Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 70 i Sanctuary: Modern Green Homes

EXPERIENCE SUSTAINABILITY FIRSTHAND For those eager to see sustainability in action, the in-person open homes program will welcome visitors into homes across the country. From energy-efficient builds to innovative retrofits, these homes demonstrate how sustainability can be integrated seamlessly into everyday living. Attendees will have the chance to speak with homeowners to gain insights into design principles, material choices, and energy efficiency strategies. Tour bookings are essential, with limited slots available for each home to ensure a meaningful experience. Whether you’re embarking on a new build, renovating, or simply curious, this is an unmissable opportunity for peer-to-peer knowledge sharing. ONLINE HOUSE PROFILES: INSPIRATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS For those who cannot attend in person, or for homes that are not open for physical tours, Sustainable House Day 2025 will also feature…

In Scarborough, Western Australia, a young family is enjoying far greater comfort and liveability after the significant upgrade of their 1960s double brick house. “The clients came to us wanting to renovate and extend their home, providing some more living space, increasing the energy efficiency, and removing the gas,” says builder Jason Tincey. “Our plan of attack was to improve the thermal envelope and make it continuous, fit uPVC double-glazed windows, install a mechanical ventilation system and increase the airtightness of the home.” Most of the existing house was retained, minimising the need for new materials, and the materials from the deconstructed sections were salvaged and reused or rehomed where possible. The team decided to aim for the Passive House EnerPHit standard for renovations, meeting the target and achieving an…

HOUSE PROFILE Mullumbimby, NSW AT A GLANCE - 14m2 studio built and detailed with low-cost and recycled materials - Multipurpose space with a shady covered deck - Complemented by landscaping including an outdoor bathing area “Key to the project is that sustainability is about more than add-ons. Using imperfect secondhand materials does not have to detract, and can in fact add to the enjoyment of a space. I set out to design smarter, not bigger, and in the process use less material.” – Brently Deep in a lush food forest in Mullumbimby in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales nestles an exemplary backyard ‘shed’: a standalone retreat in the south-west corner of building designer Brently Reid’s garden. Designed to accommodate a variety of activities for his family, it was also an opportunity…

HOUSE PROFILE Reservoir, VIC AT A GLANCE - Modest first home on a budget - Built by a volume builder - All-electric, 7.5-Star efficient home In their 30s and long-term renters in the northern Melbourne suburb of Reservoir, Jess and Nathan never thought they would manage to own their own home, much less a high-performing, sustainable one. However, by being savvy with their land choice, taking full advantage of government grants and working with a volume builder, they were able to make Blueberry House a reality, moving in in October 2023. They are quick to point out that as Nathan is an architectural draftsperson who was working for a volume builder at the time, he was able to create a custom design to suit the tricky block and still have it built by…

IDEAS & ADVICE Design for the future In the quest for the perfect home, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that bigger is better. Extra rooms and added spaces are often marketed as surefire ways to future-proof a property or boost its value, but is this really the case? As we navigate an era where sustainability, energy efficiency, and thoughtful design are paramount, it’s time to rethink what truly adds value to our homes – not just for resale but for how we live in them every day. WHY BIGGER ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER It can be easy to get sold the notion that an extra bedroom that you know you don’t actually need for your household will future-proof your home by making it easier to sell to the…

A striking example of place-based and evolved human-nature relationships can be seen in a new residential project nestled in the picturesque Hertfordshire countryside, where a small stables building has been replaced with a low-carbon family home with low visual impact. Located within a highly sensitive green belt area where building permission is rarely granted, the project was approved due to its very high standard of architecture and significant enhancement of its immediate setting, while remaining sensitive to the defining characteristics of the local area. The design respects the geographical setting in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by minimising its impact on valley views. The home’s low-profile green roof reduces visual disruption to the landscape, while its zigzag facades create depth and shadow, allowing the building to blend seamlessly…

