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Under the Canopy: Inside North Sydney’s Passive CLT House

Australian architects are now using mass timber in detached housing to achieve passive housing standards.


Thu 10 Oct 24

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Australian architects are stretching boundaries with timber and building low-rise, detached custom houses out of cross-laminated timber. That includes the Canopy CLT House, a North Sydney Passive House built with a Scandi-Japanese twist.

Designed by Still Space Architecture, “The brief was for a warm, crafty and tactile family home,” according to Nina Still, the architect who designed the house. “The house also needed room for extended family to stay and a communal space for music practice.”

The decision to design the house as a certified Passive House came later: “After researching the benefits and even staying in a Passive House ourselves, we were sold,” according to Susan and Louis, the property’s owners, who spoke to e-architect about the project.

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is central to the home’s design, creating a minimal yet warm aesthetic while meeting environmental goals:

“CLT panels have been designed as the internal skin, and the rooms are sculptural around the skin. It allows for a thin and efficient structure, so the spaces feel minimal and zen due to the simplicity of the volumes.”

Nina Still, from Sydney-based Still Space Architecture,

In addition, interior elements, including shelving and other built-in features, are crafted from plywood, complemented by cork flooring. Soft pops of colour are introduced in the kitchen, bathrooms, doors, and external structures, adding a playful contrast to the otherwise natural palette.

Designed with the future in mind, it is tailored to handle the heating and cooling demands of a warmer, more humid climate. It features continuous insulation, high-performing windows and doors, and a carefully planned ventilation system to ensure fresh, clean air.

Despite challenges during construction, including delays with the CLT panels and a change of builders, it was constructed in just 18 months—a testament to the collaboration between the architect and the homeowners and the power of staying true to a vision.

It’s a privilege to live here,” Susan said. “The house feels very calm and warm—plenty of space for people to do different things but still feel connected.

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  • Wood Central

    Wood Central is Australia’s first and only dedicated platform covering wood-based media across all digital platforms. Our vision is to develop an integrated platform for media, events, education, and products that connect, inform, and inspire the people and organisations who work in and promote forestry, timber, and fibre.

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