A letter to my unborn child about climate change Sam Drummond Just days before my first child was born, I escaped apocalyptic scenes in Sydney to return home, with the country’s biggest city blanketed in thick red smoke from out-of-control bushfires. 1
Buildings are not lifeless objects, it’s time to treat them as such Hugo Chan, Cracknell & Lonergan Architects In our obsession with newness, we can easily forget that the narrative of sustainability is not merely about technical longevity, but also about cultural sustainability, an expression of our city’s identity and thus a continuation of our collective memory of place.
New survey shows sustainability on the rise Tina Perinotto | 21 January 2020 A new survey from Stockland reveals evolving preferences among residential buyers for sustainability, especially environmental and community features.
Australian building codes don’t expect houses to be fire-proof – and that’s by design Raymond William Loveridge, University of Technology Sydney | 14 January 2020 More than 2,000 homes have been destroyed in Australia since the start of the bushfire season. More will certainly be destroyed before the season ends in March. Could these houses have been built to better withstand fire?
Australia’s home wellness revolution just around the corner Poppy Johnston | 19 December 2019 We might think of our homes as sanctuaries from the outside world but many houses actually have poor indoor air and water quality and are throwing our natural sleeping habits out…
New “dating app” for home ownership Georgia Roach | 12 December 2019 Driven by the success of sharing economy-platforms such as Uber and Airbnb, two young Australians have launched a website they claim is the “Tinder of home ownership” in order to help more people break into the property market.
How ageism, ableism and inequity are creating “shelter hell” for older people Willow Aliento | 5 December 2019 OXYGEN FILES: The design, supply and affordability of housing for older Australians isn’t keeping up with our rapidly aging population, say experts. But the solutions aren’t straightforward.
Wodonga builder proves 10 star homes not so hard if you’re a quality builder to start with Willow Aliento | 28 November 2019 If you want to control the energy efficiency of your building, start by eliminating air leakage, says an award-winning home builder who has been experimenting and innovating for more than a generation.
UK parties campaign to decarbonise buildings – even the builders David Thorpe | 12 November 2019 In the midst of a general election, and following declarations of a climate emergency by many parts of the country including by the UK Parliament, UK political parties are competing on building efficiency.
Wales adopts super-insulated, timber design for social housing David Thorpe | 24 October 2019 HOUSING INNOVATION: New housing designs in Wales use locally grown timber frames and cladding, together with high levels of insulation made from recycled newspaper – a combination that locks up atmospheric carbon in the building form.
NSW government celebrates “biggest single transition of social housing tenancies ever” Georgia Roach | 10 October 2019 The NSW government has celebrated the successful transferal of some 14,000 social housing tenancy management tenders to community housing providers.
Sustainable homes pay dividends in health, jobs and growth Suzanne Toumbourou, Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council | 8 October 2019 When you think of an unhealthy house, what comes to mind? Mould, damp, leaks, dark and dingy spaces with poor airflow. You are a product of the home where you live; just ask an asthmatic living in a mouldy or poorly ventilated home.
Coliving – a Millennial utopia or another sharing economy cash grab? Poppy Johnston | 3 October 2019 Coliving can indeed be fun, social places to live but could the benefits peddled in the brochure be a bit overblown? The Fifth Estate investigates.
Where to buy property for the climate emergency Willow Aliento | 3 October 2019 Browsing glossy property marketing and getting excited about en suites might be fun but serious investors and home buyers should consider one more thing when deciding what and where to buy: the climate emergency.
Excelon beefs up Melbourne’s green housing stock Poppy Johnston | 24 September 2019 Melbourne’s inner north is home to some of Australia’s best sustainable housing projects and more are on the way.
The evolution of coliving and how it’s rolling out – Sydney’s west included Poppy Johnston | 12 September 2019 PROFILE: Coliving operator Hmlet only set up shop in Sydney early this year but its portfolio has grown quickly to more than 200 rooms across Paddington, Newtown, Marrickville, Alexandria, and most recently the Western Sydney suburb of Parramatta.
