suburban bush house

Eltham / Wurundjeri Land
Photographer: Lisbeth Grosmann

This young family were looking to build their forever-home on a treed, sloping battle-axe block, with a small building envelope and a limited budget. For them, home meant light-filled spaces, warm colour tones and natural materials, satin or matt finishes, and spaces to be creative in – to sew, read, cook, play, make music and write. It was also very important to the owners that the building was energy efficient and sustainably built.

Because the battle-axe block would screen the dwelling from the street, there was an opportunity to escape the hipped-roof, brick-veneer forms common in the surrounds. It provided the freedom to consider how the new dwelling could relate to the broader cultural and historical context of Eltham, through the use of timber and corrugated metal sheet.

The owners loved the durability and authenticity of the materials. They loved that the new galvanised sheeting reflected the colours of the surrounding bush. They loved that the timber and metal sheeting would eventually blend into the landscape. The weathering would be a sign of time passed, of life lived, in their forever home.