Project Overview
This was the first of two projects we have designed for Sharon and Matt. Their period home at Brisbane Street in Albion had character and a great location close to cafes, schools and transport, but it needed a complete renewal to deliver the comfort, efficiency and space their family required.
The project involved a full renovation of the existing home and a contemporary rear extension, together with a comprehensive energy performance upgrade that achieved a 6-star energy rating. Every aspect of the building fabric was addressed: full re-insulation of floors, walls and ceilings, restumping, double-glazed windows throughout, and completely new plumbing and electrical services.
The result was a home that retained the period charm of the original facade while delivering entirely contemporary living behind it. Sharon and Matt later sold the property at a substantial profit, which is a testament to the value that a well-executed renovation and energy upgrade adds to an older home.
They then engaged us again to design their next home in Geelong West, where we applied Passive House principles and PHPP energy modelling to achieve even higher performance. View the Geelong West project.
Project Details
- Location: Albion, Melbourne
- Project Type: Renovation and Extension
- Energy Rating: 6 Stars
- Construction: Full renovation with contemporary extension
- Glazing: Double-glazed throughout
- Insulation: Complete re-insulation of floors, walls and ceilings
- Services: All-new plumbing, electrical and ducted heating
- Flooring: Engineered oak
- Architect: Niall O Healaithe, Sunpath Architects
- Interiors by Sunpath and Sharon Dyke
Completed Project
Period Charm, Contemporary Living
The street-facing facade retains the character and proportions of the original period home, sitting comfortably within the established Albion streetscape. Behind it, the interiors have been completely reimagined with contemporary finishes, generous proportions and a focus on natural light.
The kitchen features Caesarstone surfaces, quality soft-close cabinetry and Bosch appliances, designed for efficient daily use as well as entertaining. Engineered oak floors run throughout, providing warmth and continuity between old and new sections of the home. Plantation shutters control light and privacy across the original front rooms.
Three bedrooms, two with fitted mirrored robes, are served by both a main bathroom and a master ensuite. Underfloor heating in the bathrooms adds a layer of comfort that is particularly appreciated during Melbourne’s cooler months.
Indoor and Outdoor Connection
The rear extension opens onto a decked entertainer’s garden with a generous alfresco area. This outdoor space was designed as a true extension of the living areas, providing sheltered dining and entertaining that connects seamlessly to the kitchen and main living zones. The garden is private, well-proportioned and low-maintenance.
Energy Performance
The energy upgrade was comprehensive and addressed the full building fabric rather than just adding a few improvements. This whole-house approach is what enabled the home to achieve a 6-star energy rating, which is a strong result for a renovated period home.
The performance measures include:
Complete re-insulation of all floors, walls and ceilings, transforming the thermal behaviour of the original building fabric from a draughty, temperature-volatile period home into a stable, comfortable envelope.
Double-glazed windows installed throughout, replacing the original single-glazed timber windows and significantly reducing heat loss, condensation and external noise.
All-new plumbing and electrical services throughout, replacing aged and inefficient systems. Ducted heating provides whole-house warmth. Underground power was installed to remove overhead cables.
Restumping of the original subfloor structure, addressing settlement and providing a stable, level base for the renovated home.
These upgrades collectively demonstrate the difference between a cosmetic renovation that looks good but performs poorly, and a genuine fabric upgrade that delivers measurable, long-term improvements in comfort and efficiency. The substantial profit Sharon and Matt achieved when they sold the property reflects the market’s growing recognition that energy-efficient, well-built homes command a premium.
This project also planted the seed for what came next. Having experienced the benefits of a thorough energy upgrade at Albion, Sharon and Matt were confident in pushing even further with their next home in Geelong West, where we targeted EnerPHit-level Passive House performance with PHPP energy modelling and a complete fabric-first approach. View the Geelong West project.
We were so pleased with Sunpath’s design for our home.Â
It proved really successful for us and achieved a substantial profit. This allowed us to fund the purchase and construction of our next home project at Geelong West which Niall has also designed for us.
Sharon D. & Matt C.
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Renovate Your Home for Performance and Comfort
If you own a period home that you love but want it to perform better, a comprehensive renovation and energy upgrade can transform how it feels to live in without sacrificing the character that makes it special.
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