39S House

A Measured Response to Climate, Comfort, and Place

How can a 19th-century worker’s cottage be adapted for contemporary family living while remaining resilient to the challenges of the 21st century?

39S House reimagines a traditional Brisbane worker’s cottage with an approach that is measured, efficient, and responsive to place. The result is a home that feels good to live in—cooler in summer, warmer in winter, and naturally ventilated year-round—without excess or waste.

Situated in the inner city of Brisbane, the original house suffered from poor thermal performance, exposure to the western sun, and traffic noise. The design works with the home’s existing form, carefully reorienting key spaces to improve light, airflow, and acoustic comfort. A new two-storey extension to the west acts as a protective buffer, shielding the home from heat and noise while optimising northern light and cross-ventilation.

"The home was carefully designed to find the right balance between energy efficiency and material sufficiency—optimising thermal performance while reducing carbon intensive material use to delivers a more sustainable outcome across the building’s full lifecycle. Every aspect of the home is designed to be just enough —no more, no less—balancing efficiency with enduring comfort.

At its core, 39S House is about sufficiency, resilience, and connection to place—neither overbuilt nor underprepared, but finely tuned to its environment. It demonstrates that Queensland’s timber cottages can not only endure but thrive, offering a model for living that is lighter on the planet but richer in experience.