Ainslie Rammed earth Secondary Residence

Stage 1: The Rear dwelling - A Rammed Earth House

A high-performance secondary dwelling designed for solar passive living

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Located in Ainslie, Canberra, this rammed earth house was designed as a carefully considered secondary dwelling positioned behind an existing cottage. The brief called for a comfortable, future-ready home that would support ageing in place while maintaining a strong connection to light, landscape and materiality.

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The 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home is designed around a central rammed earth spine wall—an architectural and thermal mass element that anchors the plan. This feature wall wraps through the main living areas and extends into the home office and master bedroom, creating a cohesive spatial experience while passively regulating internal temperatures.

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Designed by our director Reine Williams, a Canberra architect and thermal performance assessor with over 20 years’ experience, the home achieves an 8.4-star energy efficiency rating (EER) through the application of solar passive design principles. High raked ceilings draw northern sunlight deep into the interior during winter, while considered orientation, insulation and glazing minimise heat loss and overheating. A centralised heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system provides continuous fresh air, improving indoor air quality and overall comfort year-round.

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Externally, the home responds to its suburban context with a contemporary interpretation of a traditional cottage form. A red brick base grounds the building, while lightweight cladding above introduces texture and contrast—allowing the dwelling to sit comfortably within Ainslie while maintaining its own identity.

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Internally, the material palette has been intentionally restrained to complement the rammed earth. Natural timbers, warm neutral tiles and soft green tones create a calm, grounded interior that feels both modern and enduring.

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The home was expertly built by Paul Flynn and his team at IHS Building, with a high level of craftsmanship evident throughout—particularly in the execution of the rammed earth wall and the delivery of a high-performance building envelope.

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This Ainslie house demonstrates how a well-designed secondary dwelling in Canberra can support aging-in-place, improve energy performance and deliver long-term comfort through thoughtful, climate-responsive architecture.