WARAMANGA DUAL OCCUPANCY

NGUNNAWAL COUNTRY. A single storey dual occupancy at the rear of a level block in Canberra’s suburb of Waramanga, creates a sheltered private courtyard within a winged layout whilst opening up roof sections for solar access deep into the dwelling.

The brief was for a 130sqm second dwelling on an unassuming, suburban Canberra block and the provision of garages servicing both the existing and the new dwelling. Within a tight budget, the design needed to be investor-friendly, energy-efficient and contemporary, offering a distinctive alternative to conventional dual occupancies in Canberra.

A compact, efficient floor plan places the bedrooms around a north-facing central living and dining area, minimising corridors and maximising usable space. Externally, the bedroom wings wrap around a sheltered northern terrace, preserving existing trees while providing privacy from neighbouring properties. A second, more intimate terrace between the east-facing bedroom wings captures the morning sun for both bedrooms.

Raised sawtooth roof sections incorporate north-facing high-level operable windows and external louvres, bringing sunlight deep into the dwelling while supporting natural ventilation. Passive heating and cooling are achieved through simple, cost-effective measures: double-brick masonry walls provide thermal mass, while dark tiled floors in the north-facing living, dining and kitchen area absorb winter sunlight and release heat as temperatures fall. The generous ceiling height of the living space supports a stack effect, allowing warm air to escape through high-level windows.

Rainwater harvesting is proposed for toilet flushing and garden irrigation, while inverted green roofs to the garages introduce planted roof surfaces into the overall design.

Team: David Haseler and Angela Rheinlaender
Structural and Civil Engineer: O’Keefe Engineering