Designing with the environment in mind is crucial when building a home. Sustainable architecture not only reduces the negative impact on the environment but also incorporates green energy sources and sustainable materials to increase energy and water efficiency. With the building and construction sector responsible for a significant 39% of global carbon emissions, implementing sustainable practices in architecture is imperative in the fight against climate change.

Adopting environmentally friendly options not only helps to reduce your carbon footprint but also leads to cost, energy, and time savings. Our team will collaborate with you throughout the design process, evaluating key aspects of your project, to ensure that your building goals align with sustainable building principles.

These may include:
- Materials
- Transport
- Water
- Energy
- Waste

Creating a sustainable home not only improves the health and well-being of you and your family, but also contributes to a more sustainable environment. Our team is dedicated to helping you achieve this goal, by working closely with you during the design phase, providing expert guidance and a variety of options to incorporate sustainability into your living space.

Australia boasts a range of striking buildings that showcase the strength and durability of construction materials. These structures serve as valuable examples for builders looking to design innovative, environmentally friendly buildings.

When planning to build a home, durability should be a top priority. Your home is a long-term investment, and you want to ensure it can withstand the test of time. Material selection plays a crucial role in durability, and there are various options to choose from. Timber, for example, is a popular choice known for its cost-effectiveness and durability when designed and constructed properly. 

Climate also plays a role in material selection, as areas with extreme weather conditions or at risk of bushfires require materials that can withstand such conditions.

Sustainability and durability are interconnected, not only for the environment but for the economy as well. Buildings constructed with sturdy materials require less maintenance, reducing the need for frequent repairs and replacements. Brick, stone, and concrete are known for their robustness. Our team will work with you to determine the best materials for your specific project.

As our needs and the world around us evolve, so must our homes. They must be able to adapt to changes, both predicted and unexpected, to withstand the impacts of climate change, bushfire, and other natural and man-made events. With several years of experience in designing environmentally friendly and bushfire resistant homes we will give special attention to these important aspects and work towards creating a flexible, adaptable and resilient living space that will stand the test of time.

Making your home energy-efficient offers multiple benefits, including cost savings on energy bills and reducing your carbon footprint. But how do you go about achieving this goal?

Energy-efficient technology

Adopting energy-efficient technology can significantly reduce energy use and emissions. This includes switching to green energy sources for heating, lighting, and transportation. The selection of services and appliances plays a key role in reducing your water and energy consumption, and therefore also your home’s greenhouse gas emissions. Choosing the right appliances can also save you money in the long-term.

Energy-efficient materials

Architects and builders have access to a wide range of building materials that enhance a home's energy efficiency. These materials include structural insulated panels, low-emissivity windows, green roof systems, and more. It is also important to focus on sustainable materials that are environmentally friendly, recyclable, or reusable, such as plantation timbers, bamboo, cork, clay, and hemp.

Energy-efficient building methods/design

Energy-efficient construction is gaining popularity in Australia as the focus shifts towards lowering carbon emissions. One example is harnessing the power of solar energy. Solar panels convert sunlight into electrical energy that can power lights, appliances, and other electronic devices in your home. Not only does this reduce your carbon footprint, but it also saves money on electricity bills, and many states offer tax incentives for installing solar panels on homes.

We can help you implement a strategic energy-efficient approach throughout the entire design and building process, from selecting effective tools to choosing the right appliances for the home.

In construction, reducing waste is essential not only for the environment but also for the bottom line. By minimising waste during the construction process, you can save money on disposal fees and reduce the negative impact on the environment.

At TERRA!, we are committed to helping you reduce waste and minimise environmental impact during the construction process. By working together, we can choose low-impact, environmentally friendly materials and design elements that prioritise waste reduction in your home.

When the building is in use, one of the significant sources of waste is water. Households generate greywater from sources such as showers, basins, and washing machines, and blackwater from toilets, dishwashers, and kitchen sinks. By reusing wastewater in your home, you can conserve water, reduce the use of clean drinking water, and minimise waste.

Reusing greywater in gardens, flushing toilets and washing machines, and reusing blackwater in gardens with subsurface irrigation is an effective way of reducing water waste. If greywater is used straight away, it requires little to no treatment. However, if it is stored for more than 24 hours, it would need to be treated before use. Blackwater, on the other hand, requires treatment before use.

The design of our homes plays a crucial role in shaping our physical and mental well-being. With growing awareness of the connection between our surroundings and our health, more and more people are seeking ways to create healthy home environments. There are various factors to consider when designing a healthy home, but some of the most crucial are air quality, natural light, and acoustics.

