Our brief for this new home in the Narara Ecovillage on the NSW Central Coast was to create a sanctuary for a couple with grown children — a place of calm retreat deeply connected to landscape, light and wellbeing.

The owners are health-conscious and closely attuned to their garden and daily rituals. They envisioned spaces that would support rest, movement and renewal — a private health retreat within the home that would evoke the atmosphere of a Balinese spa. At the same time, they were seeking a simple, warm contemporary aesthetic that felt grounded and enduring.

In response, we organised the house into two distinct pavilions. The primary pavilion accommodates the living spaces — open, light-filled and oriented to capture northern sun — while a separate retreat pavilion houses the bedroom and bathroom, flowing onto a private deck with sauna, spa and yoga area. Surrounded by bamboo screening, this pavilion offers seclusion and immersion in greenery, reinforcing the sense of retreat.

The siting and planning prioritised passive solar performance and cross-ventilation, creating a home that breathes naturally and remains comfortable year-round. Each pavilion is expressed externally with its own colour palette — timbers layered with black, green and rust tones — subtly distinguishing function while maintaining cohesion across the whole.

Located within the Narara Ecovillage, the design was required to achieve a minimum 7.5-star rating under the National Home Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS). Environmental performance was therefore integral to the design from the outset, shaping orientation, material selection and detailing to create a home that is both restorative and resilient.

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Sustainability Features:

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Passive Design: 

Large North Facing Windows and doors with deep eaves for shading. 

High level southern windows for cross ventilation.

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​Renewable Energy: Solar PV system underway. ​

 

Active Heating and Cooling: Ceiling fans in indoor and outdoor living areas. Single reverse cycle split system.​

 

Hot Water: New Heat Pump ​HW system

 

Water Saving:

BASIX score: 60 (target 40) 

Water storage capacity of 7000L

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Windows and Glazing: All new timber double glazed windows

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Building Materials: Weathertex Cladding. Timber stud frame with R3 insulation to walls and R6 to ceilings. Breathable membrane system by Proclima. 75 mm Hebel Power panel was used for thermal mass in raised floors with R6.0 batts. 

 

​Lighting: soft low level lighting through out - no downlights used in living areas