Mosman House is an extension project by Anderson Architecture, in collaboration with MacKenzie Design Studio, located in Mosman, a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The project involved opening up the existing rear half of the house to better engage with the backyard. As the rear of the house faces north, the extension was designed to capitalize on passive solar techniques to reduce heating and cooling costs. These techniques include north facing windows which allow sunlight to pass into the house and onto the thermally massive green-concrete slab which stores heat, thereby reducing heating costs during winter.

The use of sustainable, recycled and locally sourced timber and hardwoods featured throughout the project for finishes, shingles and flooring, most notably on the staircase to the first floor. The extensive use of LED and low-watt light fittings, complimented with solar hydronic floor and water heating, which both minimize the amount of electricity needed to power the house.

The use of low VOC paint on the project’s steelwork during construction minimized the amount of harmful vapors released into the environment while the 2.1kW photovoltaic solar panels and 32 000L of rainwater storage help make the house more self-sufficient toward electricity and water consumption.

Photos: Courtesy of Anderson Architecture