Slow Design Movement

In the fast-paced environment of the 21st Century, people are searching for spaces that encourage them to pause and reconnect. Archiblox, an architecture firm based in Victoria, Australia, has recognised this need and in turn, created the Slow Design Movement; a construction and design philosophy that encourages low environmental impact, buildings that last hundreds of years, and that also benefit the common good.

Archiblox’s latest project is a four bedroom, country home in the small Victorian town of Bonnie Doon. The land was purchased by the family in 1981 and has since been kept in its beautiful, natural state. The family wanted their new home to capture the essence and serenity of the surrounding landscape while providing interior space for a multigenerational family.

Applying its Slow Design Movement methodology, Archiblox architects have built this home using clean, sustainable materials, natural colour palettes and fair labour, with little impact on the environment. To achieve this, the home was made using a prefabrication model; meaning the construction took place in Archibloxs’ Laverton facility and was then transported to the site on the back of a truck. This method of construction makes sure that the impact on local biodiversity is minimal and a highly sustainable build from start to finish, is achieved.

It’s not just the construction method that makes this home sustainable; the orientation and design also play a part in making the most of natural light, insulation and establishing a connection with the land. The Bonnie Doon home has been built from sustainably sourced, Australian timbers, including Victorian Ash board and batten cladding, and Tasmanian Oak decking that will naturally weather with time, creating a charming, rustic effect as it ages.

The natural timber is juxtaposed by vertical, Colorbond corrugated sheet cladding, which results in a striking aesthetic contrast. Large, open-plan kitchen, dining and living rooms provide plenty of space for the whole family, while large, double-glazed windows allow natural light to filter into the home, and the residents to enjoy panoramic views of the rich Australian landscape.

From sustainable, timeless materials to a 4000-litre rainwater tank, high-grade insulation, low VOC paints and prefabricated construction, the Bonnie Doon House is turning traditional building methods on its head. In place of it, is an innovative, environmentally respectful, and aesthetically modern home that sets an architectural standard for the future.