Handcrafted over several years, the outer box is finished with a striking, diagonally oriented rainscreen of naturally weathered timber cladding – protecting the high-performance, naturally insulated construction beneath. It’s between these two boxes that the spaces truly come to life.

The approach to both the design and construction of this home are deeply intertwined – demonstrating care towards people and the planet. Ostro proves that it’s entirely possible to reduce carbon emissions and energy use while creating spaces that enhance health, wellbeing, and joy through creative architecture.

We designed our own home to be an exemplar low-energy build. Not only did it achieve Passivhaus Certification, it also meets the holistic requirements of the Technical Standards Section 7: Sustainability Gold Level. And it has exceptionally low embodied carbon.

The sedum planted roof attenuates the rainwater, which then journeys through a single expressed pipe, before flowing through a raised rill to a pebble garden of found stones – making its journey a visible and integral part of the design.

This minimal environmental impact is reflected in the architectural vocabulary – nothing is unnecessary or superfluous. Every element meaningfully contributes to the story of the building, expressing both its beauty and resilience in the face of the climate crisis.