News
Sanctuary 51 out now: Design for a changing climate
In our 51st issue, we visit houses across Australia designed to be resilient to our changing climate, including flood, fire, storm and heatwave. We also explore collaborative housing and its social, financial and environmental benefits, consider Passive House for schools and look at garden design for bushfire.
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Sanctuary: modern green homes is Australia's premier magazine dedicated to sustainable house design.
House profiles
Right as rain
Over several years, this Brisbane couple have renovated their home and ethical clothing studio to be space and resource efficient and able to weather Queensland’s storms.
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House profiles
Trial by fire
After a painstaking design process, this modest and energy-efficient modern beach shack survived a devastating bushfire on the New South Wales south coast.
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Ideas & Advice
Ask our experts: Architects Declare Australia
The Architects Declare Australia movement, launched last year in response to the growing climate emergency (see Sanctuary 49), now has nearly 900 signatories. One of the commitments is the inclusion of life cycle analysis to measure and reduce the carbon impact of design and construction projects; we asked Clinton Cole of Sydney’s CplusC Architectural Workshop to explain what his practice is doing to contribute to positive change in this area in alignment with their pledge.
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Ideas & Advice
Where there’s smoke: Protecting yourself from air pollution at home
Traditional approaches to good indoor air quality centre around materials that don’t off-gas, indoor plants and an abundant supply of fresh external air – but what if it’s not so fresh? Building scientist Jenny Edwards looks at what you can do when the outside air is hazardous, as was the case in many parts of the country this past summer.
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Building a 'suburban beach house'
Watch our webinar with building scientist Jenny Edwards of Light House Architecture and Science, whose Canberra house is featured in Sanctuary 50. We hear about how she and her partner achieved a high-performing family home on a budget, using standard materials, a modular design approach and careful attention to detail. Subscribe to Renew on YouTube to keep up with our future videos.
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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
Ask our experts: Architects Declare Australia
The Architects Declare Australia movement, launched last year in response to the growing climate emergency (see Sanctuary 49), now has nearly 900 signatories. One of the commitments is the inclusion of life cycle analysis to measure and reduce the carbon impact of design and construction projects; we asked Clinton Cole of Sydney’s CplusC Architectural Workshop to explain what his practice is doing to contribute to positive change in this area in alignment with their pledge.
Read more
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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Ideas & Advice
Where there’s smoke: Protecting yourself from air pollution at home
Traditional approaches to good indoor air quality centre around materials that don’t off-gas, indoor plants and an abundant supply of fresh external air – but what if it’s not so fresh? Building scientist Jenny Edwards looks at what you can do when the outside air is hazardous, as was the case in many parts of the country this past summer.
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Sustainable design events
Design workshop
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.
Read more
Design workshop
Design workshop: new house from the old
On Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Lisa Hartmann and Kurt Weinert are planning to deconstruct their ageing, inefficient house and use the materials to build a sustainable new family home. Experienced in the use of recycled materials, Peter McArdle of ptma Architecture gives the couple some pointers.
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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.
Read moreMore house profiles
House profiles
Trial by fire
After a painstaking design process, this modest and energy-efficient modern beach shack survived a devastating bushfire on the New South Wales south coast.
Read more
House profiles
Right as rain
Over several years, this Brisbane couple have renovated their home and ethical clothing studio to be space and resource efficient and able to weather Queensland’s storms.
Read more
House profiles
Gone boating
Innovative eco-friendly composite materials and prefabricated construction are the hallmarks of this airy Queensland home, designed by a master boatbuilder.
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