In their quest to create affordable and eco-friendly housing in Australia, Breathe Architecture has sensitively inserted a pair of rental homes into a suburban lot in Melbourne that sat unused for years.

The owners, who were among the firm’s first clients, trusted that Breathe would devote special attention to the project’s sustainability. The architects surpassed this expectation by designing the homes to score a minimum of eight stars under Australia’s Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS).

“At Breathe, we always prioritize ethics over aesthetics,” explain the architects. “We think very carefully about each material we specify for a project, and Bardolph Gardens is no exception.”

Named after its street, Bardolph Gardens comprises a subdivided block in Glen Iris. The two contemporary single-story dwellings take cues from the surrounding architectural context—particularly the prominence of brick.

Wrapped in locally sourced recycled brickwork, the two homes feature a pared-back and minimalist material palette selected for durability and low maintenance. Polished concrete floors, timber veneer joinery, and white plasterboard walls make up the light-filled interiors, and every room opens up to outdoor greenery.

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Instead of designing two identical rental houses, the architects modified the floor plans of each three-bedroom home in accordance with passive solar design principles. The buildings share a constant connection to the outdoors, and each includes a two-car garage, a separated study, two and a half baths, and an open-plan living area that opens to a deck with a landscaped garden.

In addition to taking advantage of natural light and ventilation, the dwellings are designed to maximize thermal performance throughout their building envelopes, which include thermally broken double glazing. A photovoltaic array and a heat pump system supply all of the homes’ energy needs.

“With passive design in mind, the design incorporates plenty of thermal mass, and it prioritizes winter solar heat gain, sun shading, and cross ventilation,” add the architects. “Rainwater is collected and stored on-site and plumbed back into toilets and garden taps for reuse.”

Related Reading:

10 Modern Structures That Use Brick in Interesting Ways

An Australian Architect's Simple Brick House With Impressive Green Roof

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Breathe Architecture / @breathearchitecture

Builder/ General Contractor: Greg Scott Constructions

Structural Engineer: Vistek

Landscape Design Company: Tim Nicholas

Arborist: John Patrick