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Green design

Interested in green design? Examples of sustainable architecture from around the country? Interviews with sustainable architects and green builders who’ve created great examples of both eco houses and light homes – perfectly suited to the way we love to live?

Weekly the Green Design blog explores it all. From renovation ideas and new home inspiration to the challenges of small lots, compact homes, sloping sites and bushfire zones, each week we have a new take on how to create a sustainable home.

Plus, each month one of our Light Home Design Ambassadors – themselves leading Australian sustainable architects – chooses an eco home they believe is a great example of a light home, and in a live Green Design podcast interview we hear why.

Simply use the RSS button to subscribe to updates as they come through or dip into the archives to discover ideas and inspiration for your new sustainable house.

MOST RECENT POSTS

Base Camp: The lightweight luxury weekender

Contemporary renovation injects new life into traditional terrace

G.J. Gardner releases Australia’s highest-rating home design

Renovation brings light to the forest

1960s reno overhaul for celebrity chef

Renovation success: from hated townhouse to lovely hill house

Urban transformation: From dated brick to curvy chic

From 1980s project home to contemporary award winner

Reliving the past: Recycling a 1950s fibro cottage

Award winning beach shack retreat for 20 people

Base Camp: The lightweight luxury weekender

After considering this adaptable weekender’s response to a sloping block, an isolated bushfire-prone location and extreme climate conditions, it’s no surprise it was shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival Awards.

Contemporary renovation injects new life into traditional terrace

An ultra modern addition to a traditional Victorian terrace has resulted in a spacious home with two distinct personalities, loads of natural light and a strong connection to the external property

G.J. Gardner releases Australia’s highest-rating home design

G.J. Gardner Homes Victoria and Tasmania has released a 9.2 star rated home, the highest in the commercial building sector, in response to a growing consumer demand for sustainable homes.

Renovation brings light to the forest

The brief: more light, more space and a light environmental impact. The solution: a compartmentalised design, improved solar performance and a 54% reduction in CO2 emissions.

1960s reno overhaul for celebrity chef

Some love it, some hate it: the Wattle Avenue House, designed by MVS Architects for celebrity chef Stefano de Pieri, was awarded last year’s Australian Institute of Architects Award for Residential Alterations and Extensions.

Renovation success: from hated townhouse to lovely hill house

A run of the mill townhouse was unexpectedly transformed when architect Andrew Maynard came up with a practical and playful renovation.

Urban transformation: From dated brick to curvy chic

Working to a tight budget, a west facing orientation and a cramped site, one Melbourne architect turned a dark 1960s brick home into a bright and functional form marrying old school heritage with contemporary design.

From 1980s project home to contemporary award winner

By taking a contemporary approach to a second storey addition, Architect David Boyle has transformed a 1980s project home into an award-winning and sustainable coastal abode.

Reliving the past: Recycling a 1950s fibro cottage

Opting to restore his 1950s beachside cottage over a complete rebuild, owner architect Michael Dystart created an award-winning waterfront weekender for less than $180,000.

Award winning beach shack retreat for 20 people

The award-winning Swansea house by 1+2 Architecture captures Australian beach shack culture while accommodating sleeping and living areas for more than 20 people.

Home's footprint less than a quater of the Australian average

The occupants of Energy Architecture's Aldinga House have slashed their environmental footprint to less than a quarter of the Australian average.

Island home takes new approach to prefab

Site: an island. Budget: constrained. Solution: a new take on prefab creating a standout piece of architecture that is not only sustainable but also represents a challenge to the traditional Australian residential market.

Off-grid straw bale home represmnets technical achievement

Client: Zoologist. Brief: A sustainable home. Solution: Off the grid, straw bale walls – and a true connection between client and architect. Design Ambassadors Penni Sutton and Peter Jongen explain.

Calling all designers! The Prime Minister’s house needs a makeover

A new competition has been launched to encourage designers and architects throughout Australia to sketch out their plans for a more contemporary residence for the Prime Minister on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra.

Australia’s first carbon neutral community – in Sydney?

An urban development on Sydney Harbour could become Australia’s first large-scale carbon neutral community after being accepted as a pilot project for the newly released Green Star – Communities PILOT rating tool.

Lightweight coastal development picks up HIA green award

A collection of light-weight, pre-engineered homes in the heart of Queensland's Sunshine Coast have taken out the Housing Industry Association’s (HIA) coveted GreenSmart Energy Efficiency Award.

