London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Sep 15, 2025

This High-Tech Melbourne Home Generates “Way More” Energy Than It Uses

This High-Tech Melbourne Home Generates “Way More” Energy Than It Uses

Thanks to its powerful solar system, the Garden House by Austin Maynard Architects can generate 100 kilowatt-hours of energy in a single day.

Tranquility, flexibility, and self-sufficiency were top of mind when a self-described "kind of quirky" family of five approached Austin Maynard Architects to design a "super modern" home with a private garden in Prahran, South Melbourne.

Viewed from the street, the Garden House sits pretty as a white-shingled cottage complete with an archetypal pitched roof. However, follow the entry path and the facade gives way to a lush retreat-"like discovering Narnia at the end of a literal yellow brick road," say the architects.



The clients sought a sustainable dwelling that catered to their diverse needs, so Austin Maynard Architects decided to divide the house into four main zones-an office, a kitchen/living area, a dining space, and a kid’s area-connected through smart interfaces. Each zone is demarcated by hidden doors that can open or close depending on the occasion, while mirrored glass reflects the garden outside.



In this calm oasis, family life extends outdoors thanks to a heated pool, fire pit, and table for al fresco dining. Borrowing terminology from the tech world, the client brief to the architects detailed "user experience" situations requiring solutions. These requests led to the creation of a netted play staircase, a dedicated bike entrance with storage, and a muesli-making station concealed in a hidden pantry.



"We spent a lot of time getting the kitchen area right, and it works really well," the clients say. "We live in this space all the time, and we’re really happy with it."

The crowning achievement of the Garden House, however, is its environmental sustainability. Designed to function completely off the grid, the house is free from a gas connection. Instead, it’s powered by a solar system, supplemented by battery storage, that generates around 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day. (For reference, the average Australian home uses 19 kilowatt-hours of electricity in a single day.)



In addition, thick insulation, thermally broken aluminum frames, and a fully automated Dynalite / Control4 smart home system combine to temper the extreme heat of Melbourne’s sweltering summers. This considered, integrated solution allows the clients to enjoy their heated pool, hydronic heating, and electric ovens and cooktops with "no guilt and no cost." The house even powers their Tesla Model 3.



"We’re easily generating way more than we’re using," the owner says. "We needed an architect with vision, as we were specific about the things we wanted the house to include. With Austin Maynard Architects…you could tell the homes had been specifically tailored to the owners. Our brief was for a really super modern house, in every sense, but still really warm-and that’s what we have."


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
On the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Prince Harry Returns to Britain
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Murdoch Family Finalises $3.3 Billion Succession Pact, Ensuring Eldest Son’s Leadership
×