Case Studies

Passive House by Melbourne Design Studios

Felicity and Marc Bernstein, Interior Designer, Architect and Directors of Melbourne Design Studio (MDS) have a long-held passion for sustainable architecture, completing numerous project designs on behalf of their clients including a 10 Star Passivhouse in 2012.

Mark completed his degree in Germany and is a member of the Australian Institute of Architects and International Passivhaus Associations as well as sitting on the board of the Building Designers Association of Victoria. Felicity also completed her studies in Germany and performs a diverse range of roles, not least the Chief Creative Officer and Head of Project Management & Interior Design for MDS. Felicity and Mark relocated to Australia in 2007.

We at Billi first spoke to Felicity about the project and their interest in using one of Billi’s uniquely Greentag certified products back in early 2020, and plenty has happened since. With works starting on site in late 2019, neither Felicity nor Mark would envisage challenges such as a global pandemic, the associated trades shortage, materials in short supply, manufacturer lead-time blowouts and ultimately a fire on site! But they got there in the end and the result is intelligent, sustainable, quirky and extremely livable for their family of 5.

Felicity and Mark first spied their opportunity to develop the projects on an all but unwanted block of land in the back lanes of Coburg during 2017. A sustained period of perseverance and resilience followed as they battled through planning & regulations to get their build permit and commence works towards the end of 2019.

The couple shared a vision of a sustainable house on small footprint, but also didn’t want to neglect the livability and communal needs of family lifestyle. By linking the built environment to nature seamlessly while simultaneously creating multi-use shared spaces, and adding splashes of luxury and quirkiness, the couple have masterfully dealt with numerous challenges that come with a 250m² footprint.

With a mission to eliminate single use plastic bottles whilst certified by Global GreenTag as a responsible manufacturer (less than 10km from the project site), selecting Billi for the project was a truly organic decision. Billi answered the sustainability portion of the project brief with relative ease, but it was equally important that products & materials selected add value to the sustainability of the build with their aesthetic, features & function.

Billi’s B5000 Sparkling system was selected for its pioneering energy saving features such as Self-Learning Eco mode, while providing the family the luxury of instantaneous filtered Boiling, Chilled & Sparkling water from a single dispenser. Ice Bank technology allows a faster recovery of chilled water supply allowing greater saturation of CO2 and more efficient recharge of sparkling water, reducing waste and impact on landfill. ¹

After designing their kitchen and dining as the conduit between indoor & outdoor living areas, the couple installed their new dispenser using Billi’s Font + Riser solution. The Font + Riser allows the family to locate their appliance remotely away from the standard sink installation saving valuable space on the bench and within joinery, while enhancing lifestyle impact. Billi’s B5000 Sparkling with Font + Riser was supplied in matte black, nestling itself comfortably yet definitively on a stone clad plinth at the end of the kitchen benchtop. Flush mounted for additional sleekness and set amongst juxtaposing tones of cool stone, biophilia and the light and dark of timber, the impact is stunning and always changing as the family closes the backdrop of shear drapes or proudly shows off their abundant garden.

The partnership between MDS and Billi Australia on this unique build successfully delivered a diverse brief, with a clear focus on the intersection of sustainability and lifestyle. By installing the environmentally responsible B5000 Sparkling system, with self-learning Eco-capabilities and technologies to enhance efficiency, convenience and lifestyle, the Bernstein family can look forward to years of convenience, comfort, and a clear conscience.

To learn more about the B5000 Sparkling or Billi’s green credentials with Global GreenTag, please contact us at info@billi.com.au or 1800 812 321

¹Billi also offers a refillable CO2 plan as part of its comprehensive service offering.

Customer: Felicity & Marc Bernstein

Company:  Melbourne Design Studios

Industry: Architecture & Design, Residential

Buyer Persona: Residential Developers, Home Builders, Designers

Video/Imagery: Image Gallery included

Product: Billi B5000 Sparkling + Font with 70mm riser

Author: Daniel Walker