Alphington House, Alphington

The couple had lived on the site for 25 years in a larger inter-war weatherboard bungalow, which remains at the front of the lot. Instead of moving elsewhere, they subdivided and built a more compact home at the rear, facing a laneway of garages and sheds, with a school opposite. 

Given the heritage overlay on the site, the design approach had to balance respect for the area’s character with a modern, site-specific response.

“We developed a form and material palette in keeping with the back-laneway vernacular – unadorned blockwork walls, galvanized steel, natural timber and strong angular forms,” explains Dan Ryan of Healy Ryan Architects. 

The house is oriented to the north-west, positioned diagonally across the compact site to maximise space and natural light. This layout creates two landscaped garden spaces—one to the north-west, acting as an extension of the living area, and a smaller south-east garden that provides greenery to the downstairs bedroom.

A key design objective was to harness natural light to create a warm, inviting atmosphere throughout the day. “My favourite part of the project is the quality of sunlight that transforms the house,” says Ryan. 

“Particularly in the afternoon when the warm-toned sunlight comes in through the double-height glazing, filtered by the large blue-gum street tree and the vegetative screen, creating lovely patterns of shadow and light.”

Although the home is more compact than the couple’s previous residence, the thoughtful layout ensures it feels open and spacious. 

The double-height dining area has become a central gathering space, reinforcing the home’s emphasis on comfort and connection.

Selecting Sun Shading

Due to its north-west orientation, the home required effective sun control to prevent overheating in summer while maintaining its bright, open feel. The solution came in the form of Warema’s external vertical awnings, chosen for both their practical benefits and their ability to enhance the home’s ambience.

“We were looking at ways to protect the house from the afternoon sun and felt that an external blind would be best for this application,” explains Ryan. 

“We liked the idea of an operational blind positioned off the face of the house that created an expanded protected space when the glass sliding doors were open.”

The inspiration for the awnings came from an unexpected source. “I saw a yellow canvas awning at a local bar which created a lovely soft, warm glow when the late afternoon sun struck it, and so we decided to replicate this impression at the house,” he adds. 

To bring this vision to life with precision, the team turned to Shade Factor. “We have used Shade Factor successfully on a number of projects and knew they’d be able to help us realise this concept to the level of detail we required,” says Ryan.

Beyond their striking visual impact, the external blinds effectively filter harsh sunlight, keeping the interiors cool while still allowing natural light to flow through. The upper glazing is further protected by a steel tensile screen, supporting a climbing yellow-flowering snake vine that will grow over time, creating a natural shading effect.

By integrating a well-considered shading strategy, the home remains comfortable in summer without compromising its light-filled, open character—demonstrating how smart design can balance aesthetics, sustainability, and liveability.