Every so often, a house pushes the boundaries in exactly the right directions. This two-bedroom, two-bathroom stunner is one such home. The 207sqm property marries design flair with passive high-performance principles; it looks like a work of art and feels like a home with comfort at its heart. Let’s start with its form, which has multiple ceiling heights, structural angles, curved walls and architectural detail. Given these features, it was always going to be a challenging build, but when you add in triple glazing, warm-roof technology and an airtight envelope, the complexity ratchets up further.

Despite its intricacies, this was a project the building team relished. Plaster and thermally treated timber have been used on the exterior to striking effect. A star-gazing roof deck for crisp clear nights is another eye-catching feature. Interior details are just as impressive. You’ll see timber ceilings, multiple curved walls, American white oak joinery, oak flooring and skylights. Suntrap courtyards extend living spaces outdoors, a large garage and separate laundry add storage and the hall doubles as an art gallery. A separate building with pottery and jewellery studios is in keeping with the style of the main house. In terms of performance the list is just as long — dual layers of wool insulation, a heat recovery system, an air barrier wrap, insulated slab and solar panels. High performance. High style.