The Haus - A Celebration of Reuse & Innovation
Q: What was the dream?
We set out to renovate and build an eco-conscious Passivhaus that would limit our carbon footprint, as well as a complementary garden with different areas for relaxation and emersion. We wanted a space that was calming, filled with well-planned vistas, feature trees, custom planters and creative form throughout. For both the home and the garden we prioritised high quality and upcycled materials wherever possible.
Q: How do batons add to the story?
I was drawn to Pendell batons as they are made from the offcuts of larger format paving, and that's the type of reuse and innovation we love to celebrate. We used them inside the home as a transitional element between the old and the new structures. The home's design has a very warm colour palette and features timber panelling, so batons were selected to complement that reoccurring linear forms throughout - we laid them in a stack bond pattern to mimic that theme.
"I was drawn to Pendell batons as they are made from the offcuts of larger format paving, and that's the type of reuse and innovation we love to celebrate."
We also integrated them in the garden design. In the front as long steppers that merge into the landscape, surrounded by Dichondra Repens, and in the rear as a transition between the lower and upper level of the outdoor area. The whole outdoor space features a number of other recycled materials, such as salvaged bricks from the site used to construct the bespoke fireplace and recycled battens to create fences and screens.
The exterior of our home is a mixture of white and whitewashed cladding, and as soon as I laid eyes on the Beauford crazy paving in the Eco Outdoor showroom, I knew they were the perfect colour to compliment the home.
Q: Why crazy paving?
Natural stone will last for generations to come, and again Beauford Crazy Pavers are mostly made from offcuts. They are the first surface that greets our guests as they enter the garden and they set the intent of what's to come. My favourite part of the design is the rear garden entertaining area, it features the curved bench breakout zone and the crazy pavers with Dichondra Repens spilling through the space. It's the most loved feature of the garden by all our guests.
"My favourite part of my design is the curved bench area that is a breakout zone featuring the crazy pavers with Dichondra Repens spilling through the space."
Q: What are you most proud of?
Creating a Passivhaus is a great achievement but as a landscape architect it is always special to create your own garden, I am most proud of how the design came together and how we used the space to its full potential. The design intent was for the garden to meet and connect with the guests as they enter. I think we achieved that, and that would have to be a biggest win for me.
