In 2023, Croft Wootton Construction took on a job building a dream waterfront home in Martha’s Cove, an exclusive canal-side suburb of Safety Beach.
As the brainchild of eco-conscious owners Roger and Hannah, the property needed to follow strict Passive House principles. Their vision was a low-carbon-emission home requiring no additional heating or cooling to remain at a comfortable 18- 20 °C year-round.
As a keen sustainable construction and Passive House specialist, our Managing Director, Nick Wootton, was all too eager to get on board.
Melbourne architect and low-energy specialist Jon Pye provided the plans. It was up to us to implement a high-performing build.
Passive House Design Principles
Roger and Hannah dreamed of living in a home that required no (or very little) heating or cooling. Given Mornington Peninsula’s hot summers and cool winters, that wish would require quite a bit of sustainable building expertise.
We maximised insulation throughout the home by installing the most effective products in every available square inch of space.
To reduce temperature-fluctuating drafts, we reviewed every door and window and took measures to make the home as airtight as possible. Our team installed 20mm foil-backed insulation throughout the interior, taping it at the joints, right up to the insulated Bondor roof panels. We then tested the home thoroughly to ensure we had met strict Passive House air-tightness standards.
The next step was to provide controlled airflow throughout the house. Our team installed a heat recovery system that removes stale air from the interior and draws in fresh air from the outside. Ducting installed during the rough-in stage distributes airflow.
A True Dream Home
Fully accessible by water and land, the Martha Cove home gives its owners direct access to the immense natural beauty of our region. Persons with compromised mobility can also easily access both levels of the house via a built-in residential lift.
One standout feature we enjoyed building was a feature wall under the stairs. We constructed this section with solid hardwood battens and hardwood-veneered panelling to conceal a small powder room and storage area.
Luxurious highlights include a swimming pool straddling the canal and an open-air upstairs hot tub with commanding waterfront views. Floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the property allow natural light to flood inside and provide uninterrupted vistas of Martha’s Cove. A private boat ramp sits outside the home, with rapid access to Safety Beach.
An Award-Winning, Eco-Friendly Build
Although the home wasn’t a certified Passive Build, it still adheres to core Passive House standards. Roger and Hannah use barely any electricity to keep the home comfortable, no matter what time of year. Rooftop solar panels operate quietly in the background, often allowing the home to feed more energy back into the grid than it consumes.
This achievement, combined with strict adherence to Passive House principles, saw Croft Wootton Construction obtain a Special Commendation for Best Sustainable Home over $1 Million 2023 from Master Builders Victoria.
