An Australian Family Sets Out to Build a Large Home With a Small Footprint

A couple with four young kids decided that their dream home outside Melbourne, Australia had to be an oxymoron: it needed to be large enough to give the family space, but sustainable enough to have a small effect on the environment. Their friend referred them to Breathe Architecture — a firm known for taking an environmentally-conscious approach to its work — and the pair started to craft the ideal address with architects Fairley Batch and Madeline Sewall. To begin, the team sourced local and recycled materials to frame and outfit the house, and installed solar panels to power appliances working overdrive for a family of six. And since such a large group was going to make these rooms their own, the palette was kept bright and minimal: white walls complement pine cabinets, Australian bluestone matches polished concrete, and an abundance of storage adds visual interest to a streamlined aesthetic. It's a design that makes a lasting visual impact, without also making a harmful physical one.