Austinmer, 2022.

Builder: Green Smith & Co

Team: Dane Taylor, Hans Freymadl

Photography: Daniel Mulheran

2023 Houses Awards | Shortlist | New House under 200m2

Finalist | Residential | Australian Timber Design Awards 2023

Butterfly House sits snug on a narrow block in Austinmer. The structure turning away from its southern laneway frontage embraces its connection with the Illawarra Gumtree escarpment to the north and west. The feeling of the home is about refuge and retreat, with a warm hand-crafted material palette of Australian Blackbutt, recycled hardwoods and locally sourced rammed earth. Inspiration for the home was drawn from the client’s connection with Japan by using timber screening and Shou Sugi Ban (a traditional Japanese technique of charring timber cladding). Essential sustainability inclusions of a 5kw solar system, rainwater harvesting, natural ventilation, recycled materials, and thermal mass were all carefully integrated.