Every project by Green Sheep Collective architects aims to cut embodied and operational energy, for maximum sustainability.

Achieving this starts with interrogating what clients actually need to live comfortably, rather than market driven ‘must-haves’. Green Sheep Collective director Shae Parker McCashen explains, ‘We respect the fact that many people who build or renovate their homes may one day need to sell and there can be a temptation to add space in an attempt to preempt market demand, but what we’re seeing more and more is people who appreciate and want homes that are just enough and not more than they need.’

In this renovation and extension of a California bungalow, for example, what could have been a larger home was deliberately minimised to suit its new owners. ‘The site definitely could have allowed for a third bedroom — and the pressure of resale values would suggest it’s a must — but ultimately our clients didn’t need one and deemed that two bedrooms was enough,’ says Shae.

‘We challenged the notion of having a bigger home or adding more features just because you can, and delving deep into what would be enough to sustain a happy, healthy, comfortable life for our clients for the duration of their time in the home.’

The renovation considers the specific circumstances of the clients, who are approaching retirement. They bought the California bungalow in Brunswick to ‘rightsize’ in a central Melbourne area, without losing access to a garden. ‘By keeping the house as compact as possible we could maximise outdoor space and garden area,’ Shae says.

Shae describes the existing heritage house as ‘endearing’, offering plenty of charm, but little in the way of efficiency. ‘It performed poorly from a thermal efficiency standpoint, had convoluted circulation and featured a series of small disconnected spaces,’ she says. ‘Fortunately, the block has a fantastic north-facing backyard and garden, but the existing home was not engaging with this space.’

The renovation addresses these issues, replacing a poorly rear built lean-to with an open-plan living and dining area with a study nook. ‘We also popped the main bedroom out the east of the home giving it views back to the garden,’ says Shae.

The remainder of the house was reconfigured rather than rebuilt with upgraded insulation to lift its thermal performance.

Green Sheep Collective specified a relatively neutral material palette to complement the clients’ existing colourful and eclectic possessions. The use of timber, particularly on the ceiling, grounds the project and creates a sense of cosiness, while terrazzo tiles add a subtly playful element to the extension flooring.

Externally, the rear extension features a combination of recycled red bricks, white washed timber shiplap cladding, and timber elements in a joyful honey-coloured stain. ‘We wanted to craft something that sat comfortably within the Brunswick arena while remaining inviting and playful,’ says Shae.

The garden (planted and maintained by the clients) comes right up to the house, facilitating calming views from every room on the relatively compact 265-square-metre block, hence the project’s name, Ample House.

The average existing home in Australia has an estimated NatHERS thermal performance rating of less than 3 out of 10 stars. Ample House achieves 6.3. ‘Hopefully projects like this one can show people that there is a way to live comfortably in a beautiful home that fits just right,’ Shae says.