Minimum impact

Working with a steep block and a client brief to minimise any impact on the surrounding site, architects Collaborative Design had their work cut out to create Holloway House, a sustainable holiday home in WA’s Margret River.

Casually coastal

Responding to a brief for a house on a beachfront lot that’s informal, comfortable and with plenty room for the client’s quiver of long boards – Base Architecture’s Shawn Godwin created a lightweight solution, aptly named ‘The Beach Shack’.

Keeping the character

A clever approach to an addition to an early 1900’s Queenslander cottage has culminated in a seamless transition between living, outdoor dining and garden areas, while maintaining the character of the streetscape.

Lightweight and carbon positive

Poor orientation, a minimum flood level and bush fire rating notwithstanding – one Queensland architect has used lightweight construction and attention to detail to create a home with an 8-star carbon positive rating.

Sustainable features enhance homes’ design

Two contemporary townhouses in Auckland are full of eco friendly features which do not compromise the quality of the design, in fact they enhance it says architect Frans Kamermans.

Lightweight designs pick up momentum in Sydney

The weatherboard look is coming back with a vengeance according to knock down rebuild specialist GJ Gardner Homes, who says a modern and sustainable take on the traditional weatherboard is taking North Sydney by storm.

Queensland builder keeps renovation small and sustainable

Queensland builder Sanctuary 28 has proved bigger isn’t always better by bringing a dark and dated worker’s cottage into the modern age.

Creek chic challenges the big block

Publicly serious yet privately light: that’s the philosophy of Creek Chic, an unusual South Australian home that represents a brave departure from the large family home on the big block.

Australian LCA tool recognised by world leader

An Australian Life Cycle Assessment tool has been recognised in an international study as being the best equipped to help residential designers and planners get to grips with the carbon impacts of urban development, and push sustainable buildings further into the mainstream.

A Lightweight winter warmer

Working to a brief citing contemporary design with significant practical benefits, Tasmanian builder Rainbow Building Solutions has delivered a three-bedroom 7.1 star home in Hobart, using exclusively lightweight materials.

TROPICAL HOUSE SERIES: Keeping cool a breeze

Working to a tight budget, and the needs of a young active family, Gordon Beath, director of Edge Architecture took a lightweight and innovative approach to this sustainable home in Cairns.

TROPICAL HOUSING SERIES 3: Rethinking Redlynch

After taking out two of Queensland’s most sought-after building design awards, designer Tony Lawson has proven it’s possible to create a sustainable and eye-catching home within a tight budget.

TROPICAL HOUSING SERIES: A new take on multi-residential

Cairns-based sustainable design firm Studio Mango has given new life to a dated Queenslander, reimagining a multi-residential development suited to the tropics.

TROPICAL HOUSE SERIES: HP Tree House

An award winning and sustainable tree house, designed by MMP Architects, kicks off the Light Home Tropical House Series.

Energy efficient homes: Vineyard Vista

Peter Sutton’s lakeside project in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley brings together the location’s stunning views with elegant and energy-efficient design.

Beach house series: Design Ambassador's Choice

The brief was simple: beach views and a cottage feel – but achieving this within a multi-residential development required an innovative and lightweight take on unit block construction. Design Ambassadors Penni Sutton and Peter Jongen explain.

BEACH HOUSE SERIES: weathering Stradbroke

A sustainable home suitable for a large dynamic family that responds to vicious weather patterns, all the while bonding with the natural surrounds, was no easy brief for this island abode – but architect Justin O’Neil was up to the challenge.

BEACH HOUSE SERIES: Double-up with prefab

A crumbling fibro beach house is now a light-filled home that’s twice the size – thanks to a prefab solution that dealt with the challenges of an awkwardly shaped block, tight timeframe and modest budget.

BEACH HOUSE SERIES: mastering the remote

Working with local tradespeople – and enjoying it in the process – is something Troppo Architects’ Phil Harris aims to achieve with most of his sustainable building projects. And with the Ballast Head Beach House, on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, he scored on both fronts.

Sustainable building: a cost effective sea change

A Tasmanian-based owner-builder has created a lightweight home on a steeply sloped block in Hobart’s Geilston Bay. Light Home Design Ambassador Misho says the choice of materials was not only more sustainable than a heavyweight home, but was 50% cheaper to build.