These featured products are independently selected by our editorial team. If you have recommendations for products you think would be of interest we’d love to hear from you. Email: sanctuary@renew.org.au 1 Easy EVs With many car-sharing platforms around, finding one dedicated to electric vehicles is refreshing. Evee enables drivers to connect with EV owners to hire a car for their next short hop or road trip, or to test drive a particular model before buying. Cars are available Australia-wide and owners set their own rates. Prices start at $80 per day, with BYD, Tesla, Hyundai and Polestar vehicles available, to name just a few. evee.com.au 2 Next-gen glazing Retrofitting older windows with high-performance glazing can preserve heritage features and improve energy efficiency while avoiding a full window replacement. It’s a…

Near the beach in Newcastle, New South Wales, this new build makes the most of a tiny subdivided site for truly inspired urban infill. Designed around existing mature trees on the block, the house is orientated to the laneway on the west and also engages with the street to the north, taking on a role of passive surveillance and fostering a sense of community in its coastal suburban surroundings. At only 120 square metres, the three-bedroom, single-bathroom home employs design tricks and careful detailing to ensure that it feels larger than it is. A raised deck built around a feature olive tree connects two small interior living rooms, almost doubling the living space when the weather is fine. Built-in furniture allows for smaller rooms and more storage, and a hallway…

HOUSE PROFILE Whangārei, New Zealand AT A GLANCE - Low-tech, biophilic design, partly owner-built - Large covered deck provides outdoor living space and immersion in nature - Productive permaculture gardens When architectural designer Brett Hulley and his partner Rose decided to purchase land, they didn’t just want to build a house; they wanted to build a low-impact lifestyle with a strong connection to nature and the outdoors. “Rose wanted somewhere we could pursue a life of self-sufficiency, with space to plant a food forest and vegetable gardens and have chickens. I wanted to be surrounded by natural beauty and environmental diversity,” Brett says. Although the couple initially wanted a block of land to nourish and rewild, in 2016 they found and bought a fourhectare bush block in Pataua North, near Whangārei on New…

IDEAS & ADVICE Sustainable volume builds As the costs of living, borrowing and building have risen in recent years, more people have been tightening their purse strings and searching for affordable options for their new houses. For many, volume home builders appear to tick this box. But what does this mean for their dreams of a sustainable home? I wrote about this back in 2020 (‘Volume-built wins: Steps to a more sustainable project home’ in Sanctuary 52), highlighting the important stages of the process and key questions to ask, and uncovering some easy wins. The housing landscape in Australia has changed significantly since then: we’ve seen major changes to the National Construction Code, as well as big disruptions across the construction sector including dramatic cost increases, supply chain vulnerabilities, and the…

IDEAS & ADVICE Renovating with purpose A hundred years ago, the Californian bungalow provided many Australian families with the opportunity for a better life following World War I. When my wife Sun and I purchased one of these gems in Hampton, Victoria, in 2022, we wondered how our ageing bungalow could again provide hope and opportunity, against the backdrop of a new century in which we’re facing a climate and biodiversity emergency. We subsequently embarked on a journey to realise an energy-positive, carbon-neutral, water-resilient, zero-waste, healthy and nature-positive home renovation and addition. As a sustainability consultant, I am intimately aware of just how unsustainable most single-family housing is in Australia, and I believe we need to fundamentally rethink how we build to create a healthy and resilient future. Back in 2011,…

OUTDOORS Natural pools The concept of ‘natural swimming’ has been getting more and more popular in recent years. Essentially, the term refers to swimming in bodies of water that are not chemically treated. The novelty can be somewhat lost on many of us living in Australia, as we’re fortunate to be surrounded by pristine waterways and beaches perfect for swimming. And yet, there’s one side of the trend that we can fully get behind: the construction of natural swimming pools as part of landscape design. Also known as eco pools or biological pools, natural pools don’t rely on traditional chemicals like chlorine to maintain water cleanliness. Instead, they use the natural filtration power of plants, gravel, and beneficial bacteria to purify the water. With crystal-clear waters, lush plant life, and no…

