Andrew Maynard’s Ilma Grove Is a Gorgeous Solar Passive Family Home

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/andrew-maynard-unveils-redesigned-green-roofed-warehouse-home/">Andrew Maynard</a>, one of Australia's green all-star architects, has recently completed a residential extension in Northcote, Australia. Ilma Grove is a two-story addition to an existing heritage home that has everything a family needs to reduce their environmental footprint. Topped with a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/green-roof">green roof</a> and solar panels, the extension was built out of re-used bricks from part of the old house. The house now relies on a solar passive design, an efficient layout, eco-friendly materials, rainwater collection and much more.

The ultimate goal for the owners was to improve their home for their family, reduce their environmental footprint while still maintaining a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/small-solar-powered-house-sits-amicably-amidst-olive-groves-in-sonoma/">small home</a>.

Originally the home had a brick lean-to at the rear of the original house, which was demolished to make way for the new two-story extension.

With a sunny northern exposure in the backyard, Maynard made solar passive design a priority for the extension.

North-facing windows soak up the sun in the winter and store heat in the locally sourced, dark bluestone flooring.

The lowE windows are recessed enough that in the summer, the sun can't make it's way into the home and the flooring stays nice and cool.

A <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/green-roof">green lawn</a> tops the extension of the home providing additional play space for the family and a solar photovoltaic system generates power to reduce the family's use of coal fired power.

Brick from the original structure was reused in the new extension and high performance insulation helps the home maintain its indoor climate energy efficiently.

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/rainwater-collection">Rainwater</a> is collected from the roof and all the materials in the home are low VOC.

The end result is a more functional home that adheres to the principle of “small is green” (less waste, less electricity consumption, less materials, less cost).

The new living room is open and airy. Operable windows reduce the need for air conditioning.

The upstairs master bedroom with a spiral staircase leading up to the green roof.

Rendering of the Ilma Grove extension.

Model of the Ilma Grove extension.