BEACH HOUSE SERIES: A Whale of a Beach House

Number one: it’s a huge sustainable home. Number two: you can watch the annual whale migration from it. Number three – and most importantly: it’s a party house, designed for having a whale of a time.

Ingredients of a sustainable home: PART 2

What ingredients are needed to create a sustainable home? To answer this question LightHome has assessed the key products chosen to use on the green affordable home prototype, the Smarter Small Home.

Sustainable design: prefab sustainability star

Splice Projects in Western Australia has created a multi-award winning pre-fabricated home, which applies a holistic approach to energy efficiency that guarantees a significant cost saving over the long term.

Ingredients of a sustainable home: PART 1

What ingredients are needed to create a sustainable home?

Green guide: steel versus wood framing

While wooden framing has been the standard method used in Australian home construction for years, the use of lightweight steel to frame residential structures is on the rise according to a number of industry sources.

Energy efficient home: Springfield scores 9.5 stars

Queensland builders Integrity New Homes have catered to a growing demand for energy efficient homes by achieving a 9.5 star home energy rating in their latest display.

Affordable homes: housing affordability at its best in Qld

A Queensland-based collaboration has developed a sustainable and affordable home and land package, addressing the needs of first homebuyers and downsizing baby boomers.

Lightweight renovation bridges eras

Designing an additional living pavilion to the rear of a heritage-listed federation home produced a number of challenges for architect David Boyle. But with savvy design and lightweight materials, the outcome flawlessly merges two starkly different eras.

Green building materials: assessing embodied energy

While the energy used in operating a building can be readily measured, it is much more difficult to assess the embodied energy within a structure. Light Home provides insight on how to hone in on a building’s embodied energy – and what can be done to reduce it.

Sloping block: A swim in the trees

This luxury home in Brisbane’s south has been built on a steeply sloped block, and features a swimming pool perched 10 metres off the ground.

Lightweight design gives first homebuyers the edge in competitive market

WA-based Willcox Architects has provided first home buyers access to the competitive Margaret River property market with a lightweight, sustainable townhouse complex, priced some 40% below the market average.

Eco at home: Kids’ toys

If you’ve got kids, you’ve got toys. But if you’re eco-minded, wouldn’t it be great if those toys could be environmentally friendly?

A postcard from Canada

Neither Robert Herman nor Scott Mooney is a builder. Nor are they architects. But the Canadian duo took on the challenge of designing their own super-eco home – and won.

Sustainable reno: One house, a trio of gardens

Three gardens, total ‘seal-ability’, noise-proofing and heat insulation. This old-style terrace in the heart of Sydney’s inner west has been transformed into a modern gem – with a 7.5 star energy rating to boot.

Eco living: Green babies

When you’re turning your home into an eco example, don’t forget the little one!

Healthy home: Designing for good quality air

We all know it’s unpleasant to walk down a gridlocked street breathing in toxic traffic fumes. So why would you put up with bad air quality at home?

A sloping challenge: Eco family home

Building on a slope presents a number of challenges, but they are challenges in which Sean Leigh, owner of Outlook Homes Qld, revels.

DIY the green way

Knowing where to start with DIY is one thing. Knowing where to start with eco DIY is a whole other ball game.

Townsville trio: Nine-star eco cottages

A trio of heritage-style cottages in north Queensland are proving heritage can be state-of-the-art.

The perfect small lot: A home of contrasts

Purpose-built for a retired Queensland couple, Flinders is the perfect example of contemporary small lot living. And having just clinched a regional architecture award for this home, designers Base Architecture have proved they were on to a winner.

Eco living on a grand scale

It’s not just one light home that Boris Planinac is building – it’s 17.

Room to breathe

Rather than building to the boundaries of their block, this couple created a home with a whisper-small footprint, leaving them plenty of outdoor space.

A lightweight success: eco economical home

Queensland architect Jim Mullins faced a list of challenges with his Bilinga project – and it was to be his own home, so it had to be perfect for his family.

An Edwardian Makeover

Six people in an Edwardian cottage was becoming a little too close for comfort for one Melbourne family. The solution? A renovation marrying old-world charm with new-world flair.

A dream of going green

Renovate or rebuild? It’s a curly question for any homeowner but the family living in this Norah Head home took a bold step to create a house for the future.

Green flooring: Sustainable carpets

Did you know that corn can be turned into carpet? Or that a sheep’s wool is brilliant at absorbing and releasing moisture? And ever heard of llama and alpaca carpets?