Mark Lavis and his partner Hannah Lord’s typical ‘ex-govie’ home in the Canberra suburb of Watson wasn’t serving their family well anymore. The old house was poorly orientated, sparingly insulated and rundown, but they loved the area and wanted to stay. With the assistance of Mark’s sister, architect Claire Lavis from Paper Seven Architecture, they designed a modest 161-square-metre three-bedroom new home for their block, and went about constructing it as owner-builders. “The existing house on the site was slowly dismantled rather than demolished, and valuable, recyclable materials were diverted from landfill,” says Mark. “We’ve used them for joinery, furniture and architectural detailing in the new build.” With passive solar design firmly in mind, the 8.2-Star, all-electric new home has its living areas and bedrooms placed to take advantage of…

Designed by building designer Rogier Voorhoeve (whose own home nearby has featured in Sustainable House Day in past years and also in Sanctuary 62, p40), Middleton Beach House is a response to the clients’ wish for “something different”. “It’s a ‘beachy-Scandinavian’ home crafted from local materials,” Rogier explains. “It’s highly sustainable, achieving a 7.5-Star energy rating, and features a rammed earth wall and waffle-pod concrete floor that function as thermal batteries, maintaining a stable indoor temperature year-round.” Of course, the orientation is also carefully considered, with north-facing living areas and main bedroom. There is appropriately shaded double glazing and good cross ventilation, all contributing to its great passive solar performance. Rogier is very pleased with the project and the collaborative approach to its construction. “Both the builder and I prioritise…

HOUSE PROFILE Perth, WA AT A GLANCE - Small footprint preserves outdoor space - Designed to Passive House standard for comfort and low energy use - Innovative wood fibre wall system When two members of the family were getting sick all the time, and testing on their old home revealed a host of problems including lead dust and mould, this Perth couple decided to sell up. They bought a 506-square-metre subdivided block in the same neighbourhood south of the river, and approached a volume builder for a design and costing for a brand new home. The plan they received was for a very large home – a whopping 300 square metres – taking up almost all of the narrow, sloping block. It had long corridors, clumsy stepped levels, little natural light and a…

DESIGNER & BUILDER Sherridon Homes PROJECT TYPE New volume build LOCATION Bendigo, VIC (Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Country) SIZE House 115m2 Land 453m2 ENERGY RATING 7.5 Stars Choosing a volume build doesn’t always mean sticking with the standard plan. Yasmin had a clear vision for her new home: take a typical design and make it more energy-efficient, comfortable and future-proof. Having built a project home in Central Victoria over a decade ago, Yasmin knew what she’d do differently next time. “I regretted not upgrading to double glazing,” she says. “As a single parent I was so worried about debt that I didn’t ask for upgrades, which let me down in a cold climate.” This time, with experience and careful planning, she’s making smarter, energy-conscious decisions. On a Bendigo housing…

IDEAS & ADVICE Biophilic design These elements reflect the local geography, history, culture and ecology of a place while also addressing our human need for beauty, security, order and complexity. When these concepts are embraced, homes not only feel deeply rooted in their environment but also promote sustainability and harmony with the natural world. PLACE-BASED RELATIONSHIPS IN HOME DESIGN Place-based design emphasises connection to the ecology and culture of a specific geographical area. A biophilic home serves as a living, breathing extension of its natural surroundings, reflecting the unique characteristics of its location and anchoring itself within the environment. Geographical connection to place A sense of place is often achieved through locally sourced materials and design strategies that respect the site’s natural features. Coastal homes, for instance, may use durable materials…

When Chris and Sun first approached us about this project, we were thrilled as our values were very aligned: passionate about not only doing ‘less harm’ when building, but also asking how we can do ‘more good’. This is the fundamental ethos behind a regenerative design approach. RETAINING THE OLD, ADDING THE NEW We loved the character of the existing Californian bungalow, but some layout changes were needed. The lounge and formal dining room were disconnected from the outdoors and had limited solar gain, and the kitchen was a dark space in the centre of the home. The back verandah had been enclosed in the past, a common ‘quick fix’ to create extra space. We chose to retain the integrity of the main home and remove the lean-to back part,…