Building materials
Hemp, hemp masonry and hempcrete
Why hemp is gaining recognition as a high-performance, low-impact and contemporary building product. Dick Clarke explains why.
Read more
Building materials
Changing phase: Are PCMs living up to their promise?
Richard Keech considers why you might choose to use phase change materials (PCMs)
Read more
In focus
Composite benefits: When are SIPs the right choice?
Many households now factor construction time and expected energy bills into their project bottom line. Could structural insulated panels be an answer to lowering them both?
Read more
Subscribe to Sanctuary magazine
Modern green homes in Australia's premier publication dedicated to sustainable home design.
Subscribe
Sustainable Design
Windows: In the frame
Lance Turner and Dick Clarke introduce you to the delicate art of window selection, and explain the key terms and concepts to get you started.
Read more
Building materials
Material benefit: Specifying eco building products
Vetting the green credentials of building products is difficult for everyone. We find out how the experts go about this tricky task.
Read more
Outdoors
Pushing the boundaries: fence materials and design
Mara Ripani explains how to push the boundaries of sustainable design to the very edge of the property with the new abundance of fencing options.
Read more
In focus
Construction waste: Low hanging fruit
Stripping buildings of their reuse components before they are demolished can reduce demand for new materials.
Read more
Building materials
When is a concrete floor the right choice?
Dick Clarke explains the benefits and design considerations for choosing a concrete slab, and some alternatives.
Read more
In focus
In search of good wood: building with sustainably sourced timber
How do you go about finding sustainably sourced timber?
Read more
New build
A problem shared…
Peter and Teresa’s family home, a careful composition of old and new in a series of pavilions, will continue to evolve with their growing family and changing lifestyle.
Read more
Building materials
Bamboo build
Used as a building staple in South-East Asia since ancient times, bamboo is now seen as the ecological choice for everything from floorboards to cleaning products, but just how green is this grass?
Read more