In some ways, the winning house in Beechworth has its own otherworldly beauty. Owned by a retired couple who have a passion for community responsibility, they were determined to be a little different from other locals in the area.
Apart from introducing bold design elements, they were keen to have a Passive House built home. They turned to Ovens & King Builders, a company that specialises in sustainable construction and energy efficiency. For Lachie and his team, creating a Certified Passive House was a first for the company.
'The decision to downsize was one thing, but it took real courage to build a Passive House in this area,' says Lachie. In fact, when the house was built in 2019, this was only the second accreditation in Northeast Victoria. 'The clients wanted the house to stand out in the community so locals can see what's possible.'
Lachie and his team employed the rigorous Passive House standard of construction to achieve a comfortable temperature year-round despite minimal energy consumption. 'The thermal layer on a passive house is so effective. The temperature is not lost,' he says. 'And in summer, that works to keep the heat out.'