On Dja Dja Wurrung Country, this Malmsbury home responds to a climate of cool winters, frosts and warm, dry summers. The renovation keeps the original cottage at the front of the site and extends to the rear with a carefully insulated hempcrete and timber addition. Deep eaves, high-performing walls and controlled openings work together to hold warmth in winter, shed summer heat and make the most of Malmsbury’s clear light.

Inside, the new living, kitchen and dining space is organised around a run of Australian hardwood beams and a polycarbonate roof. Daylight washes across timber joinery and a full-length island bench, while sliding doors open to a rear garden terrace. The bathroom continues this language: eucalypt tiles, glass blocks and a timber bath create a calm, almost spa-like room where plants, water and light are brought together.

A dedicated writing room and small office sit alongside the main living areas, giving the clients spaces for focused work without disconnecting from the rest of the house. Throughout the project, modest interventions like reusing structure where possible, tightening the thermal envelope and working with durable, natural materials, deliver a renovation that is warm, resilient and closely tied to its landscape.