Why don’t you take on projects with a budget of less than $400K

Over the years we’ve found ourselves extremely good at large scale home renovations and extensions. Of course, there’s a large market for smaller works to get in quick and get things done. We prefer larger, more transformative renovations when we can really have a positive impact on peoples lives. We understand that most people will only renovate once or twice in their life. - Therefore we like to get the work right the first time and typically the only time!

Why don’t you build new homes?

Over the years we found we were great at renovations/extensions and it was the work our team really really loved to do. Also the fact that new builds didn’t sit as well with us from a sustainability point of view. We could see that rather than demolishing the old and building new, we should be using the beautiful old homes that we have. Allowing these old homes to tell their storey while we transformed them into homes fit for modern living.

What’s included in construction costs?

We include absolutely everything in construction costs! From insurances to council permits, carpets to driveways and everything in between!

What’s sustainable about Sustainable Homes Melbourne?

First, we have to determine ‘what is sustainable’? Definition straight from Google is; able to be maintained at a certain rate or level. I honestly question whether the human race is sustainable at it’s current rate or level. However that isn’t going to change anytime soon, so it’s about making our current level of living much more sustainable. Our mission is to improve our current housing stock and restore the beautiful, old homes that we have, rather than build new. We build for longevity. People often say ‘homes these days aren’t built like they used to be’. I guarantee you, the homes SHM build will last much longer than homes built in the 20th century (and homes built by 99 out of 100 other builders). We build high-performing homes that are beautiful and comfortable to live in and use very little operational energy, which is the largest contributor to greenhouse gases. These are just some of our answers.

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTS MELBOURNE

Our passion lies in transforming Melbourne’s rundown old homes into beautiful, comfortable, sustainable homes.

Sustainable Architects Melbourne

At Sustainable Homes Melbourne we undertake meaningful projects that align with our purpose and values. We support, inspire and engage with our clients to design creative sustainable architecture.

We are innovative sustainable architects based in Fitzroy, Melbourne. Our unique green designs are contemporary and eco-friendly.

Our holistic and environmentally sustainable approach is a conscious effort to build living spaces that work with the environment and limit resources.

Clifton Hill Townhouses - SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTS MELBOURNE

What Is Sustainable Architecture?

Sustainable architecture is the general term used to explain buildings designed and built to limit or minimize the human use of resources. It’s about creating living environments that use appropriate materials in the most efficient way possible.

Sustainable architecture is sometimes referred to as green architecture or eco- friendly architecture.

Wikipedia says “Sustainable architecture uses a conscious approach to energy and ecological conservation in the design of the built environment.The idea of sustainability or ecological design, is to ensure that our use of presently available resources does not end up having detrimental effects to our collective well-being or making it impossible to obtain resources for other applications in the long run.”

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The Top 6 Sustainable Architecture Strategies

Passive Solar Design

The term passive is key here, and the objective is to create sustainable homes that heat and cool passively. A lot of things comes down to window placements and sun shading to ensure we use the sun to warm the home in winter, and we prevent the sun from penetrating the home in the summer months. It’s also important windows are placed to allow for cross-ventilation, to allow cooling summer breezes to pass through the home and passively cooling.

Active Sustainable Design

Active Sustainable Design strategies can often be seen as the bells and whistles to a sustainable home. Often encompassing solar panels and battery storage systems, it’s also important to understand the heating and cooling elements of a home. Focusing on Melbourne’s climate the energy use from heating a home far outweighs the load required for cooling. Therefore it’s important to use energy efficient heating systems such as electric Heat pumps that is an incredibly energy-efficient heating source.

Renewable Energy Systems

With a considered approach to energy efficient appliances, heating and cooling, accompanied with a renewable energy system such as solar panels, your home home energy bills decrease drastically or can even disappear all together. This along with good solar passive design equates to a carbon neutral home.

Green Building Materials & Finishes

Material selection and selection of finishes are critical to sustainable architecture. Materials should be considered on their eco-friendly credentials and also their longevity and low maintenance costs. Recycled timbers and materials are always a joy to work with and can offer something really special and unique to a sustainable home.

Stormwater Management

There’s a number of reasons to place an emphasis on sustainability and stormwater management. To design a truly sustainable and self-sufficient home it’s important that stormwater is captured on site and used in your garden and toilets. Watertanks have become a staple of sustainable architecture and can add utility and a pleasing aesthetic to a sustainable home.

Native Landscaping

Native landscaping can often be overlooked, but it’s important that we merge your outdoor spaces with the sustainable architecture of your interior. Native plants can add a lot to a home by way of native birds. We love to used deciduous trees grown over timber pergolas to protect north facing windows in summer, while in winter when they lose their leaves allowing the beautiful, soft winter sun inside. This is solar passive design at its best.

Clifton Hill Townhouses - SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTS MELBOURNE 2

Elements Of Sustainable Architecture

Solar passive design
Cross-ventilation
Building Orientation – Living to the north
Window location and sizing
Window shading
Night purge of hot air
Low maintenance materials
Thermal mass to absorb heat from the sun
Landscaping with native vegetation.
Recycled/Upcycled Materials

Examples Of Sustainable Architecture Projects

Below are some examples of sustainable architecture projects we’ve been involved with that we are proud of:

Project 1 – Clifton Hill House

This beautiful home incorporates many elements of sustainable architecture including reverse brick veneer walls to assist with thermal mass and help keep the home at a moderate temperature.

The image shows the large eave to the north facing aspect of the home designed to protect the home from the harsh summer sun, accompanied with thermal mass internally to absorb the heat that penetrates the home. These homes stay at a moderate temperature all year round.

We incorporated the following strategies;

Reverse brick veneer construction for thermal mass properties
140mm walls for additional insulation than typical
Large eaves to north elevation
Cross-ventilation, north/south
North facing central courtyard

Project 2 – Sutherland St, Brunswick

Restoration of a 110 year old Edwardian home in Brunswick, with a view to design an energy efficient and sustainable home with plenty of natural light and storage.

The image below shows how we implemented sustainable architecture for this renovation. The use of window shading to filter the harsh summer sun while allowing the more gentle winter sun to passively heat the home.

We incorporated the following strategies;

Small increase to existing footprint
Upgraded all windows to double glazed units
West and north facing windows shaded from summer sun
Sealing of existing chimney to prevent heat loss
Window locations to allow for cross-ventilation for passive cooling

Sutherland St, Brunswick - SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTS MELBOURNE

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