Renovation Collaborative

• Earth Building: Rammed Earth – Steffen Welsch, Steffen Welsch Architects

  Are you looking for a unique sustainable material with a low carbon footprint? In today's episode, we move on to our next sustainable design theme, Earth Building, and investigate rammed earth construction. Architect Steffen Welsch, director of Steffen Welsch Architects, shares the story behind his Butterfly House project, located on an off-grid site in Rutherglen in the hot, dry summer and cool winter climate of north-eastern Victoria. Today we'll learn about the process, benefits and costs of using rammed earth construction and a wealth of insights and practical information drawn from Steffen's extensive experience. Australian Architects can earn formal CPD hours by listening to these podcasts and completing an online quiz. MORE INFORMATIONFind everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website. www.renovationcollaborative.com.auPODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource linksFREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process. KEY POINTS SUMMARY1. Rammed earth was chosen for this project because it suits the local continental climate. It optimises energy efficiency by absorbing and releasing heat slowly throughout the day, stabilising internal temperatures. This means it helps maintain a moderate temperature range inside the house by absorbing heat in summer to take the edge off those high temperatures and releasing heat slowly in winter to take the edge off low temperatures. 2. The soil used for rammed earth must be laboratory tested to ensure it is structurally suitable. In Steffen's experience in regional Victoria, there are usually quarries with appropriate soil located within a reasonable distance from most sites. A rammed earth contractor can assist with this process. 3. The rammed earth construction process is relatively simple and dates back over 10,000 years. Plywood formwork boxes are constructed and a rammed earth mix, of dirt, cement, water and potentially other admixtures is poured in and compacted with specialised equipment. At the time the Butterfly House was constructed, rammed earth walls comprised a single solid wall with a thickness of around 500mm. Now, rammed earth walls must include insulation. Their current composition involves an internal layer of rammed earth, a core of thermal insulation and an outer layer of rammed earth, resulting in an overall wall thickness of around 450mm. Alternatively, rammed earth can be constructed as a 200mm thick reverse brick veneer wall. 4. Rammed Earth offers numerous benefits, including thermal mass to stabilise internal temperatures, excellent acoustic qualities, high flame resistance, low embodied carbon and durability and a long lifespan,...

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• Renewable Materials: Affordable sustainable design and Durra Panel - Matt Delroy-Carr, MDC Architects

  Would you love a sustainable home but think it's out of your budget? Well, think again. In today's episode, we continue exploring renewable materials and investigate the design of an affordable environmental home built using standard construction methods. It features Durra Panel internal wall and ceiling boards made from agricultural waste straw. Architect Matt Delroy-Carr, the director of MDC Architects, shares the story behind his Scarborough Sustainable House, located on a small suburban site in the beachside suburb of Scarborough in warm temperate Perth. Today we'll learn about;ideas for an affordable sustainable home, climate responsive design for warm temperate climates, the process, costs and benefits of using Durra Panel internal wall and ceiling boards in custom residential construction, and a wealth of insights and practical information drawn from Matt's extensive experience. Australian Architects can earn formal CPD hours by listening to these podcasts and completing an online quiz. MORE INFORMATIONFind everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website. www.renovationcollaborative.com.auPODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource linksFREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process. KEY POINTS SUMMARY1. In this project, like so many others this season, the clients drove the environmental agenda and they were very well educated about environmental design and materials. This is what they were seeking and it's a fantastic brief for everyone to keep in mind: A floor plan sized to suit their needs that connected to a diverse and productive garden. Maximum thermal comfort for now and the future, A life cycle assessment to help understand and reduce their environmental impact and carbon footprint, and All within a modest budget. 2. To control costs, the strategy involved standard construction techniques combined with climate responsive design and environmental materials. This included:a single level design, a slab on ground floor, a trussed roof with flat ceilings throughout, a 90mm timber stud frame, external cladding in low maintenance, pre finished compressed fibre cement sheeting, and internal linings in Durra Panel. 3. Key strategies for achieving a maximum NatHERs energy efficiency rating in a warm temperate climate included: orienting the house toward the north, appropriately located and sized windows and shading to provide shade in summer, spring and autumn while allowing sunlight in during winter, andensuring effective ventilation. Also, double glazed, thermally broken, clear glass windows greatly enhanced the thermal performance. 4. Matt...

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• Renewable Materials: Hempcrete – Emily Knight, Emily Knight Design

