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A Sun-Soaked Solution for a Narrow Site

Houzz at a Glance
Who lived here: Tim Hill and Dominique Ng, both architects
Location:Kensington neighborhood of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Size: 1,593 square feet (48 square meters); 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
What’s interesting: The site is only 20 feet wide. Hill lived in the house for six years before selling this year; sadly, Ng passed away shortly after the home was finished.
A 13-foot-high cliff-like wall built along the northern boundary with the adjacent property severely restricted sunlight from entering the site. “The overall aim was to build a property that could maximize the site’s potential whilst employing passive solar design principles,” Hill says.

“When the builders were laying the slab, they were saying, ‘Who’d want to live in a dark, dirty hole like this?’” Hill recalls. “But when we built the sun shells, it just brought the sun in and filled the place with light.”

The sun shells form the roof and southern facade. The north, east and west walls are clad in wood-framed glass and translucent polycarbonate, framing views and admitting light while preserving privacy.

The window frames are made from Western redcedar, and the inside timber is a mix of Tasmanian oak and Victorian ash.

The western sun shell, closest to the street, traverses two stories and the living area, kitchen, dining area, study, bathroom and guest bedroom. The eastern sun shell — located across the courtyard, above the carport — houses the master bedroom and en suite.

Passive cross ventilation works well throughout the home. “There was always a gentle breeze from bottom to top,” Hill says.

Sleeping in the main bedroom at night with the windows and concertina doors inspires a feeling of “glamping,” or glamorous camping. “It felt like you were under a canopy instead of in a house. It was a great place to live,” Hill says.

The translucent skin of the sun shells captures shadows of neighboring trees and passing clouds, and filters light into the interior. The sun-filled interior gave the home its nickname: Kensington Lighthouse.