| There is nothing as much fun as gushing over a | | | | living room ceiling acting as both the load bearer, and |
| gorgeous home - least of all because you're not the | | | | for cooling the ambient temperature of the air. |
| one who has to worry about the mortgage! Well for | | | | 5. Surf Coast House |
| your property pleasure, following are 10 of the most | | | | If you are looking for inspiration for a modern |
| amazing, awe-inspiring and beautiful homes in | | | | Australian home, the Surf Coast House is the |
| Australia, perhaps you'll be inspired to update your | | | | embodiment of your modern imaginings. The building |
| place? | | | | pushes the boundaries of unique design and uses |
| 1. Glenburn House | | | | striking wooden cladding to make the house feel like |
| We are all becoming more energy conscious and | | | | a home, but also cuts out windows and doors to |
| working hard to reduce our carbon footprint, and | | | | create living artworks in the wall, using the outside |
| while all new homes in Australia must meet a five | | | | views. The owners have used bright and sometime |
| star energy rating, there are some homes which go | | | | bold colours to decorate but the space is open plan |
| well beyond five stars and do it in style. Glenburn | | | | living at its best. |
| House has been built in a Victorian hillside and has | | | | 6. Pre-built Mod House |
| been specially designed to be easy to heat in winter | | | | When everyone is demanding something unique, |
| and easy to keep cool in summer, and while Victoria | | | | one-off, bespoke designed or one of a kind, you |
| doesn't get the harshest of the Australian summer, | | | | may be surprised to see a pre-fabricated Australian |
| it's still important to keep cool. | | | | home on the list. These sort of kit homes are not |
| Glenburn House integrates eco-friendly technologies | | | | only very affordable but they have a modern, simple |
| into the home, for example the property uses solar | | | | look which you can easily make your own. The plans |
| panels to generate electricity and heat the water, | | | | are designed as a modular system so they fit |
| and includes advanced rainwater collections systems. | | | | together easily, but you can still choose the |
| 2. St Andrews Beach House | | | | configuration and number of rooms. Plus the materials |
| Built on the Mornington Peninsular of Victoria, the | | | | give you stunning, clean lines which are certainly not |
| owners of this unique Australian home have cleverly | | | | going to blend in with your neighbours. |
| found one of the few places in the country where | | | | 7. Caulfield Solar House |
| construction is allowed on the foreshore. In the shape | | | | There is something simply elegant about a raked |
| of a rectangular prism the St Andrews Beach House | | | | ceiling and the Caulfield Solar House has used high |
| is isolated, well appointed, modern and unique - | | | | ceilings not only as a designer feature, but also as |
| everything you could want in a home. And of course | | | | part of their larger plan for an environmentally friendly |
| the home offers unobstructed views out into the | | | | Australian home. The home is oriented north to keep |
| Southern Ocean. | | | | out hot summer sun, but let in warm winter rays. |
| While the house is cooled in summer, the owners | | | | The courtyards of the home also act as cross |
| have specifically designed it so that to move from | | | | ventilations in summer, and they work in conjunction |
| room to room, you must go outside and back in | | | | with the internal two storey void around the home's |
| again. This is to give the owners a bit of a 'reality | | | | staircase, which allows heat to escape. There are also |
| check' after the artificial cooling systems they have | | | | underground heating and rainwater collection |
| endured in the office all week long. | | | | systems, and the swimming pool doubles as a heat |
| 3. North Carlton Green House | | | | sink, and uses the excess heat generated by the |
| The owners of this beautiful Australian house wanted | | | | solar power system. |
| to feel connected to the landscape and the sun and | | | | 8. Kylie Minogue |
| so have integrated plants and even a rooftop garden | | | | Yes, she's gorgeous, stylish and modern so you |
| into the design. Also, to reduce their carbon footprint, | | | | wouldn't expect anything less from the home of this |
| the owners have focussed on passive cooling and | | | | Australian superstar. Luckily for you Kylie is looking at |
| heating by ensuring large north-facing windows for | | | | selling the home she owns on a French Island, just a |
| natural ventilation and having a two storey void which | | | | two hour boat ride from Melbourne. Kylie recovered |
| acts as a thermal chimney. The rooftop garden also | | | | from breast cancer here and the residence has had |
| helps to insulate the rooms below from the sun. | | | | solar and wind power installations added, as well as |
| 4. Cape Schank House | | | | organic fruit and vegetable gardens. |
| Cape Schank House looks like a work of art, and so | | | | 9. Olivia Newton-John |
| perhaps it is no surprise that the house was named | | | | Another Australian super star whose house you can |
| after hosting an art exhibition called The Schanck | | | | admire right here. Newton-John actually owns a spa |
| Show. The house is very exposed to the elements | | | | retreat which you can stay in to refresh in the |
| and so has been integrated into its environment, and | | | | beachside atmosphere, enjoying the tropical gardens |
| cleverly designed to be cooled. Large wind scoops on | | | | and views into the New South Wales hills. You can be |
| the southern side of the home trap cool breezes and | | | | pampered and massaged and revitalised in the |
| provide shade, while the rainwater tank which | | | | modern, oriental-inspired rooms. |
| supplies the house's water, is also recessed into the | | | | 10. |