13/19 Reckleben Street, Castlemaine VIC 3450

What happens when an 8.1-star energy-efficient property seamlessly intertwines with contemporary design? A beautiful three-bedroom, two-storey townhouse with an ethos of sustainability, community and self-sufficiency. Welcome to The Paddock, a unique community-orientated project designed to value a sustainable lifestyle, both privacy and sharing, food growing, communal facilities and within walking distance or a short drive of the retail and amenities of Castlemaine, the train station, Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, and access to walking tracks.

Rough-sawn cladding and a passive solar design, the townhouse features entry into a spacious open-plan living with dining and kitchen. Soft internal hues create a calming atmosphere offset by the striking contemporary pendant lighting and warm tones of the recycled timber flooring. North-facing, the dining space opens onto a deck overlooking the communal gardens and surrounding landscape. The kitchen provides a walk-in pantry, an induction cooktop with an under-mount oven, a dishwasher and a central island with a recycled timber benchtop providing additional seating. Completing the ground floor is a laundry with storage and a separate toilet.

Stairs lead to the second level, highlighted by the recycled timber and vaulted light well (remote opening/self-closing). Two south-facing bedrooms allow for distant views of Mount Franklin. Bedroom one has built-in robes, and the second bedroom has timber feature shelves and desk. Servicing the two bedrooms is a bathroom with a vanity, toilet and walk-in shower. North-facing, the main bedroom provides built-in robes and a walk-in robe, a quiet place to sit and look out onto the communal garden and surrounding landscape and an ensuite with a shower, toilet and a double basin vanity. An attic accessed via a pulldown ladder provides additional storage. Design details include double glazing, Luxaflex Honeycomb Blinds, ceiling fans, a split system, a hot water heat pump, art tracks, a 4Kw integrated solar system and an NBN connection.

A north-facing courtyard/ garden allows for a private space, whilst the communal grounds include meandering paths, raised veggie gardens, a chicken pen, fruit trees, sitting areas, sheds, a 15amp powerpoint in carport, and a community centre featuring meeting spaces, a kitchen and guest accommodation for family and friends. Communal benefits include an embedded network solar system that feeds back to the grid, and water storage.