The completed rebuild of a unique, eco-friendly and highly energy efficient house in Melbourne, featuring Stegbar windows and doors, has resulted in an extraordinary sustainable home in an exceptional setting that provided many challenges to overcome – including a running creek prone to flooding.

Located on Jeffery Street – a National Heritage street in Blackburn known as one of the most unique native environments in residential Melbourne, the project consisted of building a new four-bedroom home with three bathrooms and three living areas, including an alfresco entertaining space.

The original house was a 1950s flat roof home with big plate glass windows, and, according to designer, Peter Earnshaw of Earnshaw & Associates, it was very modern for its time. “The person who designed it had really taken into account the bush setting and the creek,” says Peter. “It was quite a modern house for its time and it was originally thought that we might try to renovate, but, unfortunately, it hadn’t been built well and had been quite neglected over the years, so it was ready for demolition.”

The design brief stipulated two key areas – to take advantage of the unique surroundings with north-east aspect and views to create an open plan home connected to the landscape, and for the home to have good green credentials, while sitting lightly into its environment.

While developing the design, Peter embraced the surroundings and used Stegbar’s Siteline composite windows and doors, which were fundamental to the project. “This a unique but difficult site that deserved special consideration when it came to the materials used,” says Peter. “In order to enhance and picture frame the unique bush setting from inside, we wanted the beauty of timber windows but, due to the steep terrain on the banks of a creek, we needed the benefits, simplicity and low maintenance of aluminium. Low maintenance is important on this site because getting access will be very difficult with the creek running around one side of the house. Add to this the Green Credentials that were also high on the clients brief and Stegbar’s Siteline windows ticked all the boxes.”

Siteline windows and doors are a unique design combining the beauty and warmth of a timber window on the inside with the durability and practicality of aluminium on the outside.

The end result is a stunning, green, sustainable house in a very special location with an exceptionally unique setting. The home won the Single House – New Dwelling category in the City of Whitehorse 2017 Built Environment Awards.