Air Quality

Air quality is a vital consideration when creating a healthy home. Indoor air pollution poses significant environmental health risks, and sources of pollution include combustion appliances, building materials, cleaning products, and pesticides. Regular ventilation, use of natural building materials, low maintenance and easy to clean surfaces will be considered during the design process to improve the air quality of your home.

Natural Light

Natural light is essential for maintaining a healthy home environment. It offers numerous health benefits, including reducing eye strain, improving mood, and increasing Vitamin D levels.

Acoustics

Noise pollution is a leading cause of stress, leading to anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and sleep problems. To create a healthy home environment, it's essential to minimize noise pollution as much as possible. Some ways to achieve this include soundproofing walls and ceilings and installing high-performance windows.

Designing a healthy home is about more than just aesthetics; it's about creating a space that promotes both physical and mental well-being. By considering factors such as air quality, natural light, and acoustics, we can design homes that are not only beautiful but also promote healthy living.

As a sustainable architecture firm, we constantly strive to improve design while minimising expenses. At TERRA!, we are experts in passive solar and Passive House design, with years of experience incorporating it into our projects. We are certified Passive House designers and have worked on several certified Passive House projects in Australia and internationally.

Passive Solar Design

Passive solar design is a method of utilising natural conditions in the environment to improve building efficiency. This can be achieved through various means, such as orienting the building to take advantage of the sun's path, using vegetation to block wind, and using insulation and thermal mass to regulate indoor temperature.

Passive solar design is based on an understanding of climatic patterns and their impact on human comfort. The goal is to minimize the use of energy for heating and cooling while still providing a comfortable indoor environment. When paired with other sustainable features such as solar panels and green roofs, passive design can create a highly efficient and sustainable building.

Passive House Design

‘Passive House’ is a design standard that achieves thermal comfort with minimal heating and cooling by using insulation, airtightness, appropriate window and door design, ventilation systems with heat recovery and elimination of thermal bridges.
A certified Passive House undergoes a quality assurance process that ensures that it is built as designed and meets the comfort standards required by the Passive House Institute.

Incorporating passive design principles into your sustainable architecture offers multiple benefits. It saves money on energy costs by utilising natural heating and cooling methods, it improves indoor comfort for occupants by providing a stable temperature year-round and it conserves resources by reducing reliance on artificial heating and cooling methods.

There is a growing trend in architecture to use natural materials, driven by increased environmental awareness and a desire for sustainable buildings. Natural materials offer several benefits that make them appealing to architects and clients alike.

Environmental Benefits

Using natural materials in architecture is environmentally friendly. They help reduce the carbon footprint of a building and require less energy to produce than synthetic materials. This makes them a great choice for eco-conscious clients who want to minimize their construction's environmental impact.

Sustainable Building Materials

We prioritize the use of sustainable, natural building materials in our designs. These include materials that are renewable, recyclable, and require minimal energy to produce. Utilising locally sourced materials such as stone and timber reduces transportation emissions and supports local suppliers. We also prioritize non-synthetic, non-toxic materials, such as ethically harvested FSC certified wood.

Recycling-Cantered Designs

Recycling is at the core of our designs. While it was challenging to find recycled building materials in the past, there is now a thriving market for recovered architectural salvage, driven in part by specialized businesses that provide materials from demolition sites. We also use sustainable building materials such as FSC certified timber, straw bales, hemp, clay, lime, and green concrete with low embodied energy.

Indoor Environment

Natural materials can create a pleasant indoor environment by regulating humidity levels and keeping the air fresh. They also have acoustic properties that can reduce noise levels, making spaces more comfortable and conducive to concentration. Additionally, natural materials can improve air quality and absorb harmful toxins and pollutants.

Adopting a plant-based design approach in architecture is a trend that is revolutionising architecture. Not only does it minimise the environmental impact of buildings, but it also results in stunning, contemporary designs while enhancing indoor air quality. If you're seeking ways to make your living or working space more sustainable, let us assist you in incorporating plant-based materials in your upcoming renovation or construction project.

We ensure that the materials used in your home are not derived from animals and have not been tested on animals.

At TERRA!, we understand that every client and project is unique. We take the time to truly listen and understand your specific needs, wants and desires. We believe that effective communication is key to ensuring that the outcome is exactly what you envisioned.

Throughout the entire design and construction process, we will be dedicated to working closely with you to ensure that your project is tailored to your individual needs and preferences.

We will work diligently to create a design that is not only visually stunning, but also functional and efficient. We take into consideration all 8 guiding principles (and more) to ensure that your home is not only beautiful, but also comfortable and liveable for you and your loved ones. Get in touch today to create a space that matters.