Solara: a 9.6‑star passive-inspired family home on Victoria’s Bass Coast

# Quick summary Solara is a new family home on Bunurong Country in Cape Paterson, Victoria, designed and built by The Sociable Weaver for one of the studio's co‑founders and his family. The project reached a 9.6‑star NatHERS energy rating by applying Passive House fundamentals—northern orientation, a high‑performance envelope, carefully positioned glazing and external shading—while also responding to the coastal site through form and materials.

# Performance strategy and orientation Northern orientation was the organising principle. The building envelope and insulation were detailed to minimise heat loss, and window placement allows winter sun to penetrate living spaces. External shading and an awning/balcony on the first floor are detailed to control solar angles in summer so the house avoids overheating without heavy mechanical heating or cooling.

A fundamental premise expressed by the architect is that reducing reliance on mechanical services through good orientation and envelope performance has a greater and more enduring effect than retrofitting efficiency later.

# Materials and coastal suitability Materials were chosen for robustness and to patina well in a coastal environment. Key elements listed in the project notes:

• Cream recycled bricks with a dragged mortar finish (Recycled Brick Co.) for façades.
• Blackbutt timber used as veneering and ceiling lining (Eco Timber) and for joinery (ArmourCab).
• Burnished concrete floors providing thermal mass to stabilise indoor temperatures.
• Double‑glazed timber‑framed windows and doors by Binq Windows.

The colour palette—stone, blackbutt, copper and concrete—echoes nearby shorelines and the undulating dunes. Curved forms in plan and section reflect those dune lines.

# Details, fittings and fittings The build team and consultants credited include Martin Builders (builder), Deery Consulting (engineer), Flow By Design (landscape), F2 Design (energy rating), Wellness at Home (wellness consultant) and Feng Shui Consultant Wellness at Home. Interior and finish suppliers mentioned in the project notes: Tiento Tiles, ABI Interiors (plumbing fixtures), and Taj Mahal quartzite for benchtops.

Specific details that contribute to comfort and performance: double‑glazed timber windows for thermal control, external shading for summer comfort, and burnished concrete for thermal mass.

# Health, layout and wellbeing influences

# Architectural expression Curved walls and a flowing plan reference local dune forms. A curved balcony frames coastal vegetation and offers outdoor connection while shading the interior. Finishes and craft details—solid blackbutt veneer, limewashed plywood ceilings in bedrooms, carefully detailed awnings—intend to be low maintenance while developing character with age.

# Practical implications for homeowners and builders

• Use thermal mass (concrete floors) together with glazing and shading to reduce reliance on active heating and cooling.

# Credits