Mick & Fiona

Picture this… a hard-working young chippie meets a savvy accountant. They fall in love, plan a life together and start flipping houses on the west coast. Along the way, they purchase a marshy, remote plot of land that backs onto a pristine beach, and they begin dreaming of the day they can build a home and life on their little slice of paradise.

Ten years and two kids later, not only have Mick and Fiona chased down their goal, but they have also created a sanctuary for their family that minimises their ongoing impact on the planet.

Mick and Fiona’s stunning ‘Wallaby House’ showcases that even large, high-end homes can incorporate simple passive design principles that harness the power of Mother Nature to improve thermal performance, reduce energy usage and lower both bills and CO2 emissions.

Good design meets family lifestyle.

Wallaby House, built by Millbrook Constructions and designed by Lurie Concepts, incorporates two north-orientated barn-like pavilions. In winter, sun streams under the 900mm eaves, striking extensive north glazing and warming up well-placed thermal mass, including burnished concrete floors and grey rammed earth walls.

The same eaves shade the home from the harsh summer sun that travels high in the sky, and strategically placed south windows catch sea breezes to cool the home using simple cross ventilation. There is also an extensive solar array housed on the main pavilion.

The American Oak lined ceiling in the living area was a splurge item for Mick and Fiona that brings warmth and major wow factor to the family-friendly space.

Not ones to sit still, Mick and Fiona are now hard at work bringing their landscaping to life (I’ve seen the plans, it’s going to be amazeballs!), although if you happen to see a bloke fanging down Perkins Beach on his four-wheeler with his two boys and a Border Collie in tow, you know it’s probably tools down for the day.