he said.
“We have seen a heap of different bird life up there, like tawny frogmouths at night.”
The post Architect Lachlan Shepherd selling cool eco home in Torquay appeared first on realestate.com.au.
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