Sanctuary Issue 62

House profiles

Shadows and light

A Brisbane architect brings all his creativity to bear on the salvage and reimagining of a humble workers cottage into his own airy green oasis.

High life

This resourceful couple handbuilt their cosy Snowy Mountains strawbale house from natural and found materials.

Gariwerd gem

At the foot of the Grampians in western Victoria, a young couple’s tiny-footprint handcrafted house is a delight.

Beach beauty

A new home on the sand dunes at Goolwa Beach proves that good things can come in small packages.

Sparking joy

Clever spatial planning, high levels of insulation and a switch to all-electric make this stately Melbourne period home more liveable and efficient.

Gift box

The story of Louise’s comfy forever home in her beloved Hobart neighbourhood started with a generous gesture from friends.

Pretty perfect pavilion

A self-contained prefabricated pod extends the living space without impacting the landscape on Mark and Julie’s NSW South Coast property.

Mini masterpiece

Leith’s home on a modest block near Fremantle was designed to be ‘eco-affordable’ – both to build and to run.

Ideas & advice

Sustainable House Day

Read all about what’s planned for the big day on Sunday 19 March, plus the extended program of expert sessions over the following month.

Seeing 7 Stars: New home energy efficiency standards explained

Sarah Fiess explains the upgraded standards coming into effect in the new National Construction Code, and what they’ll mean for homeowners.

On the drawing board: Impressive in all respects

Building designer Elizabeth Wheeler introduces Omnia House, winner of the inaugural True Zero Carbon Challenge.

Ask the experts: Living in a Passive House

Passive Houses tick a lot of boxes, but what are they actually like to live in? We asked some residents.

The munch bunch: Keeping a step ahead of termites

Timber-eating termites can pose a threat to buildings in most parts of Australia. Dick Clarke spins us a yarn about the tricky creatures and how to avoid them.

Design Workshop: Learning on the job

Builder Jared Brodrick is tackling the restoration and extension of a heritage home on a narrow block in Orange, NSW.

Wild gardening

Lifelong gardener Leila Alexandra shares her natural, low-effort approach to producing food at home.