So much depends on your location and climate. What works for Tasmania is pretty much the opposite of what you do in Darwin.

I suggest you visit https://www.yourhome.gov.au/ which is a great website which helps explains what is best for your climate and location. this site also sells a great book "Your Home" - Australia's guide to environmentally sustainable homes which explains everything for your region. It is a huge reference for about $40 depending on where you purchase it. Highly recommended.

Or hire a local design professional who understands your climate and the best way to design for it.

Best of luck,

Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls and Dr Retro Virtual Visits

thank you. We are in Perth

What are the actual dimensions of the block.ie: the sides lengths.
I would look at putting a long house on the south boundary. Garage on the north west corner.
16 metre frontage is enough room for a double garage an entry and a large living area at the front of the home. Using your front yard as your 'back yard' lawn space.
A very rough sketch of my initial thoughts. A starting point.

Here is an example of a local Perth builder. Width of home is 28 metres. This width includes the garage, but garage could be moved to the front north west corner, Depending on the angles of your block, this may work. Anyway, food for thought.
https://www.plunketthomes.com.au/home-designs/scotsdale-lodge

So you have a 16m frontage facing north and presumably about 6m of that will be taken up by garage door and presumably you have to allow for side setbacks too? That doesn't leave much space for north facing windows, although as the block is wider at the back you might have some scope there but you'd probably need an architect designed plan to make best use of that. I have seen display homes demonstrating how to maximise northern orientation on not ideal blocks. The link Dr Retro posted is very helpful for understanding how northern orientation benefits the house. Rooms which are used during the day should face north and bedrooms can be on the south but do not need to be. Are there any restrictions as to where you put your garage? Sometimes kerb or nature strip features restrict the driveway to a particular side.

Thank you all. Here is the boundary

I know it's not the best block, neither the orientation. I think i have to have the garage at least 6m from road. But I cannot build it at back. The block also slopes down from the road about 1m to the front of the house and about 2m at the back just past the small paved backyard. We are trying to keep the costs down and a practical design. The back yard is also slightly elevated then the neighbours and has a good breeze in summer. The current house is around 100m2 but we want to keep it no more than 220m2 including double garage and side courtyard west side for both??

Thanks Dreamer, I like the idea of moving the house a bit further down the block and have a front yard and side courtyard (the front yard or back yard is not part of the 220m2). My only concern is that I don't know if I still get the breeze.

Could always have the garage at the front then the house running behind it. Or have garage at the front on the south, bedrooms sort of behind it, then on the north side open plan living/kitchen that can see north and the rear of the yard.

This is a rough layout sketch as a starting point. The front is more north west, so this would be good to put garage to protect living from summer sun.
The corridor would lead to a full opening door or window for the cross breezes from the west in the summer. This corridor could be covered, but external.
The kitchen living and dining and bedrooms could have open window or doors facing south for the cool southerly breezes.
Laundry and bathrooms on the west side to protect the bedrooms from the heat.

My sketch is basically two rectangles, plus garage. Simple roof design keeps costs down. Enclosing the front yard as your main grassed area, with a garden on the west side for winter living. This could be easily accessible from the breezeway corridor.

understanding your site is critical to any design and i strongly advise that you obtain a proper plan of the block showing the accurate dimensions with the angles of all the corners so that you can identify the precise location of all the correct setbacks..usually 6m from the front but you said that the 16m side is the front but the road is along the north so is this a corner block with roads on two sides and a choice of driveway locations? usually the front is accepted as the road named as your address but if you don't already have an accurate plan the next step would be to ask local council about the correct setbacks needed from every boundary and then arrange a surveyor to make a proper plan and identify the boundaries on site and then you'll be able to measure on the ground from each boundary to see exactly where the house, driveway, back yard etc can be located ..nothing wrong with an odd shaped block that can make a for a much more interesting design but it's a more challenging to identify the correct building site and if you look at plans for blocks about 16m by 33m with you will see that you have more than enough space for a great house with lots of extra space

I've the basic plan. A contour survey is organised for next week.

I like your sketch dreamer. It won't need to go too far at back since the block is 707. What do you think about racked ceiling with exposed timber beams on living area?

