Wing Yee and her husband, a family of four with two young kids, bought their house in 2020, just before COVID changed everything. Within months of moving in, their oldest child developed severe asthma. In time, it became clear the house itself was not a healthy place for the family to live.
That left two options: move out, or renovate. And one non-negotiable: a home where their daughter could breathe properly, sleep through the night, and simply be a child.
Wing Yee did the research herself. Hours of reading led her to Passivhaus, the European construction standard built around air quality, insulation and a stable, healthy indoor environment. For a child with asthma, the logic was compelling. The same research led her to Crush, one of the few Sydney studios specialising in both heritage homes and Passivhaus standards.
The renovation addressed cause, not symptom. The damaged structure was replaced. Insulation, windows and airtightness were upgraded to performance standards. The new external cladding was detailed and installed specifically to stop water and humidity being trapped in the walls, the exact conditions that create mould and damp in the first place.
Performance was only half the brief. The family also wanted the house to be playful. A ladder stair tucked behind the bathroom wall gave way to a stepping angled staircase, resolved within the same tight footprint. On the mezzanine, the office gained a little playroom, so the kids play freely while the adults work in the study beside them.
Throughout, the original heritage details were improved rather than covered up, their character drawn out.
The result is a home that performs as well as it feels. Stable, healthy, quietly playful. Designed for curiosity, independence and clean air.
