Solar-Powered Forever House: Dowdy Red Bricks Given New Life as a Slick Fresco Facade

Dowdy red bricks are often overlooked as a boring material choice for contemporary homes, but <a href="http://wowowa.com.au">WoodWoodWard Architecture</a> found a way to transform a stockpile of them into a slick new facade for the Forever House in Melbourne. Building onto a suburban "bungalow" in Surrey Hills using many materials taken from the existing home, the designers stacked colorful purple bricks alongside the old red ones to create a bold new facade. Hit the jump to learn how they put even more <a href="http://inhabitat.com/old-brick-factory-transformed-into-the-sustainable-evergreen-headquarters-in-toronto/">old bricks</a> to good reuse while incorporating a series of other sustainable features into this cozy new extension.

WoodWoodWard Architecture worked their magic on a stack of boring old red bricks by reusing them in this residential expansion in Australia

In addition to reusing the old bricks, timber was taken from the existing bungalow and recycled as benches and other interior finishings

Glazing and diamond-shaped skylights promote ventilation and daylighting

Rooftop solar systems provide hot water and energy for the entire home

The addition fills up an empty space on an awkward lot

The designer staggered purple bricks throughout the facade - giving it a fresco-like appearance