Design workshop: Making a small space work harder

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: A higher-performing volume build

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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Design Workshop: Down by the river

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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Design Workshop: New house from the old

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: Garage to granny flat

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: Wetland retreat

Design workshop: Wetland retreat

Kane and Cherie Morley are planning to owner-build their long-awaited strawbale home with wetland views south of Perth. Local sustainability specialists Sid Thoo and Alex Raynes-Goldie help them fine-tune their design.

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