Renovation ideas: from holiday rental to permanent home

Turning a holiday home and rental into a full-time family house was the challenge set for Queensland building designer Simon Scott.

Energy-efficient ski chalet design

A $200 quarterly electricity bill – in the snow? In designing an energy-efficient ski chalet, Cox Architecture turned to passive solar, lightweight materials and even an indoor sauna.

Energy efficient building: beachside star

Our latest Design Ambassador’s Choice demonstrates how a light home can overcome an orientation that’s not ideal – and still be comfortable all year round.

Green interiors: Finding beautiful sustainable lighting designs

Light up your life with sustainable lighting designs that are sure to brighten up the indoor and outdoor areas of any home.

Fire resistant building with eco friendly design

Eco friendly house built in a bushfire zone using sustainable architecture and fire resistant building materials.

Design challenges of island living

Building an eco friendly holiday house on an island can present multiple design challenges that can be overcome with careful planning.

Energy efficient homes: Dunsborough delight

A builder’s own home shows off the beauty of energy efficient, sustainable house design.

Beach house escape – Surf House 1

Design Ambassador Ed Ewers reveals why Surf House 1 ticks all the boxes as a beautiful beach escape – and simply constructed light home.

Son of a builder rises to the occasion

The Cape Rise project in Western Australia ticks all the boxes for sustainable passive solar building design.

Painting roof white saves energy and cools buildings

New research by a leading Australian university has revealed that painting your roof white can reduce heat by about 30°C.

Sea for yourself: The blueprint to beach house design

Here comes a set of five designers to get you amped about the modern day makings of the humble Aussie beach house.

Australian Design: Sustainable beach house

An award winning sustainable beach house design built in just eight weeks on the NSW mid north coast.

Australian architecture: Built around the Tuckeroo

Design Ambassador, Shane Denman, chose Fingal House as his Ambassador’s Choice this month for the way the design wraps around a 135-year old tree to really blur inside and out.

Design Everyday; Organic Textiles

Hi! Iím Joanna, a writer for Design Shuffle, an online portal to fabulous interior design and designers. I am crazy about design and spend my days writing guest posts such as this one on Light Home.

Universally appealing

A home designed for a wheelchair bound client suits him perfectly – and looks like any other house…

Green Undressed: Top Stories for 2011, see you in 2012!

Lighthome recaps the most interesting and most viewed stories and podcasts in our Green Undressed stories this year.

Dear Design Expert: Top stories for 2011, see you in 2012

Lighthome recaps the most interesting and most viewed stories and podcasts that you asked our Design Experts.

Green prefab walls

A reader asked: “Is there a company in Australia that manufacturers prefabricated wall systems in industrial hemp that could be used in conjunction with steel framing?”

Australian Design: Light Box

A contemporary cubic form constructed primarily with glass and concrete has become an adored family home brimming with light and style.

10 inexpensive, thoughtful gift ideas

It’s hard to find the perfect gift, especially an inexpensive, thoughtful one. Here are a few ideas to make it easier on you and your budget - most are well under $50.

Art House

Combining building design with art has created a house that is a living, breathing artwork to be enjoyed every day.

Design Ambassador: On prefabricated homes.

Design Ambassador Ed Ewers broke with tradition this month, and rather than discussing a particular project chose to talk about prefabricated homes including both the construction and the end results.

Australian design: Four-way Win

A contemporary beach house showcases how sustainability principles can be a win for client, designer, builder and the environment.

Australian Home Design: Multi-generation living

An innovative new display is designed for multi-generational living, allowing the one house to be used as four separate homes.

Shifting American design

Beyond the barcalounger

How Do I… protect from the western sun and storms?

A reader asked us: “How do you design to protect /insulate the Western side of your exposed build from Heat and South West Storms ?”

Renovation ideas: ‘Before and After’

When an existing house no longer provides the living solutions required but the location remains ideal, choices include bulldozing or renovating. Adding an extension onto an existing house can be a cost-effective and sustainable option.

The practical & aspirational

Nothing will make more of a statement in your home than lighting. It sets the mood, directs attention and expresses who you are, both practically and aesthetically. It’s so important from an energy-savings standpoint that you might want to enlist the help of an expert before you even change a light bulb. Designers can help narrow your needs and navigate the plethora of choices.

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