Govetts Leap Bach

Sitting at the edge of the bush, in the Blue Mountains, yet wedged between two occupied blocks, the site is thoroughly suburban in its size but also because of its proximity to the neighbours. Nevertheless, the bush fire risk was deemed as extreme, with the dwelling designed and detailed to meet BAL FZ (Bushfire Attack Level Flame Zone) requirements. The desire to preserve privacy between neighbours but also engage with the bush and create a sense of being immersed within it were key factors in the initial massing of the house. Towards this, there are two wings of the house that reach to the north to capture sunlight and promote natural daylighting within the house, and extend to the rear of the property towards the bush.

Driven by the client brief, but also our own commitment to environmental sustainability this was one of the first houses that we’ve taken that next step and designed with Passivhaus principles in mind. The outcome, while never intended to reach Passivhaus certification levels, is expected, through the thermal comfort facilitated through airtightness, insulation, optimal indoor air quality, reduced thermal-bridges, high performance windows and heat-recovery ventilation to deliver an extremely efficient and comfortable home. This project demonstrates that a highly sustainable approach doesn’t have to limit the possibility of a visually radical and contemporary architecture in extreme bushfire environments.