Hanby House

Hanby House began with a clear brief from young parents who wanted a forever home that balances family life, work and play while achieving outstanding energy performance. Their east‑facing block sits on one of Brighton’s most desirable streets, shaded by mature trees and offering private access through the rear fence to a park. A short stroll leads to the beach, activity centre and some of Melbourne’s top schools.

We arranged the long façades to run north‑south so that every living space and bedroom maximises northern sun. An expansive double‑storey living volume sits at the heart of the plan, capturing daylight from full‑height glazing on both north and west elevations. The western side opens onto an alfresco zone beneath a generous overhanging roof, welcoming evening light and painted sunsets over the park horizon. A reflective pool running alongside the building further animates the interior with dancing light.

The home contains five bedrooms, two distinct living zones, an upstairs study and a sunken annex that can serve as a second study or private retreat for guests. Parents who work from home enjoy focused quiet in the upstairs study, while children can roam freely in the ground‑floor living area. A convertible double garage offers future flexibility, and below‑ground you’ll find a fully equipped entertainment basement—complete with golf simulator, theatre, pool table, bar with pool window, cellar, arcade games and a gym opening onto its own courtyard.

We responded to the varied character of Brighton’s streetscape by fragmenting the front façade into a composition of forms and materials. Structural insulated panels deliver precision, airtightness and fast off‑site construction, while high‑performance glazing and continuous insulation enable near Passive House standard performance. Mechanical ventilation ensures a fresh, healthy interior atmosphere for both focused work and restful downtime.

Externally, a combination of white render, board form concrete, dark timber cladding and matt‑finish metal roofing grounds the house in its tree‑lined context. The annex’s sunken profile is crowned by a planted green roof, blending seamlessly with the park beyond and offering privacy without compromising the view. Every material was selected for durability, low maintenance and long‑term thermal efficiency.

Hanby House proves that true quality lies in the harmony of form and performance. Status: Due for completion Spring 2025.