The Esplanade
Residential: Single Dwelling
Passivhaus Plus Certification
Mount Martha, VIC, 2023
Set on an exceptionally steep site in the heart of the Mornington Peninsula, The Esplanade is a two-storey Certified Passivhaus defined by striking rammed-earth blade walls. These sculptural elements provide both structure and thermal mass, elegantly framing a home that is as high-performing as it is visually distinctive.
Designed for multi-generational living, the residence blends flexibility with comfort, accommodating large family gatherings while also offering private, zoned spaces.
Expansive thermally broken glazing opens to sweeping southern views of Port Phillip Bay, while high-level northern windows draw in winter sun, bringing warmth and light deep into the interior. The glazing also enhances crossflow ventilation through heat-stack action, ensuring a comfortable indoor climate year-round.
At the client’s request, a double-height entry lobby functions as an internal light courtyard, filtering the transition between the more private first-floor areas and the social, independent sleeping zones on the ground floor.
Centrally, a multi-purpose northern courtyard doubles as both vehicular access and a recreational hub, strategically oriented to capture the winter sun and provide a sheltered outdoor retreat.
The result is a sustainable coastal home that unites contemporary architecture with Passivhaus Standard performance, delivering enduring comfort, panoramic views, and an elegant response to site and climate.
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AIRTIGHTNESS n50 ACH@50pascals: 0.60
HEATING DEMAND (kWh/m².yr): 14.8
COOLING DEMAND (kWh/m².yr): 2.0
HEATING LOAD (W/m²): 13
COOLING LOAD (W/m²): 20
PRIMARY ENERGY DEMAND (PE) (kWh/m².yr): 69
PRIMARY ENERGY RENEWABLE DEMAND (PER): 31
PRIMARY ENERGY RENEWABLE GENERATION (PER): 64 -
LOCATION: Mount Martha, VIC
NCC CLIMATE ZONE: 6 – Mild temperate
NATHERS CLIMATE ZONE: Climate Zone 62
YEAR OF COMPLETION: 2023
TREATED FLOOR AREA (PHPP sqm): 227
PROJECT TYPE: New Build
RESIDENTIAL: Single Dwelling
CONSTRUCTION TYPE: Timber Frame, Rammed Earth
CERTIFICATION LEVEL/ ENERGY STANDARD: Passivhaus Plus
THIRD PARTY CERTIFICATIONS: Nathers -
MHRV SYSTEM: Zehnder ComfoAir Q350
DOMESTIC HOT WATER SYSTEM: Reclaim Heat Pump REHP-C02- 0315GL
EXTERIOR WALL TYPE, U-VALUE: Rammed earth wall Insulated with PIRmax HR Panel 50mm, 0.343
FLOOR SLAB TYPE, U-VALUE: Insulated timber over concrete slab - Batt 0.033, 0.373
ROOF INSULATION TYPE, MANUFACTURER: Ecowool
ROOF CONSTRUCTION: Timber frame
ROOF ENVELOPE U-VALUE: 0.181
WALL FRAME TYPE, U-VALUE: Exterior Wall: 140mm Timber Frame Batt 0.035, 0.270
GLAZING TYPE, MANUFACTURER, U W-VALUE, G-VALUE, U G-VALUE: Double Glazing, Rösch Glass and Logikhaus, 1.3-1.5, 0.64 and 0.63, 1.14 and 1.15
EXTERNAL DOOR TYPE, MANUFACTURER, U D-VALUE: Insulated Panel, Variotec and Logikhaus, 0.550 -
NUMBER OF MODULES: 21
HEIGHT, WIDTH OF ONE MODULE (m, m): 1.855 x 1.029 m
HEIGHT OF ARRAY: 1.855 m
EFFICIENCY (%): 98
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The Esplanade features insulated rammed-earth walls reaching up to seven metres in height, providing both structure and thermal mass. It is a multi-generational home designed for flexibility, comfort, and private zoned living. Expansive views of Port Phillip Bay are captured through floor-to-ceiling glazing, while northern courtyards and gardens create a strong connection to nature, visible from every living space.
The northern courtyard is multi-purpose, serving as a recreational space, a pedestrian link, and an area for vehicular access. Cross-flow ventilation and passive design strategies enhance indoor comfort, while water-sensitive design is supported by a 20,000-litre rainwater tank for reuse. Surrounding the home are native gardens designed for biodiversity and resilience, along with food gardens that encourage self-sufficiency and healthy living.
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The team faced several challenges during the project. The steep site, with its 14-metre slope, required innovative siting solutions to balance structure, access, and usability. Universal access was also essential. The brief required seamless accessibility for both people and vehicles, which was achieved by placing the garage at ground level for direct movement up to the main entrance, while also creating a protected northern courtyard, opening the design to capture northern winter sun, and incorporating a double-height entry with a lift that preserves the southern views.
At the same time, the client’s request for floor-to-ceiling glazing facing Port Phillip Bay had to be carefully balanced with energy performance. Finally, the steel structure, required by the brief, brought thermal challenges. To address these, steel members were placed on the warm side of the thermal envelope, with unavoidable intersections fully wrapped in insulation to maintain performance.
Project Members
PASSIVHAUS CERTIFIER: Luc Plowman, Detail Green
PASSIVHAUS CONSULTANT/ DESIGNER: Luke Middleton - Eme design
ARCHITECT/ BUILDING DESIGNER: Luke Middleton - Eme design
CONTRACTOR/ BUILDER: Original Projects
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: CO- Struct
PROJECT MANAGER/ INTERIOR DESIGNER: Eme design
WINDOW SUPPLIER: Logikhaus
HRV SUPPLIER: Zehnder
AIRTIGHTNESS MEMBRANE SUPPLIER: Pro Clima
INSULATION SUPPLIER: Melbourne Insulation Group
BLOWER DOOR TESTER: Passivetech
PHOTOGRAPHER: Luke Middleton - Eme Design