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An building designer is a trained professional with necessary experience and license who designs buildings, coordinates consultants, and ensures that a project meets functional, aesthetic, and regulatory requirements. We guide a project from concept through to construction and completion.
Our clients are an integral part of the design process. We work closely with each client to fully understand their needs and requirements, and we value their input, incorporating feedback at every stage to create a home that reflects their vision.
We manage the entire process of obtaining all necessary permits for your project. With extensive experience working with local authorities and consultants, we oversee each stage on your behalf, ensuring a smooth and efficient process. For a detailed overview of our full building design process, please visit our Process page.
Our philosophy is simple: to design homes that are functional, healthy, and thoughtfully crafted to exceed every client’s expectations. We strongly support Passive House design principles and aim to create buildings that go well beyond the minimum construction requirements.
In basic terms, a Passive House is a performance-based approach to building design focused on comfort, efficiency and health of it's occupants. Through proven design principles, it maintains a stable indoor temperature with minimal energy use and avoids many of the shortcomings found in conventional Australian homes.
This is achieved through five core principles:
1. High Thermal Insulation - High levels of continuous insulation are installed to the buildings thermal envelope
2. Airtight Construction - A continuous airtight layer is installed to the thermal envelope preventing uncontrolled air leakage and drafts
3. High-Performance Windows & Doors - High performance UPVC, timber or thermally broken aluminium glazing units are designed specifically to suit your climate and project
4. Thermal Bridge-Free Design - Careful detailing ensures heat doesn’t escape through areas where different materials meet or at typical construction junctions in floor, walls and roofs
5. Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) - Fresh air is continuously supplied at a selected temperature while extracting stale air and ensuring a healthy home with consistent tempertature
A high-performance house or building is designed using the principles outlined above, but due to site constraints or budget considerations, it may not meet the full requirements for Passive House certification. These buildings are still considered high performance because they are designed to perform significantly better than the majority of Australian homes, delivering improved comfort, efficiency and long-term durability.
Yes. Passive House principles are highly relevant to our climate, helping to ensure the long-term health, durability, and performance of a building. While not every project achieves all five principles, we strive to maximise performance within the constraints of the site and the project budget, ensuring our clients receive the best possible building.
A Passive House is:
No. Passive House is not an architectural style — it’s a measured performance standard to meet key construction principles. A Passive House can look however we want it to!
A Passive House typically costs more upfront than a standard home, largely due to improved construction detailing and higher-performance materials. However, these costs are offset over time through significantly reduced energy bills, improved durability and long-term comfort. We work closely with our clients to maximise the projects performance potential to suit the budget.
Absolutely. Passive House principles are highly effective for townhouses, dual occupancies and apartment buildings. In fact they can often delivering even greater efficiency due to shared walls and compact forms.
Our fees depend on the type, scale, and complexity of each project, as well as the level of documentation required. As a guide, a complete set of construction documentation typically falls between 3–8% of the construction cost.
Every project is unique, so the best way to get a clear idea of your budget is to get in touch. We’d love to hear about your project and talk through what’s possible.
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