The Paddock is a 27-dwelling cluster housing development in Castlemaine, Central Victoria. Contributive self-governance, return of biodiversity, food production, water conservation and net energy production are core goals.

An integrated design approach was used, involving workshops with the consultant team, clients, builder, prospective occupants, service supply authorities and academics.

One workshop identified biophilic responses to the site, with discussions on water and fire as symbolic elements, aligning with the site’s arc and existing dam, identifying the potential for rainwater management and wetland catchment strategies incorporating gravity fed irrigation gardens.

Another workshop focused on material specification and usage, non-toxic chemicals, local procurement, waste minimization, ease of replication and demolition, maximum use of recycled materials, durability, affordability and compatibility with local trades.

Extensive collaboration with the landscape architects proceeded through tree amenity mapping, site water shed mapping, topography zoning, solar access studies, architecture to agriculture ratio study, to maximize site utilisation.

Dr Dominique Hes of University of Melbourne’s Thrive Research Hub contributed material research and biologist Cristina Hernandez coordinated ecological studies by Bendigo TAFE’s Conservation and Land Management course, to enhance post-occupation biodiversity.

The final design achieves a density of 67 persons per hectare with 11% site coverage and is a nett exporter of electricity. 35% of the total site is dedicated to food production through household wicking beds and community areas for orchards, herb gardens and chickens.

“It was determined that a way to demonstrate regenerative impacts for the non-human environment was a return or recolonisation of biodiversity species that are indicators of ecological health. Using data gathered by citizen scientist from three day-long visits over a 16-month period, before design and construction began, a biodiversity baseline was assessed.” Hes Dr Masa Noguchi, Associate Professor in Environmental Design at the University of Melbourne, said The Paddock lifted the benchmark in sustainable housing design.

“I think this is an innovation,” Dr Noguchi said. “There are so many sustainability features embedded. Not only environmental but also social-economic. You can see the human definition of sustainability is coming in.” He said to have this many different sustainability features embedded in the design and construction was rare. “It’s a completely different mindset. My appreciation of this project is the integration of features in a way that comes together as an ecosystem.” ABC NEWS 2022

Photography by John Gollings