News
Sanctuary 59 out now: Backyard builds special
In Sanctuary 59 we visit beautiful backyard builds around the country, including a crop of creative home offices built in response to Melbourne's lengthy Covid lockdowns.
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Sanctuary: modern green homes is Australia's premier magazine dedicated to sustainable house design.
House profiles
Surprise package
From the street, there is little to hint at the transformation that turned this Canberra ugly duckling into a swan.
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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
The accidental development
A pair of Melbourne retirees-turned-developers sets the standard for ‘empty nests’ of the future, building their ultimate sustainable home and a couple more for good measure.
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House profiles
Wedge of calm
Personal setbacks and a seemingly inhospitable location proved no impediment to this architecturally distinctive Passive House in inner Melbourne.
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House profiles
Just right for one
Built on a budget, Liz Martin’s character-filled Bendigo home is a delightful example of well-designed urban infill.
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House profiles
High water haven
Stealing a march on the next Brisbane flood event, the renovation and downstairs fitout of Marion and Daniel’s Queenslander incorporates innovative flood-resilient design features.
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Ideas & Advice
Volume-built wins: Steps to a more sustainable project home
Many people look to volume builders as an affordable option for their new home – but how do you achieve your sustainability goals with this mass-market product? ESD consultant and housing researcher Erika Bartak explains the easy wins, the pitfalls to avoid, and the important questions to ask.
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Outdoors
Nourished by nature: Garden design for mental health and wellbeing
There’s plenty of evidence that connection with nature is beneficial for both mind and body. We speak to the experts about designing gardens for improved mood and wellbeing, and what we can do at home to create green spaces that give back in a therapeutic way.
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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 59 out now: Backyard builds special
In Sanctuary 59 we visit beautiful backyard builds around the country, including a crop of creative home offices built in response to Melbourne's lengthy Covid lockdowns.
Read more
Climate Resilient Homes
Briefing paper: Gas-free suburbs for Geelong
Well-overdue changes to the Victorian Planning Provisions and Plumbing Regulations would open the way for Geelong’s first gas-free suburbs.
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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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Advocacy
Renters deserve a healthy home
Renew is part of a coalition pushing for healthy homes for renters.
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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.
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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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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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