Hyde Place Modern | The Mill: Architecture + Design

Renovating a 1966 modernist gem with a 6 star NatHERS

Image of the yellow front door and windows of the 6 star home architecturally updated by the Mill Architecture and Design

Project overview

NatHERS star rating: 6.2

Awards: Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) – Australian Institute of Architects ACT 2023

Project team

Architect: The Mill: Architecture and Design

Photography: Kasey Funnell

Nestled at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in Canberra’s Hughes suburb, Hyde Place Modern is a revitalized 1966 modernist gem originally designed by John H. Dalgarno. Powerhaus Engineering supported The Mill: Architecture + Design with thoughtful interventions that improved energy efficiency while retaining its modernist soul.

Hyde Place Modern underwent a remarkable transformation, elevating its NatHERS rating from a baseline of 0 stars to an impressive 6.2 stars.

Details that mattered

  • Reduced size of west-facing windows
  • High-performing, airtight timber windows
  • Insulation was strategically added to external and internal walls where feasible, along with under-floor and ceiling
Image shows a yellow front door and modern house entryway.
High-performance windows reduce heat loss on all facades.
Image shows the interior of a modernist house, with a see-through bookshelf separating a lounge room and kitchen area. There are large timber windows looking out over a garden.
North-facing living areas benefit from light.
Image shows a modern, stylish kitchen with windows looking out over a garden.
The kitchen captures north-facing light.

Building details