Enhancing diversity was the key to this superb conversion of a small heritage-listed barn in Hobart.

The philosophy of "accidental environmentalist" Ralph Alphonso to question everything drove his transformation of a lean-to garage in East Melbourne into a four-storey, 60-square-metre home conceived as a showcase of sustainable living.

Tucked away in a bushy part of Paddington, a distinctive 1970s home has been reconfigured, refurbished and, above all, honoured by its proud new owner.

Architect Jamie Sormann snapped up a tired townhouse because he knows good bones when he sees them.

An architect’s own home is often used as a testing ground for ideas, as was the case in this new build in inner-Brisbane. Equally important, however, was affordability and that meant keeping it simple.

When architect Lisa Cummins helped her partner renovate a chilly Brunswick cottage, she was careful to improve light, space and comfort without emulating the over-development surrounding them.

When the owners of a turn-of-the-century Fremantle terrace called on architect Philip Stejskal to update their home, their brief was simple but challenging: inject northern light, storage and space.

With little going for it except its inner city location, this Victorian terrace needed some serious work. Architect David Boyle’s brilliant redesign creatively employed a number of tricks to solve some fundamental problems.

An old bungalow on a great plot in inner-city Auckland has been transformed by architects McCoy + Heine into an expansive home for two siblings and their young families.

Hidden from view in the heart of the city, a new home is encouraging us to rethink sustainable residential design, and to start right in our own back gardens.