Daily Dream Home: Waverley Residence

Located in Sydney’s Waverley neighborhood, today’s dream home borrows the name of its location. Known as the Waverley Residence, this modern and sustainable home was designed by Anderson Architecture. Displaying an uncluttered collection of spaces that seamlessly connect to one another and to the outdoors, the contemporary residence boasts a ground floor created with comfort in mind. Natural colors compose a stress-free atmosphere in an open floor plan that combines the living space, dining area and kitchen into a bright social space. Because clients requested “a warm and modern 4 bedroom house with a strong connection to the outdoors and minimal reliance on artificial heating, cooling and lighting”, architects transformed the existing weatherboard house into a striking contemporary home that grabs the attention of everyone lucky enough to visit it.

Using passive solar techniques, natural ventilation, internal thermal mass, shading systems and an operable roof design, architects created a sustainable comfort to be enjoyed by the owners and their guests. The roof was designed to capture northern light and extend the influence of natural sunshine on each indoor activity. An asymmetrical facade adorned with wood breaks the monotony that once used to define this plot of land. Now, an outdoor area extends the possibilities for relaxing and entertaining, while the interior spaces remain in permanent visual contact with the surroundings.

Technical details and existing problems turned the architect’s work into a challenge: “Extensive computer modelling was used to confirm principles and develop the passive solar design, resulting in an 8 star certification. This modelling highlighted the limitations imposed by a 3 storey northern neighbour on passive solar potential, and led to a C-Bus controlled active design, featuring operable shading, ventilation, day-lighting and heating/cooling elements regulated by numerous internal and external temperature, rain, light and wind sensors.”