NBuilt Pty Ltd 

About the winning project

This 7.3-star house was designed by Gruen Eco. The block faces north, so the house was set back on the block, with the living spaces facing forward, to maximise solar heat gain. The strategically planned eaves block the summer sun when it is high in the sky, yet let the winter sun in the cooler months when it is lower to the horizon. The sun’s rays can then come in through the high-performance windows to heat the burnished slab. Then the ability to shade the windows and open up the house for cross ventilation can also keep temperatures cool.