The keys to sustainability Making sustainable home design work for you

By Natasha Parrant

Building sustainable homes is becoming more popular as people start taking initiative when caring about the planet and finding ways to individually do their part. However, some people believe sustainable homes mean they’re less attractive, so what are some ways houses can be environmentally friendly, as well as modern and aesthetically pleasing?

Directors from an award-winning practical, design-orientated architectural company Borrmeister Architects, and a sustainable and bespoke architectural studio Common-Good Architects, share their advice on making a sustainable home look modern and appealing.

Directors and Registered Architects Wulf Borrmeister of Borrmeister Architects and ToniRose Brookes of Common-Good Architects, believe if a sustainable home is considered from the get-go, then there is no reason its aesthetic should be constricted.

“A holistic design approach starting with looking at a home’s placement and orientation within its site, considering how it responds to its site and surroundings, including sun paths, prevailing winds etc., will assist in the design of a home, which naturally and thoughtfully integrates into its landscape,” Toni-Rose says.

They both agree that including design features like wellconsidered roof overhangs or screening to provide shading can help the look and appeal of a home in addition to serving a practical purpose, when combined thoughtfully into a design.

“Design is very subjective, what one person finds appealing can be very different from another’s perception.

“That is one aspect of designing a bespoke home that can be so rewarding, as everyone is different. This allows the opportunity for different styles and aesthetics to be explored,” Wulf adds.

The directors work closely with their clients during the design and planning process to understand their desires and recommend suitable options when creating responsible and Homestar rated designs.

“Having an open conversation from the outset; considering what you would like to aim to achieve in terms of sustainability is important and is where certifications, such as Homestar or Passive House, are useful to use as a guideline and to assist in determining what is right for each individual project, considering factors, such as the proposed use of the home and the build budget,” Toni-Rose says.

The New Zealand Green Building Councils Homestar certification lets people target what level of sustainability they’re hoping to achieve, including the various systems and standards needed to achieve each rating, and how that correlates with the overall performance they can expect as an outcome.

“Some clients we work with are very interested in the sustainability aspects and the different systems that can be integrated, whereas others simply want a home that is going to perform in terms of comfort and energy efficiency, as well as be a home that suits their needs and is a pleasure to live in – a place you are proud to call home,” Toni-Rose says.

Both Architect firms start their projects by looking at the site, the surrounding environment and context, considering the placement, orientation, and appropriate passive design principles.

“Ensuring good natural cross ventilation is able to be achieved throughout the home, incorporating good levels of insulation, looking at opportunities for the incorporation of thermal mass where appropriate and considering sun paths – providing shading in summer, but allow the sun to enter the building in winter.”

Considering these basics from the start allows homeowners to incorporate other systems, which complement the design and its performance.