Or skillion roof with high window or glass for light.

What are the rules on front fences and all boundary setbacks?

I think raked ceiling, skillion or gable ceiling with exposed trusses would look great. Your plan shows that the driveway can only be positioned on the 16m boundary. The set backs would be 1500mm all around the property, so you could work on that. But variances may be approved by council.

We have a triangle block but our north is in the 'triangle bit', so we were able to build a straight home along south boundary. Leaving the triangle for our outside lawn space. Your block is a bit tricky, but, I think your block can produce a wonderful interesting home.

highly recommend you engage a design professional considering you are dealing with such an unorthodox allotment - unfortunately in terms of orientation you have a few challenges off the bat that are working against you: (a) south facing (b) limited street frontage and (c) predominant westerly aspect. There are of course ways to negotiate all these via design and turn these limitations into opportunities - but that arguably requires professional expertise and experience

Design challenges aside, what's your budget?

Best of luck PD :)

www.pauldistefanodesign.com

Not too much. Let's say a little extra than standard builder. We also don't want to over capitalise since the land is average price for Perth suburbs.

The build doesn’t have to be fancy, but a few grand on a designer will save you a lot in heating/cooling and ability to really enjoy the house imo

unless i've misunderstood your details i thought the 16m front boundary is west and the 34200 is north west?? if so, something like this might work but obviously needs a local professional to confirm best use of the space but, after allowing 6m set back from the front boundary, there's plenty of space for a generous home with a northern courtyard for pool and alfresco, drive through access to a big rear garden as well as enough space to add a rumpus room or granny flat

Obperth2014, I would suggest standing in the middle of the block, and getting to know where the sun comes up and goes down, and where the breezes come from. Yes we can all do this with a map, but it is good to actually go to the sight with a compass and a map.
In Perth we have the strong southerly winds, and westerly winds from the coast. Therefore cross ventilation from that direction is good for cooling the home down in summer.
We also have a hot easterly wind in the summer, coming off the desert.
This time of the year is great to stand on the block and see the winter sun direction.
In my previous post I have mentioned the summit home design, "the mod" I still think this is a good design for your block, with west side covered with a large vergola or fixed system. This will then utilise the full yard from your living areas. Front living room windows can be moved to be north facing, with a smaller window on the northwest frontage. Anyway, food for thought.

thank you dreamer, yes standing there makes sense for sure. There is a house on block and tenant, but 3 or 4 houses down there is a park I can certainly stand there.

I did had a good look at the Mod layout. It's definetly very nice, especially the high roof, but does it go on top of the garage?? If so, maybe something like this can work, what do you think?

Also I can cut one bedroom, make the master a bit smaller. I'd like a powder room with a recess where I can put trough washing machine and cabinet) behind doors, so that will save some space. In the ensuite I'd like to put a bath (and take it off from bathroom 2) to make a bit of statement in front of a feature wall.

what do you thinik about moving the theatre (that for us will be a multi room like games/office/spare bedroom) somewhere else

If I add another alfresco to use in winter where would you put it?

If you look at the summit home "mod 15", this is a similar plan but is reduced in size by 26 square metres, and does not have the high extended ceiling.
I would approach summit homes with your design changes, they may have something already on their design portfolio which is not advertised that may suit your needs.
We built through a project home builder and they designed our home for the block. Most project home builders, in Perth, do one of designs.

Alfresco to use in winter would be good on the west side of the building. Depends on your final design.

Thank you dreamer. Appreciate your help

Yes thanks. the mod 15 is slightly different but the roof look of the mod is something else imo. Apparently it's an extra 40k for the mod, for that roof line.
I'm going next week to see a couple of builders and get some sketch ideas put on paper.

It's funny how now some builders don't have time to talk to you, they're already too busy.

It will be great to meet with builders for some new ideas. And yes you are right, everything is so busy at the moment. We have our own business and June was or busiest month ever.. and we have been in our business for 18'years.
I read that a Perth builder has stopped taking new contracts because they are too busy, and their workmanship and schedules were suffering.
All the best, hope you have a positive meeting with builders.