NatHERS Rating 🏠 Renovate: 7.3 Stars | Rebuild: 7.6 Stars
In this standout episode of Renovate or Rebuild, a coastal home in Phillip Island was reimagined with sustainability front of mind. Working alongside Breathe Architecture, SUHO provided expert energy performance consulting to guide both the renovation and rebuild designs toward high-performing, liveable outcomes.
Renovate: Smart Upgrades, Big Impact
Faced with a complex and fragmented existing layout, the renovation strategy focused on doing more with less, introducing strategic interventions that drastically improved comfort and performance without starting from scratch.
Key sustainable design moves included:
- Lifting the roofline to invite northern daylight deep into the home
- Introducing thermal mass to stabilise indoor temperatures naturally
- Repurposing existing materials, reducing waste and celebrating the home’s original character
SUHO’s modelling validated these passive strategies, showing that even modest, well-considered upgrades could elevate the home to an impressive 7.3-Star NatHERS rating.
Rebuild: A Refined, Responsive New Design
The proposed rebuild offered an opportunity to completely reimagine the site’s potential. With the freedom to optimise every element, the design introduced:
- Internal courtyards that brought light and greenery to the heart of the home
- Improved spatial zoning, separating active living zones from quieter sleeping areas
- A layout that capitalised on site orientation to maximise natural light and airflow
Through energy modelling, SUHO confirmed the rebuild’s performance gains, resulting in a strong 7.6-Star NatHERS rating.
This project beautifully demonstrates how both renovation and rebuilding can achieve ambitious sustainability outcomes when backed by thoughtful design and robust modelling. We're proud to collaborate with teams like Breathe Architecture, who continue to push what’s possible in residential energy performance, and thrilled to see each episode of Renovate or Rebuild spotlighting the value of sustainable design thinking.
Want to optimise your home design? Contact residential@suho.com.au!
