Eco-friendly home nestled in the Australian bushland
Melinda Woodyard and John Punch chose to build their home away from the hustle and bustle of city living. Nestled in the Australian Bushland near Guilderton but still close enough to the Indian Ocean they call this eco friendly retreat home.
The rammed earth construction with its rigid geometry orientated towards the sun provides great thermal properties which keep the home cool in hot summer months and warm in winter. “We love the natural look and feel of our rammed earth home. We felt this best suited the environment and lifestyle we wanted to achieve” Melinda says. “Environmentally friendly was our aim”.
The home provides excellent insulation qualities and acoustic ambience as a result of the thick walls. The ceiling fans are enough to keep cool in summer eliminating the need for air-conditioning units. A rainwater tank collects rain in winter and services the home all year round with the use of solar panels to heat the water. The Bamboo flooring is a renewable resource and was chosen over timber for its eco friendliness.
This home is a welcoming joy and shares a dialogue with nature. Its custodians have filled their dream of co-existing with the surrounding environment.

They look forward to focusing more on the exterior and creating an outdoor living space with paths connecting their vegetable and cacti gardens in the near future.