Sanctuary Issue 33

Issue 33 features:

• Urban ecovillages
• Valuing green features
• Home lighting design
• Family home on a budget
• Farming in the city

Issue Contents:

Ecovillages come to town

It’s argued that Australia is well behind the pack when it comes to green building, but an increasing number of progressive developments across the country are showing what’s possible. There’s also a growing move to bring these developments to our cities, spurring innovation that spans sustainable design to creative financing.

Among the gumtrees

A bushy suburban block in Western Australia’s famed wine region was the perfect spot for building designer Michael Lurie’s own high-performing, but unassuming family home.

Family treehouse

A modest Newtown cottage has undergone a gradual transformation into an urban oasis and a ringing endorsement for small-scale city living.

Room with a view

A clear brief and creative freedom allowed architect Tim Angus to make the garden an integral part of this Melbourne period cottage with a sensitive addition that links old with new.

Shutter solution

An innovative inner Brisbane renovation transformed the home’s existing rooms and their connection with the outdoors, while preserving the garden.

Outside the box

An energy-efficient addition to a charming double brick home in Melbourne’s east bucks the trend for all new.

Forest hideaway

A new home in the tropics of Far North Queensland rests gently within the rainforest.

Architecture or sculpture

Twenty years after Soft Technology magazine (now ReNew) featured a central Victorian ‘mubrick masterpiece’ by owner-builder Terry Scully, we take a look at his latest creation.

Budget beauty

Emma Hohnen wanted a modest home for herself and her two children on a tiny budget in an even smaller timeframe. The restrictions led to the creation of a light, airy, character-filled space tailored exactly to her needs.

Home lighting design

Megan Norgate gives some tips on making clever lighting choices that look great and use less energy.

Unique block

Architect Julian Rutt offers Jared and Kylie Barnes some design advice for their planned new house on an unusually shaped block in the Adelaide suburb of Campbelltown.

Costing comfort

We all want to live in comfortable homes with low running costs, but how do we quantify the market value of these benefits? Danielle King outlines the issues around valuing green homes and some of the efforts to address them.

Farming on the fringe

Australia’s rising city-based population coupled with a growing interest in food miles has led to fertile conditions for urban agriculture.

A better shade of grey

Potable water is becoming the world’s liquid gold, and in the driest continent on earth, it’s priceless. Horticulturist Michael Tanner outlines how you can help save this precious resource by going grey in the garden.