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.

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.

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.

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

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.

This pocket-sized Sydney terrace had one big thing going for it - a south-facing corner position. It gave architect Simon Anderson the key to designing its renovation.

Built in on three sides, skillful siting was the key to a new 7-star home in Melbourne.

With seemingly little going for it in terms of orientation or space, architect Shaun Carter turned to the site’s stepped levels to drive this ambitious renovation.

Architect Nathan Crump has designed a modernist, and modest, home for his family with a breathtaking view over Hobart.

Like many home renovators the owner/designer of this semi-detached had to juggle a set of competing demands, not the least being a fixed budget. Her solution was to focus on the simple ambition of bringing the northern light in to where it would be most appreciated.