Our Story

We need a new approach to single-family housing in existing neighbourhoods that contributes
positively to the health and vitality of living systems, human and non-human. Despite a climate and
biodiversity emergency, more time spent working from home, skyrocketing energy prices and a widespread shortage of construction materials, the way we design and build houses remains much the same. There are currently no regenerative requirements and very few sustainability requirements, for building or renovating a single-family house located on a standard lot in most municipalities in Australia. 

In 2022 we purchased a 100-year old California Bungalow in Hampton to be the site of our new family home. Rather than going down the conventional path of knocking down the existing dilapidated building, our intention is to make this a regenerative renovation which unlocks the potential of the existing building and site in ways that enable our family, our community and other living systems to all thrive and prosper. We want this to be a healthy, comfortable and inspiring home for our family. We also want this project to inspire a wider conversation within our community and the building industry on how we can build single-family housing that energy positive, carbon neutral, water resilient, zero waste, healthy and nature positive

Project Timeline

  • Chris and Sun purchase 28 Margarita St, Hampton as an opportunity to bring new life to a charming 1920s California Bungalow, a short walk from their existing home.

  • The owner’s family generously provided many opportunities to visit the property to get a head start on the best approach to renovation, including completing the ecological survey which revealed there were no existing indigenous plants on the site. Talina Edwards Architects, a leading sustainable design firm, were engaged in May.

  • After a long settlement, extended due to the death of the long-time previous owner (who had lived there since 1973), the sale was closed and we finally received the keys.

  • To help us understand how to regenerate the ecological vitality of the site and identify key species to bring back, an ecology workshop was facilitated by BioUrbem, including participation from the project team, sustainability consultants and local residents.

  • CJ Arms was engaged for water and landscape planning, and the project team was introduced to Biophilic Design, the practice of strengthening a personal connection to nature, in a one-day workshop which generated a multitude of ideas to shape the design of internal and external spaces.

  • Architectural sketch design was completed, with early drawings demonstrating how the existing house could be sensitively renovated and connected through link corridor to a two story extension meeting the stringent Passive House energy and thermal comfort standard. The project was also officially registered for certification under the Living Building Challenge Core + Petal framework.

    First meeting with the ILFI Project Coach who explained to the team how to best prepare the project to meet LBC requirements.

  • CJ Arms issued the concept integrated Water-Ecology-Landscape Masterplan report which provides a broadacre approach that brings together the landscaping and stormwater to reduce the impacts of stormwater runoff from the site. To support the strategy CJ Arms also completed detailed stormwater modelling to demonstrate how the design is consistent with LBC requirements.

  • Redback Tree Services removed the Ash tree from the backyard and trimmed the Red Flowering Gum. Many of the exotics now removed from the yard to make way for indigenous plants.

  • Sociable Weaver, a leading sustainable builder, is engaged as a builder for Early Contractor Involvement. This provides an opportunity for contractor input to inform the architectural design so it is buildable, high performance and affordable.

  • Time to start the interior design with Envirotecture which kicked off with a design meeting to develop early ideas and ‘mood’ for the interior elements.

  • The long awaited start of construction on September 3 by Martin Builders with the first step being the deconstruction of what remains of the existing house

  • Restumping of existing house, Surefoot footings installed, new perimter fence, Holcim Ecopact Max concrete pour for garage, bearers installed for extension floor, timber reinforcement of existing house members.