Sustainable, urban design.

Many factors come into play in order to create sustainable development in urban areas. Those that focus on outcomes that use local, recycled or recyclable materials, are of a smaller scale and consume less energy are what we look for to publish in green magazine. Renovations that stay within the original footprint and reuse materials in creative ways, new builds that use less space within a block, thereby allowing vegetation to offset the hard surfaces and medium density developments that focus on ground-breaking, sustainable urban design is what you will find. We look for inspirational architecture with good  passive design that consumes little energy, houses that consider how to reduce the amount of new material, sourced locally when possible, introduce plants for heat control and consider community.

Modern Dugout

Issue 36

Christopher Polly’s extension of a Sydney semi to accommodate a family of five targetted its under-utilised undercroft area and ... a jacaranda tree.

Angular Charm

Issue 36

It took 20 years before owner Nikki Maloney was ready to say goodbye to her 1890s weatherboard. In architect/builder Drew Heath she found someone who understood how to retain some of the old while radically reconfiguring the unusual site.

Narrow Victory

Issue 35

Creating a fully flowing family home from a dark Fitzroy terrace disconnected from its north-facing rear meant careful reprogramming of its five-metre-wide site.

Trellised

Issue 33

This low-budget, lightweight extension in Brisbane showcases the twin talents of architect Mick Hellen.

Neighbourhood Watch

Issue 32

Architect David Vernon has packed as many kid-focussed features as possible into his transparent new Elwood home, including a cricket pitch lawn, a shop-style play nook and racing circuits.

Tailor Made

Issue 31

Sustainable design consultant Megan Norgate’s dilapidated Californian Bungalow in Melbourne’s Fitzroy North came with the works: Merri Creek, bike paths, a sloping site ideal for permaculture and an old-school neighbourhood where kids roam happily between houses.

Push & Pull

Issue 30

An architect/builder couple took a literal idea for the design of their new home – “dealing with the opposites and bringing them into tension” – and promised each other they would not compromise. And they didn’t.

Snappy Moves

Issue 30

When mature-age architecture student Amy Carroll and her young family bought an elevated Californian Bungalow in Northcote, Melbourne, last May with a big, glorious garden and clear views to the Dandenongs, the brief for an unusually quick, quirky, low- waste renovation that preserved the house’s history soon revealed itself.

Science And Sensibility

Issue 29

Standing out from its neighbours in Subiaco, Perth this striking new home reflects the expertise and principles of its architect owners.

Pre Loved

Issue 29

Using the ingenuity of a designer on a tight budget and the talents of various artisan friends, a creative couple has built a home packed with surprises – including a large green roof – and materials that are either reclaimed or handcrafted and have intriguing stories to tell.