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.

Open & Shut

Issue 25

The striking coloured side wall of this worker’s cottage in Brisbane gives a large hint that this is no standard renovation. Inside, the absence of walls creates a flowing internal layout that embraces the outdoors yet has the option to bunker down when required..

Rear Extension

Issue 24

Winner of two AIA (WA) awards, this renovation of a narrow, rundown cottage in inner- city Perth shows that more space doesn’t have to be the answer to improved liveability; it’s more about reconfiguring what you have.

Northern Exposure

Issue 24

Driven by the wish to live more sustainably, a Melbourne family has undergone a two-year project to transform a “renovator’s delight” into a highly efficient, individualistic home.

Linked

Issue 24

The central idea for this two-storey addition was inspired by Japanese courtyard houses that are, like this Sydney cottage, tight for space.

Modest Gains

Issue 23

Designed with a certain nostalgia, this new weekender takes the best of the fibro shack ideal – simple amenity in a beautiful location – and interprets it with contemporary materials and the essentials of sustainable design.

Signed Sealed Delivered

Issue 22

In Australia prefabricated or modular housing is a low 5% of the market, but it’s growing. It may never be your thing, however the pros are quite compelling, as one family in suburban Melbourne discovered.

Pop Up

Issue 22

A renovation of an inner-city Sydney terrace by its architect owners, Peter Rush and Heidi Seemann, has produced some surprising results working with only a minimal budget and the existing bones of the house.

Blank Canvas

Issue 22

It’s not often an architect is given completely free rein when it comes to designing a house, but an interesting St Kilda subdivision in Melbourne’s inner south offered Fiona Winzar just that. Her playful response to a small, park- side site so charmed her clients they decided to sell their existing home and move right in.

Rear Window

Issue 21

With a south-facing rear, one of the key challenges for architect Christopher Polly in his renovation of a cramped, dark, single-fronted terrace was to get more light into the house. The solution to this and all other aspects of the design was to fully realise the potential - and be bold.

Alley Cats

Issue 21

Architect Viv Faithfull and his partner Anna, veterans of several home renovations overseas, were determined to build a sustainable showcase from scratch when they settled in Melbourne four years ago. After one false start they found the answer to their prayers in a subdivided site down a nondescript back alley.