Light and luxurious, this sun-drenched Beaconsfield home is the epitome of eco-friendly design.

Seemingly small from the outside, the three-bedroom, three-bathroom residence opens to reveal capacious internal living areas.

“The size of the house is really deceptive. It has a tiny footprint, but thanks to great design it feels incredibly spacious to live in,” the owners told New Homes.

Arklen Managing Director Mark Diedricks said the build was a prime example of sustainable high-end living.

“The client clearly had a vision and the desire to maximise the site; to build a home that was not only sustainable, but filled with natural light and finished to the highest possible standard,” he said.

With an architectural designer in the family, the homeowners understood the potential to build something special that embraced its surrounds.

“We live near the coast, love South Beach and spend a lot of time there, so we wanted our home to feel like a modern Australian beach house – open, minimalist and relaxed,” they said.

Mr Diedricks said the homeowners were keen to embrace ways to reduce the environmental impact of the home, with material selection and volume of carbon required to produce, transport and build all vital considerations.

“For example, timber-framed homes store carbon and the material is very easily transported and is light to work with,” he said.

“Compare this to bricks, for example, which produce enormous amounts of carbon in their manufacture. Then add the heavy transport, labour and sundry materials like cement required for construction.”

A ring main pump means hot water is instantly available throughout the home, saving each occupant up to 10L per day by eliminating time spent running taps while waiting for water to heat up.

An induction cooktop was installed to take advantage of the home’s solar PV system, with the expectation it would be 50 per cent more energy efficient than a traditional gas stove.

Mr Diedricks said the home’s orientation would also aid in increasing energy efficiency.

“Solar orientation and cross ventilation are paramount in the comfort of the home and, despite being fitted with a fully ducted reverse-cycle air-conditioning unit, the home is not reliant on this device for comfort,” he said.

Heavily insulated walls, high-performance glazing and a good balance of thermal mass complete the sustainability package and ensure the home is comfortable year-round.

The mid-century modern and minimal aesthetic was achieved by Rodney O’Byrne Design, who pursued a less-is-more approach to the block.

“Rodney has a fantastic approach to design and detailing, and allows the materials to be the hero,” Mr Diedricks said.

“A wealth of experience and focus on sustainability and solar-passive design made working together very enjoyable.”

Illuminated by natural light and accentuated by natural materials and textures, the home effortlessly marries inside and out. The pure white brings the ubiquitous greenery to life and is the perfect canvas for the tastefully raw furnishings throughout.

The owners said although it was hard to choose, the floor-to-ceiling glass looking into the garden courtyard was their favourite feature of the build.

“The home just gets better with age,” they said.

Their advice for prospective builders was to be as involved as they could in the design and building process.

“Take advice along the way, but trust yourself with your vision,” they said.

Mr Diedricks agreed.

“When all the planning and decision making comes together, your dreams literally come to life,” he said.