Targeting Passivhaus standards for a heritage home in Fitzroy modernises the home while futureproofing it against extreme temperatures and inner-city noise. One of a row of eight 1950s former Housing Commission houses, the home is now an exemplar of sustainable family living that proudly retains its modernist personality.

Retaining the Fitzroy home’s original façade and maintaining the integrity of the streetscape were fundamental to this project, but structural issues required extensive demolition beyond the façade and boundary walls. In a harmonious celebration of sustainability and heritage, 97% demolition material was recycled or reused. We carefully salvaged and reintegrated the original bricks and roof tiles, which contributed to minimised embodied carbon across the project.

The overall design exceeds the minimum Passivhaus EnerPHit retrofit standard to target the more rigorous Passivhaus Classic standard. Meeting these requirements is sustainably responsible while adding comfort through high levels of air tightness, continuous insulation, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, constant fresh air and noise protection.

Inside the home, a strip skylight floods the living spaces with light to showcase the palette of natural materials. The front sitting room and north-facing veranda capture winter sunlight while overlooking the front garden.

The main bedroom and adjacent study on the first floor also benefit from the light and comfort of northern orientation, while two more bedrooms are positioned to the rear for increased privacy.

Meanwhile, the rear of the ground floor opens into a generous living, dining and kitchen zone that connects to a landscaped courtyard. Full-height double sliding pocket doors connect and separate these living spaces from the sitting room to allow noise control and privacy.

A monolithic Guatemala green marble benchtop is the centrepiece of the kitchen, with the dark green continued into the joinery as a contemporary contrast to the home’s heritage identity.