News
Sanctuary 61 out now: Universal design special
In this universal design special, we look at thoughtful design with a focus on the adaptability of spaces to cater for everyone, regardless of disability, life stage and household makeup.
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Sanctuary: modern green homes is Australia's premier magazine dedicated to sustainable house design.
House profiles
Small by design
Josie and Brendon’s off-grid house in central Victoria is deliberately small, simple and sustainable.
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Outdoors
Pocket forests: Urban microforests gaining ground
Often no bigger than a tennis court, microforests punch above their weight for establishing cool urban microclimates, providing wildlife habitat and focusing community connection. Mara Ripani goes exploring.
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House profiles
Playing for keeps
There’s nothing new under the sun at Ali and Clay’s Sunshine Coast home: they bought and transported an unloved old house and rejuvenated it with reclaimed and second-hand materials and vintage finds.
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House profiles
Family affair
This flexible new backyard studio in Melbourne’s inner north has already accommodated singers, artists and musicians, and will continue to support living and learning into the future.
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House profiles
Fitting the bill
In subtropical Rockhampton, this family are enjoying their sustainable, low-maintenance home built on a tight budget.
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On the drawing board
On the drawing board: Pathways to carbon zero
The team at Melbourne-based design and build operation Positive Footprints has developed Carbon Zero Homes, a series of energy-efficient houses designed to generate enough electricity to offset the carbon footprint of their creation as well as their operation. Jeremy Spencer and Chi Lu tell the story.
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Launching the 6th edition of Your Home
Your Home is Australia’s guide to building, buying or renovating an environmentally sustainable home. Join expert authors of Your Home as they take a look at what’s new in the latest edition, and meet the homeowner of a case study featured in the guide. Subscribe to Renew on YouTube to keep up with our future videos.
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News
Sanctuary 60 out now: Flood resilience special
Given the recent devastating floods around the country, it feels fitting that in Sanctuary 60 we focus on the increasingly important topic of designing for flood resilience.
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Advocacy
100 organisations join forces in push for 7-Star homes
An alliance of more than 100 property, community, health and environmental organisations has today issued a forceful call to the country’s Building Ministers to lift the energy efficiency of new homes built in Australia.
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Climate Resilient Homes
New analysis: save money by ditching gas
New analysis from Renew shows that choosing to build an all-electric home without connecting to the gas network can save money for Victorian households.
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Advocacy
Higher energy standards for NSW homes
Renew supports lifting BASIX energy standards for new homes in NSW.
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Ideas and advice
Outdoors
Pocket forests: Urban microforests gaining ground
Often no bigger than a tennis court, microforests punch above their weight for establishing cool urban microclimates, providing wildlife habitat and focusing community connection. Mara Ripani goes exploring.
Read more
On the drawing board
On the drawing board: Pathways to carbon zero
The team at Melbourne-based design and build operation Positive Footprints has developed Carbon Zero Homes, a series of energy-efficient houses designed to generate enough electricity to offset the carbon footprint of their creation as well as their operation. Jeremy Spencer and Chi Lu tell the story.
Read more
Ideas & Advice
Eco-concrete case studies
Adored for its thermal mass benefits and durability, concrete remains one of the most popular building materials in the world, but its shockingly high embodied carbon footprint cannot be ignored. Luckily, there are now a number of greener alternatives available. Jacinta Cleary examines how they have performed in three different homes.
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Sustainable design events
Design workshop
Design workshop
Design workshop: Making a small space work harder
Young professional couple Jess and David love their diminutive Canberra apartment and the productive courtyard garden they have established, and would like to make changes to maximise natural light, make the most of the available space, and accommodate a future family. Small space expert Kate Shepherd of Rob Henry Architects is on hand to help.
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Design workshop
Design workshop: A higher-performing volume build
Kirsten and James are keen to make the project home they’re planning in Camberwell, Victoria, as energy-efficient and comfortable as possible, and have budgeted for some upgrades. Architect Penny Guild and ESD consultant Erika Bartak give the couple some advice on achievable tweaks to improve their home’s performance.
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Ideas & Advice
Design Workshop: Down by the river
Having lived in their beloved riverside suburb of Melbourne for ten years, Rowan Doyle and Fiona Cock are planning an updated, more flood-resilient home to accommodate changing family needs. They are interested in prefabrication and Passive House; Sven Maxa of Maxa Design is knowledgeable about both, and gives them some pointers.
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House profiles
Family affair
This flexible new backyard studio in Melbourne’s inner north has already accommodated singers, artists and musicians, and will continue to support living and learning into the future.
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House profiles
You little beauty
With a footprint of just 35 square metres, this renovated terrace in Sydney’s busy inner west provides a light and quiet sanctuary, with leafy outlooks and entertaining spaces that belie its size.
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House profiles
Smaller, simpler, smarter
For his new family home near Margaret River, designer Michael Lurie aimed for maximum flexibility, energy efficiency, natural materials and a passive income stream – all while downsizing.
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