Project Details

The Challenge

Creating innovative sustainable buildings is core business for Sunpower Design, designers of solar efficient and environmentally responsive architecture. When the time came to extend their home office, it seemed an ideal opportunity for Sunpower Design owners Judy and Andreas Sederof to design a space specific to their needs while at the same time creating a showpiece for sustainable architecture. The primary goals of the renovation were to:

• maintain the convenience of working from home

• design a modern building that would enhance the character of the existing Edwardian house

• create a separate professional environment in which staff and clients could work and meet

• ensure a healthy work environment for staff

• maximise water and energy efficiency by design, choice of materials and appliances

• use sustainable and non-toxic materials wherever possible

• test new products and sustainable construction techniques

• deliver the project within a limited budget

• invest in a project that would provide security and superannuation for the future

• have the flexibility to rent out the house or the office in the future

The solution was to design a workspace that 'floats' on the existing Edwardian structure yet allows for completely separate access via a stairway from the south side of the building. The new office contains an open plan studio, meeting room, small private office, kitchenette and bathroom facilities. The emphasis on providing natural light and using non-toxic materials and finishes has delivered an aesthetically pleasing, healthy work place that can be enjoyed by all staff. The $110,000 investment has also added more than $250,000 to the asset value of the property.

As owner builders who were experienced in both building design and construction, Judy and Andreas were able to make lots of decisions along the way to trial new products and make savings through efficient purchasing practices.

Project Details

Building type: Detached Edwardian home office

Building area (m2): existing house = 180m2, office = 100m2, decks = 7.5m2

Number of occupants: living - 3 occupants, working - 4, plus 2 part-time

Nature of occupancy (hours per week, days per week): home - fulltime, office - M-F 8.30am-6.30pm

Activities carried out within building: home - living, office -meetings, design, computing and reading

Number of storeys: Two

Building address: East Brunswick, Victoria

Owner occupied or tenanted: owner occupied

New or refurbished building: refurbished / extension

Building cost: $110,000, $1,100 / m2