We are now well into our solar project (read Part 1 here). The home has enjoyed over two months of solar power with storage and the associated smart reporting and monitoring. We have become avid weather heads, adjusting our daily routines like clever chipmunks. With a forecast of sunny days the…

The finalists for Australia’s peak industry design awards have been announced for 2017, recognising the exemplary achievements over the past year of designers from around the world, from all walks of life, and across different age groups.  The winners of the Good Design Awards will be announced at a black…

A total of 88 projects have been shortlisted for this year’s NSW Architecture Awards, the Australian Institute of Architects announced today. The shortlist comes from a record field of over 200 entries from around the state following an extensive review by a team of 17 jurors across 12 categories. In…

There’s nothing quite like a fresh coat of paint to refresh and transform a space. There’s also nothing quite like the acrid scent of paint off-gassing for days afterwards. The toxicity of paint is a concern for all home-makers because it reduces air quality by way of released Volatile Organic…

The first building in Aotearoa New Zealand to leave no footprint, and be globally recognised as actually replenishing its environment and community, was honoured on Friday in Seattle. Ngāi Tῡhoe’s tribal headquarters in Taneatua (Te Kura Whare) set out to be the first certified building in the Living Building Challenge…

Born again: Up-cycling gives an ageing home a new lease on life. Up-Cycle House is a freestanding three-bedroom, two-bathroom house located in Blackheath in the Blue Mountains. Architect Alexander Symes designed and built Up-Cycle House to address the question of what happens to a house when it reaches the end…

Bundanon Trust today revealed the Masterplan design for Arthur Boyd’s iconic Riversdale property in regional New South Wales created by Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA), following their unanimous appointment in November 2016 from a shortlist of six Australian architecture firms. The Masterplan design of Riversdale situated on the 1100-hectare property gifted…

Shortlisted entries for the 2017 Victorian Architecture Awards speak directly to the importance of design, place, culture and community. The annual program, run by the Australian Institute of Architects’ Victorian Chapter, showcases the role of architects in delivering ‘Places for People’, ensuring livability, making a positive contribution to the built…