Award-winning landscape designer and TV host, Jamie Durie has recently completed building his dream eco-home on Sydney’s northern beaches. Over a three-year journey, Jamie and his partner Ameka Jane, have created a home for their young family that embodies beauty, sustainability and functionality – proving that a dream home can tread lightly on the planet without compromise.
This ambitious project, called Growing Home, is a balancing act – finding ways to build sustainably without sacrificing comfort or style. Jamie spent the last five years searching Australia and the globe to find the best sustainable products, companies and eco-innovation techniques to share new ways and fresh ideas with fellow Australians. The spectacular new build has been delivered over five levels and features five bedrooms, including a guest bedroom, living room, guest living room, TV room, office, gymnasium, abundant greenery throughout the home, and beautifully landscaped gardens complete with infinity swimming pool, lounge and BBQ area.
“The house is full of eco-innovation like our state-of-the-art geothermal heating and cooling system, which combined with our solar system gives us the ability to be ‘grid independent’. Every element in this house has been engineered to serve a purpose, whether it’s saving energy, providing healthier air, or a greater connection to nature. The house was designed to be healthy for our family and the environment,” Jamie explains.
Perched on a breathtaking 37-degree slope surrounded by native spotted gums, Jamie’s new home is shaped by its environment. “Building on a site like this means every decision has to respect the landscape,” Jamie shares. “It’s not just about fitting the house onto the land, but making sure the land feels part of the home.” The design naturally follows the contours of the land, creating open spaces that capture sunlight and encourage airflow. Large windows and open-plan living areas blur the lines between indoors and outdoors, reinforcing Jamie’s passion for biophilic design. “We wanted the house to feel connected to the landscape – through natural materials, textures, and light,” he says. “It’s about creating a calm, grounded space where we can grow as a family.”
In creating a home that embraces both sustainability and comfort, Jamie carefully selected Bradford’s insulation products to enhance the overall living experience. For thermal efficiency, he chose Bradford Gold High Performance insulation for the exterior walls, providing a natural barrier that keeps the home warmer in winter and cooler in summer. This thoughtful choice helps stabilise indoor temperatures year-round, reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling, and ultimately making the family’s living spaces more comfortable.
Additionally, Soundscreen Acoustic insulation was installed in essential areas like the bedrooms, gym and media room, adding a layer of quiet that enhances each space. “Every detail in the home needed to elevate our quality of life and respect the environment,” Jamie shares. “With Bradford’s products, we’re able to create spaces that are peaceful, energy-efficient, and functional without sacrificing style.”
Further to enhancing the home’s thermal efficiency, Luxaflex Duette Shades play a dual role in the home’s interior, particularly in the bedrooms and gymnasium, emphasising a balance between style and functionality. “It’s not just about insulation,” Jamie explains, “but about creating spaces that feel cosy and considered, no matter the time of year.” Crafted from 95% recycled materials, the shades feature a unique honeycomb structure which traps air, providing a layer of insulation, helping to regulate temperatures naturally and reduce reliance on artificial heating and cooling. Pairing sheer curtains with the blinds, adds depth and movement, as well as allowing light to filter into the rooms while maintaining privacy.
A standout architectural feature of the home is the series of elegantly curved walls, which serve to soften the concrete aesthetic and flow between spaces. These curves have been meticulously crafted with Gyprock Flexible, allowing Jamie and Ameka to achieve seamless, fluid lines and a sense of continuity throughout the home. The use of Gyprock Flexible for these complex shapes was instrumental in bringing their vision to life, blending architectural sophistication with practical durability. They chose 10mm HD Gyprock for its high-density core and heavy-duty liner paper which provide a reduction in sound transmission, creating a more comfortable, quieter environment. Its durability and resistance to impact, particularly in high-traffic areas like the hallways and living spaces, was also a consideration given it’s a home with small children.
The dramatic architectural use of curves continues throughout the interiors, with sheer curtains further enhancing the aesthetic purpose of the space. They wrap elegantly around the front of the home and main living areas. “It’s all about layering softness and light,” Jamie says. “The sheers run like waves along the track, wrapping the room in a way that feels both open and intimate.” These architectural sheers allow natural light to filter through while maintaining privacy, reinforcing the home’s connection to the landscape.
Every room in the home has been designed to evolve with the family’s needs. Luxaflex PowerView Automation offers effortless control over window coverings, allowing the family to adjust blinds and curtains to suit the moment and making the space more energy efficient – whether blocking out the midday sun or softening the morning light. “Having that flexibility means the house evolves with us,” Jamie reflects. “It’s not about making things perfect all the time, but about creating spaces that work with our everyday rhythms.”
Each individual element in the home has been lovingly considered, brass accents work throughout the bathrooms and kitchen bringing personality and a natural lived-in feel to the space. The voluminous and inviting organic shapes of the main living room have an ‘other worldly’ feel, with natural wood panelling throughout complementing layers of soft and creamy tones and polished concrete. Like most homes, the kitchen is the beating heart and Jamie and Ameka have created a beautifully connected space, which fits seamlessly into the home’s layout.
Jamie’s Growing Home project is an opportunity to see the future of sustainable living unfold. Every decision in the build reflects Jamie’s passion for leaving the world in a better place. “This project is about showing that sustainable design isn’t just possible – it’s beautiful,” Jamie shares. “It’s about how thoughtful design and innovative products can make a house not just a home, but a legacy. Building smarter, creating homes that feel good to live in, and respecting the environment along the way.”
Comments
Nice to see some curves in a modern build