Category: Context

We estimate it will be three years from commencement until we are in our new house. This is based on the following rough timelines (with input from the architects): Our house purchase settled in March 2026, and we had already received a proposal from our architects (Maxa Design) by this time. We selected Maxa Design…

We are aiming to build a passive house. A passive house is designed, constructed and verified to be highly thermally efficient because it is a well-sealed and insulated building with controlled air flow. This is something we learnt about initially from Grand Designs and then from reading Sanctuary Magazine. The five key components of a…

Sustainability of the project is a key priority to align with our values. This includes environmental, social and financial considerations, during design, construction and operations. There are many aspects to consider under the sustainability umbrella – our strategy summarises the aspects we are going to focus on. We know we can’t do everything. Sustainability Objective…

We want our house to be an elegantly simple, comfortable and functional sanctuary to enjoy and grow old in. A home that encourages community and connection by providing spaces to be together and apart and nourishes the occupants. The Japanese concept “Shibui” (渋い) sums up our desired vibe. It describes something that is understated, refined, and…

We moved to Melbourne (from Perth) in 2022 and rented. We quickly realised that house prices were substantially higher than in Perth, and we would need a while of saving before we could start seriously thinking about buying. Also, the chance of buying an empty block of land where we wanted to live was very…