Mellow Yellow House

Mellow Yellow House was designed by Sarah as lead architect whilst working for Philip Leeson Architects.

Mellow Yellow House was born from a detailed brief, encompassing intricate family living needs, energy efficiency goals, and considerations for longevity.

With three young boys, including one with autism, our design process prioritised functionality and adaptability. We carefully selected durable materials—such as block work, metal cladding, plywood, laminate joinery, and ceramic tiles—to create a resilient home capable of withstanding family life while offering a serene escape from the daily bustle. Every detail and selection was meticulously chosen to ensure ease of use for every family member.

Situated in Narrabundah, and inner south suburb of Canberra, the site boasts excellent northern orientation, allowing us to design the new home with passive solar principles, maximising year-round comfort. A spacious garage shields the southern side, while limited openings on the southern, eastern, and western facades minimise heat absorption in warmer months.

Type | Alterations and additions
Location |
 Narrabundah, ACT
Country | Ngunnawal
Builder | 
Sutton & Horsley
Engineer | Ron Rogers
Photos | Anthony Basheer
Status | Complete
Completed | 2018

Connection of new and old elements with a contemporary extension to a red brick cottage: stage 1 extension designed by Sarah Truscott whilst working for Philip Leeson Architects, and Stage 2 cottage refurbishment by Sarah Truscott Architect
Steel frame skeleton and rammed earth walls on site at Kampung Batu Bigga, a project designed by Sarah Truscott Architect Canberra

1

Steel frame skeleton and rammed earth walls on site at Kampung Batu Bigga, a project designed by Sarah Truscott Architect Canberra

2

Scaffolding erected on site at Kampung Batu Bigga, a project designed by Sarah Truscott Architect Canberra

3

Steel frame skeleton and rammed earth walls on site at Kampung Batu Bigga, a project designed by Sarah Truscott Architect Canberra

4

1  Dramatic linking corridor between existing cottage and extension with diminishing perspective
2  Roof framing layered on top of exposed concrete blockwork walls
3  South facing clerestory windows installed for night purging and indirect natural lighting of the living areas 
4  Steel and timber pergola with post detail picking up the 2200mm high datum line throughout the home

For heating, an in-slab gas hydronic system keeps the house warm in winter, while strategic curtain closures and ceiling fans passively cool it in summer. A sizeable photovoltaic (PV) array on the roof, coupled with a planned storage battery, powers the entire home. Additionally, the Sanden heat pump hot water system is linked to the PV array. East-facing openings and southern clerestory windows are utilised in the evenings to capture cooling easterly breezes and provide night purge capacity. Double-glazed thermally broken windows and doors further regulate unwanted heat and cold inside.

Preserving the original red brick cottage in front pays homage to the street’s character while maintaining the neighborhood’s scale and proportion (and was the subject of a later project undertaken by Sarah Truscott Architect, Mellow Yellow Cottage). The new, lower-profile home to the rear, combined with the renovated cottage accommodates multi-generational living, for grandparents, future extended family, or caregivers.

Mellow Yellow House, recognised for its passive solar design, was showcased in the 2019 ACT Solar House Day tour.

Main bedroom detail with curtains, exposed blockwork, raked joint reinforcing the internal datum line and charcoal joinery, in a residential architecture project in Canberra designed by Sarah Truscott Architect whilst working for Philip Leeson Architects