Mawson House // Recycled Ash Renovation & Extension
June 2023
Tucked into the leafy southern suburb of Mawson in Canberra, an existing family home has had a recycled timber ‘glow-up’ with an eco-conscious renovation and extension by Michael Mckeon Architecture.
Together with Eight Building Group, Michael used Thor’s Hammer custom cladding and flooring in our recycled and remilled Canberra local ash mix.
Known as ‘Mawson House’, this project showcases the best that recycled timber combined with great design has to offer. We’re excited to share it with you.
ARCHITECT: Michael Mckeon Architecture
BUILDER: Eight Building Group
PHOTOGRAPHY: Thurston Empson
WORDS: Ellie Keft
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Mawson House: The Design Brief
The design brief called for a renovation and extension that respected the existing home—used by a young, fast-paced family of four—while creating more spacious living areas, and maximising indoor-outdoor connections.
First and foremost, the design needed to be as energy and resource efficient as possible, utilising solar passive principles and recycled building materials as much as possible. Featuring materials with natural texture also brought warmth and character to the overall aesthetic of the home.
Thor’s Hammer Recycled Canberra Local Ash Mix Heavily Featured
To assist with zoning and connectivity, the design incorporated a sliding door and timber batten cladding wall between the dining room and the kitchen and living spaces.
For this, we worked closely with Michael Mckeon and Eight Building Group to produce custom profiled batten cladding from our Canberra local ash recycled hardwood mix, matching the timber of the sliding door, also in ash. The wide opening creates a strong connection between the rooms, and when shut the sliding door disappears fully behind the batten clad wall.
Similarly, the use of our re-milled hardwood flooring (also in Canberra local ash) created stylistic connections throughout the living spaces. Re-milled ash flooring is a really popular choice with Thor’s Hammer customers; it provides a beautiful warmth with its honeyed hue and unique grain patterns.
Learn more about our recycled Canberra local ash species mix.
Locally Sourced, Recycled Timber a Design & Sustainability Priority
Using recycled timber was a priority for both Michael and the house owners themselves, and informed much of the design approach.
“As a locally sourced, recycled material, it was important to us to integrate timber into the design from the beginning,” said Michael.
“Now it has become the hero of the home; connecting rooms, softening corners, and warming the internal spaces. It’s a brilliant result.”
Mawson House is a great example of what championing recycled timber can do for a home. With natural light flowing freely throughout the rooms of this open design, the natural characteristics of the timber are beautifully highlighted.
The end result: a warm, energy-efficient home that exudes a natural elegance, providing practical, functional and visually stunning spaces for this young Canberra family.
At Thor’s Hammer, Our Design & Sales Process Is Highly Personalised
We work with architecture, design and building practices regularly, collaboratively coming up with the best design and manufacturing solutions when it comes to utilising recycled hardwood timber in building projects.
Get in touch if you have custom requirements for an upcoming project—we’d love to be involved.
WATCH: How We Turn Salvaged Roof Timbers Into Re-Milled Flooring
Video by Tideline Productions