News
Sanctuary 50 coming soon: 15 years of sustainable design
Welcome to our 50th issue! Take a look at the past and future of sustainable and beautiful Australian design.
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Sanctuary: modern green homes is Australia's premier magazine dedicated to sustainable house design.
House profiles
A pretty pair
In inner Melbourne, a pair of dilapidated hundred-year-old townhouses was replaced with the best-practice 21st century version, with energy efficiency, recycled materials and neighbourhood connectedness firmly in mind.
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On the drawing board
On the drawing board: Analysis of a bushfire loss
Late last year, a house designed by Dick Clarke of Envirotecture burnt to the ground in the Gospers Mountain bushfire. Dick investigates why the house burned, and what can be learned to help rebuild it and other houses in fire-prone areas so that it’s less likely to happen again.
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House profiles
Back to the future: Classic Sanctuary homes revisited
Over the fifteen years since the first issue, more than 380 sustainable homes have featured in Sanctuary’s house profile pages. Dipping into the early issues, it’s easy to spot things that have changed.
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News
Shaping Sanctuary: Editors in profile
Over the years since its launch in 2005, Sanctuary has flourished under the leadership of a formidable lineup of editors.
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Scenes from Sustainable House Day 2019
Our Sustainable House Day event this on 15 September featured a record 252 homes open across Australia and nearly 50,000 visitors. Several homes from Sanctuary 48 were open, including Heathmont House, Chewton Hemp House, A39 House, and DecoHousing Denmark. Watch our video to see some scenes from the day.
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Research
Evaluating The Cape
Research by Renew alongside RMIT looked at the performance of highly efficient homes built in the eco-village at Cape Paterson, Vic pre- and post-occupancy. The research includes interviews with occupants as well as analysis of energy use and home temperatures.
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News
Sustainable New Year’s Resolutions for 2020
This year, why not make a resolution to alter your impact on the world and environment at large?
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Research
The Value of Higher Efficiency Homes
The rise of rooftop solar, high efficiency electric technology and low cost thermal efficiency can lead to substantial energy and financial savings for new homes.
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Submission
Consumers speak up on new building standards
Renew and our community partners have responded to options for efficiency improvements for new homes
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Ideas and advice
Ideas & Advice
Biblio-tech: Libraries leading sustainable design
Far from disappearing into obscurity as the world goes digital, libraries around the world are being reinvented as vibrant community hubs. The best examples demonstrate environmental sustainability in their design as well as contributing to the social sustainability of their communities.
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Ideas & Advice
Climate resilient homes
For the past year, Sanctuary’s publisher Renew has been spearheading a campaign for climate resilient homes, focusing on pushing for much-needed changes to minimum energy standards. Our sustainable housing advocate Anne Martinelli looks at why this is important, what’s been achieved so far and what’s next.
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Ideas & Advice
Broccoli by subscription
People subscribe to magazines and newspapers, so why not food? With community-supported agriculture, you can do just that. This model of food production and distribution connects farmers and eaters, supports local and small-scale enterprises and offers financial, social and environmental benefits, and it’s gaining ground around the country.
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Sustainable design events
Design workshop
Design workshop
Design Workshop: Garage to granny flat
Alicia Brown and Marc Horler are planning to retrofit the red brick garage in their backyard as a temporary living space for their family during house renovations, with an eye to creating a useful ‘granny flat’ for the future too. Building designer Elizabeth Wheeler of Future Focused advises them on a workable layout and what they can achieve with their budget while complying with local regulations.
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Design workshop
Design workshop: Connecting indoors and out
Libby Kartzoff and her husband Gary Fry are planning a renovation of their 1950s home on the mid-north coast of New South Wales.
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Design workshop
Design workshop: Making space for family and friends
Anaise and Martin Cotrell are in the planning stages of extending their 1950s double brick home in Adelaide to provide more living space for their family of five. Paul Worroll of Reddog Architects offers an alternative, pavilion-based design.
Read moreMore house profiles
House profiles
A pretty pair
In inner Melbourne, a pair of dilapidated hundred-year-old townhouses was replaced with the best-practice 21st century version, with energy efficiency, recycled materials and neighbourhood connectedness firmly in mind.
Read more
House profiles
Back to the future: Classic Sanctuary homes revisited
Over the fifteen years since the first issue, more than 380 sustainable homes have featured in Sanctuary’s house profile pages. Dipping into the early issues, it’s easy to spot things that have changed.
Read more
House profiles
Among the vines
An off-grid Passive House provides comfortable, no-frills accommodation on a working vineyard in Victoria’s Gippsland.
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