Ballarat architectural firm Project Now designed the home on a corner site in Aspect Parade. With two sides backing onto major streets, Project Now's director Luke Jennings says the project presented its own challenges.

"One (challenge) being a four-lane major thoroughfare and a third fronting an open reserve, as well as requirements for transparent fencing; these challenges were exacerbated by the clients' wish for a very private, sanctuary like home," Jennings said.

"An extensive tree protection zone and a stormwater easement running through the middle of the block provided further siting challenges."

Project Now describes the home as:

Composed of a series of timber-clad volumes... organised around an open axis of a fully openable dining and connected deck, punctuated on each end by a sweeping shade structure, denoting each entry. Further pods, separated by raised glass-wall walkways, provide a layered threshold through the dwelling, delineating yet linking the volumes wholly.

These volumes are clad in a dark-stained timber to allow the well-proportioned home to nestle into its context and inward facing openings allow for both internal privacy and externally minimalist facade

The strategic separation of these pods ensured for a better passive design outcome, allowing the increased of northern light, natural ventilation and better orientation. The addition of timber shade structures, landscaped arbours and window hoods ensures the control of the northern light, letting the winter sun in and keeping unwanted summer sun out.

"We were given a fair level of flexibility with the building," Jennings says.

"Among the most important points of the project was to maintain a high level of privacy. The site was bounded by Sturt Street one side and the main entrance of the estate on the other. The rest of it was quite regular: particular rooms in particular combinations - the rest was left to us."

Jennings split the home into distinct 'volumes', or areas.

"This allowed for inward facing openings, combined with a series of wing walls for privacy, and allowed the dwelling to shape around the tree protection zone. Suspended linkways were used to connect the garage to the main volume and then the main volume to the master bedroom pod."

After a decade in Ballarat, Jennings says Project Now is being given increasing freedom to create exciting and challenging work as their clients realise what they are capable of. He says having worked with this particular client on other projects in the past had given them level of trust and faith in their ability to deliver.

"The builder has done a number of projects for us as well, so in this particular position there was a lot of confidence in the working group to work together to make sure the outcome was the desired one," says Jennings.

"It's good to work with enthusiastic, passionate and positive people; people who find a way to make things happen."

A building like the Aspect Parade house is not a common build in Ballarat, and Jennings hopes a conversation can be had about opening the city to less conservative approaches to building and to design.

"Quite often there could be improvements in estate layouts. The density is not to me necessarily the issue. In a city there's some some good opportunities for the densification, but the design needs to reflect that and be site-specific, which is not what the case is with estates.

"We don't get too many opportunities with the new estates. The volume builders probably take the lion's share of that. But at the same time, the opportunities we do get, we are often designing on a blank canvas without knowing what's happening on either side.

"Some level of control or consideration needs to be given to establishing communication with the neighbours and their designers to ensuring that your outcome maintains solid passive design principles.

"We want to build towards our southern boundary to open up the northern boundary for our own light - but if everybody's doing that, then the next northern boundary will have a building on it. So working with adjoining neighbours is fundamental.

Luke Jennings argues there is a desperate need to reappraise how we live in Ballarat, in terms of appreciating the need for change in living styles, infill, design and the need to reinvigorate the CBD area.

He says one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome in the field is dealing with the desire of not having over-development 'in my backyard' - the NIMBY syndrome. He says a reserved mindset about development has persisted in Ballarat, despite the forecast growth in population and a pressing need to create higher density living in both infill and new housing areas.

"We have to start shifting our thinking. As the author of some of these infill projects, we need to look at sites and the opportunities and constraints, being respectful and responsive to the site and to neighbours.

"City of Ballarat has begun to show a more progressive planning mindset, and we are noticing that," Jennings says.

"I want to encourage opportunities that look to activate the CBD, not only with commercial opportunities, but importantly residential development, making the heart of the city vibrant with life and activities well after the 5.30 knock-off time, which in turn will support the hospitality and retail sector.

He understands that there is a question of economic viability in building quality.

"There is a question of whether the Ballarat market is ready for these projects, but we find it is shifting."

Jennings cites developments like the newly-planned Nightingale concept in Lyons Street, with car-free apartments, as just one option which should be considered.

"I like the direction that is taking and I'm sure Ballarat Council are on board with it."

"Increasing the walkability of the city reduces the impact on road congestion and parking; however I acknowledge the growth of CBD must coincide with increased, improved public transport infrastructure.

"I believe that Ballarat is moving. People want to live closer to the centre of town, be involved within the hive of activity; however there is a lack of opportunity. Building homes focusing on short-term reduction of costs generally leads to longer-term cost increase to the occupier, and more importantly to the environment."