Tucked into the rugged bushland of Beaconsfield, Victoria, on Bunurong Country, Beaconsfield Hillside Home isn’t just another architect-designed retreat—it’s a stunning example of how sustainability, resilience, and modern comfort can co-exist beautifully. Designed by Whisker Architecture for a young professional couple—a GP and an engineer—this near off-grid home doesn’t just pay lip service to environmental responsibility. It fully embraces it, with solar power, rainwater harvesting, and on-site wastewater treatment all working together to ensure a light footprint on the land…
But let’s talk about the real magic here. Beaconsfield Hillside Home glows—literally. Inspired by the indigenous word Balla (meaning rest), the home takes on the form of a lantern, capturing the golden hues of northern sunlight by day and radiating warmth by night. Large expanses of glazing frame the surrounding wooded valley, ensuring nature is an ever-present backdrop, while passive solar principles and thicker-than-usual insulation keep things comfortable year-round.
If you think ‘sustainable’ means ‘sacrificing aesthetics’, think again. The interiors, designed by Whisker Architecture and furnished by Cosh Living, strike a perfect balance between raw, natural materials and refined elegance. Warm timber, textural stone, and mint-green tiles nod to the bushland setting, ensuring the home feels like an extension of the landscape rather than an intrusion upon it. And because sustainability here goes beyond just energy efficiency, the house is built to withstand Australia’s harsh climate, meeting BAL 29-40 bushfire standards with non-combustible cladding and glazing.
Of course, a home like this doesn’t come together by accident. It’s the result of careful design, meticulous planning, and a dream team that includes award-winning builder Vigor Homes.
So what’s it like to live in Beaconsfield Hillside Home? According to owners Micaela and Benjamin, it’s everything they hoped for—and more. ‘We wanted an energy-efficient, passive solar home that could grow with our family, from young children to our retirement years,’ they shared. ‘Audrey and Winnie from Whisker Architecture took the time to understand our vision and made the entire process seamless. Our home is beautiful, but also comfortable and functional. We couldn’t be happier.’
Beaconsfield Hillside Home is a masterclass in designing for place, climate, and lifestyle. It’s not just a house—it’s a statement that sustainability and livability are not mutually exclusive. And if this is what Whisker Architecture is bringing to the table for their debut project, we can’t wait to see what’s next.
