Pine Mountain Road

Winner of the 2026 Master Builders NSW Northern Excellence in Building Award
Category: Modular and Innovative Construction Homes (Over $500,000)

Built Around Performance

Perched on a ridgeline above Possum Creek, Pine Mountain Road is a five-bedroom, four-bathroom residence designed to eliminate mechanical heating and cooling entirely. Designed by Balanced Earth Architects with lead architect Mercedes Mambort and contract administration by Jose Do Architect, the home is oriented around a series of open and sheltered outdoor spaces that manage light and airflow without switching anything on. The brief was performance-led from the start.

Materials That Do the Work

Approximately 280mm of hempcrete forms the external envelope, finished with lime render. A low embodied energy, carbon-sequestering material with outstanding hygrothermal properties, hempcrete regulates internal moisture passively and is largely non-flammable, giving the home a high degree of resistance to bushfire attack. Internal walls reach 300mm of rammed earth. North-facing glazing, calibrated eaves and elevated ceiling heights manage heat gain and promote natural cross-ventilation. The building earns its comfort through fabric, not technology.

The Numbers

Submitted to the 2026 Northern Regions Excellence in Building Awards. Under BASIX certification, it achieved a Water Score of 96 against a target of 40, and an Energy Score of 100 against a target of 68. A 21kW photovoltaic system, 50kWh battery and 15kW three-phase inverter support long-term energy independence. A 110,000-litre rainwater tank captures runoff from over 660m² of roof area and supplies all indoor and outdoor water needs. The onsite septic system features a 300m² evaporative zone.

What It Demonstrates

Pine Mountain Road is a completed, occupied home that shows what performance-led construction can deliver in regional NSW. Kick brought the technical expertise required to work with hempcrete at this scale, a material that still requires a Performance Solution under current regulation, and executed the project to a standard that works as hard as it looks.