House profiles
Doing things differently
Grappling with housing unaffordability, two Sydney friends pooled their resources – and tapped into family connections – to realise their home ownership goals.
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Sanctuary: modern green homes is Australia's premier magazine dedicated to sustainable house design.
News
Sanctuary 72 coming soon: Celebrating 20 years of showcasing great green design
In this issue, we’re celebrating 20 years of Sanctuary: showcasing great green design since 2005.
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House profiles
A home for generations
With a modest extension and smart upgrades, this Canberra home is now far more comfortable and ready to evolve with the family’s needs.
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House profiles
Little secret
Canny tricks, legwork and partnering with a volume builder delivered an affordable, sustainable home for this young Melbourne couple.
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House profiles
Flipping the narrative
This Perth family threw out their original oversized volume builder plans and opted instead for a compact, healthy, sun-filled home with a big garden.
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Ideas & Advice
Rethinking future-proofing
Sustainable design advocate and architect Shae Parker McCashen encourages you to challenge the conventional notion of ‘bigger is better’ when it comes to truly future-proofing your home.
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House profiles
Garden gem
A diminutive build in the back garden provides a quiet retreat for a Northern Rivers family, and was a testing ground for design and construction ideas.
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Ideas & Advice
On the drawing board: Two homes from one
In Canberra, Jenny Edwards and her team are becoming experts in conjuring comfortable dwellings for two or more groups of people from older homes that used to house just one.
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Sustainable Design
Sustainable House Day 2025
On Sunday, 4 May 2025, Sustainable House Day returns, offering a unique opportunity to explore some of Australia’s most inspiring eco-friendly homes. We bring you an overview of the event, plus a sneak peek at a handful of the great homes participating.
Read moreIdeas and advice
Ideas & Advice
On the drawing board: Two homes from one
In Canberra, Jenny Edwards and her team are becoming experts in conjuring comfortable dwellings for two or more groups of people from older homes that used to house just one.
Read more
Ideas & Advice
Rethinking future-proofing
Sustainable design advocate and architect Shae Parker McCashen encourages you to challenge the conventional notion of ‘bigger is better’ when it comes to truly future-proofing your home.
Read more
Outdoors
Sweet spot: Sustainable midrise for healthy, nature-positive communities
An alternative to both highrise living and urban sprawl, well-designed medium density is the way to go for balancing the needs of people and nature, says ecologist Sarah Bekessy.
Read moreLatest news from Renew
Advocacy
Renew joins the call for a better deal for renters
Renew has joined the Healthy Homes for Renters collaboration in urging the Federal Government to provide funding and support to States and Territories to implement mandatory minimum energy performance standards in rental homes.
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Advocacy
Minimum energy efficiency standards would cut bills for Victorian renters
Minimum rental standards in Victoria for energy efficiency - draught sealing, insulation and upgrading to efficient electric appliances - would help tenants to make big savings on energy bills. And laws to make landlords pay for gas connection fees would help ensure tenants are not left behind using inefficient and expensive gas for heating, hot water and cooking.
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Advocacy
How energy efficient is the house you are buying or renting?
How can you tell how energy efficient your new home is? Renew's submission on Mandatory Disclosure outlines why it's a great idea for homes being sold or rented to come with an energy rating.
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