  Hemp has been used in construction for thousands of years, but it's only recently that it’s incredible environmental benefits have crept into mainstream awareness. In today's episode, we continue exploring renewable materials. We'll investigate the design of a hempcrete extension to an existing Federation House located in the heritage listed suburb of Ashbury in inner suburban warm temperate Sydney. Architect Emily Knight, the director of Emily Knight Design shares the inside story on her AL House. Today we'll learn about;the process, costs and benefits of using hempcrete in custom architectural construction, how upgrading the thermal efficiency of your existing home is critical for creating environmental change, and a wealth of other insights and practical information drawn from Emily's extensive experience. Australian Architects can earn formal CPD hours by listening to these podcasts and completing an online quiz. MORE INFORMATIONFind everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website. www.renovationcollaborative.com.auPODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource linksFREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process. KEY POINTS SUMMARY1. The biggest environmental change can be effected through improving existing buildings. Currently in Australia, there is no requirement to upgrade your existing home as part of your renovation. However, Emily always encourages her clients to set aside some budget for this important work to ensure long term comfort and energy efficiency. 2. Hemp is used in construction in a range of formats. Hempcrete, as covered in this episode, also hemp blocks, hemp sprayed onto a frame and hemp panels. 3. Hempcrete walls are non-structural. They're formed up around a timber stud frame.4. Hempcrete walls can be finished in a number of ways. They can be left unfinished, coated with natural breathing lime render, or a clear, penetrating, breathable sealer coat. Externally, it usually requires extended roof overhangs to prevent weathering. 5. In Emily's experience, the cost of Hempcrete construction in Sydney by a subcontractor was approximately on par with cavity brickwork. Historically, hemp buildings have been constructed by a community of unskilled friends and family, enabling much lower labour costs.6. Hemp offers a multitude of benefits: It delivers very healthy indoor air quality. It's very durable and has a long lifespan. It offers excellent acoustic and thermal insulative performance. It's very fire resistant, It can be made airtight, and It sequesters carbon and is biodegradable at end of life. INTERVIEW...

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• Renewable Materials: Strawbale Panels & Biophilic Design – Talina Edwards, Envirotecture

  If you thought that straw bales were only for DIY backyard builders, think again. In today’s episode we move onto our next sustainable design theme - renewable materials.We’ll investigate the design of a new certified Passive House built from Huff’n’Puff SITUP strawbale wall panels. This house is located on an off grid site in the cool temperate Victorian high country. Architect Talina Edwards, a director at Envirotecture, shares the inside story on her Huff’n’Puff Haus.Today we’ll learn about: Biophilic design and our intrinsic connection with nature, Country and our planet The costs and benefits of using straw bale panels and their role in construction Strategies to achieve Net Zero carbon, andA wealth of insights and practical information drawn from Talina’s extensive experience Australian Architects can earn formal CPD hours by listening to these podcasts and completing an online quiz. MORE INFORMATIONFind everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website. www.renovationcollaborative.com.auPODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource linksFREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process. KEY POINTS SUMMARY1. Biophilic design is linked to care for Country and an understanding that we are part of nature and intrinsically linked with our planet. If we don't care for Mother Earth, she can't keep caring for us. It's a reciprocal relationship of being present, responsible and caring. Like we take responsibility to care for our family. We feel better when we're outside in nature, but most of us spend around 80% of our time indoors. Biophilic design is about creating indoor environments that help us feel closer to nature and the outdoors through ideas such as plants, natural light, textures and materials. But it's critical to be very mindful of how our design choices affect the environment. Because remember, it's not only about what is good for us, it's a reciprocal relationship. 2. The primary driver for using straw bale panels is to create maximum wall insulation in colder or more extreme climate zones. Other benefits include being a renewable material, low embodied carbon and reuse of a waste product from the agricultural industry. 3. Huff n Puff straw bale wall panels are made from straw bales tightly fitted inside plywood box frames. The panels are typically 350 - 450mm thick, approximately 600 - 1200mm wide and 2.5 – 3m high depending on the project requirements and they're engineered to be load bearing. 4. Lime mortar or clay mortar can be used on the exterior or interior to seal the straw...

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• Renovation & Reuse: Building less & Retro joy – Paul Butterworth, Paul Butterworth Architect

  Building less is without doubt the most cost effective and environmental solution. If you have an old home with good bones, a few strategic and creative moves may be all you need to create something very special. In today's episode, we continue exploring the importance of reusing existing buildings and look at ways to renovate and add value and joy with minimal work. We'll investigate the renovation of a mid-century modern home located in Stafford Heights in subtropical Brisbane. Architect Paul Butterworth, director of Paul Butterworth Architect, shares the inside story on his Stafford Heights Modern project. Today we'll learn about the opportunities and challenges of reusing existing homes and materials. And we have a very interesting conversation about the financial challenges architects and builders face when working on low budget renovations and some real solutions to create better outcomes for everyone.Australian Architects can earn formal CPD hours by listening to these podcasts and completing an online quiz. MORE INFORMATIONFind everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website. www.renovationcollaborative.com.auPODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource linksFREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process. KEY POINTS SUMMARY1. It's important for architects to educate their clients about the world of opportunity that design and particularly sustainable design offers. And if you're a client of an architect, it will require trust, sometimes bravery and working collaboratively to achieve a unique and environmental home. 2. If an existing house has character and good bones, think very carefully before demolishing it. Older homes contribute to the character we value in our streets and enhance property value, pride and delight in our suburbs. This character is rarely matched in new low budget homes. 3. It's easier to salvage and recycle items from demolition if you are living on site. Builders work within tight time frames and usually don't have the resources or time to stockpile materials and determine how to pass them on to a new owner. 4. An ordinary mid-century home may be cost effectively renovated into something very special through enhancing its existing motifs and design elements. Look for inspiration in the surrounding older homes.Paul shared some very wise advice about architectural practice. 5. Architects must be transparent about their commitment to projects and build trust with clients by itemising non-chargeable time and tasks....

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