Latest news with #NeilArchitecture
The Age
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
The house that slashed its energy bills by 70 per cent
At first glance, the eight townhouses don't look like much. White and cream, they stand against the backdrop of clear blue sky and autumnal trees on a busy road in Melbourne's inner east, a perfect example of modern design. The interior is demure, in soothing, earthy tones. The air is warm, and it is quiet – so quiet that the noise generated by the construction site next door has ceased to exist. While roomy, townhouse number 3 (the rest are occupied) isn't huge, but it is comfortable. There is nothing obvious that signals the development is premium, other than its address in Hawthorn, and price tag of $2.5 million plus. And yet, it is Australia's first build-to-sell Passivhaus development, called ECHO.1, a proof-of-concept project by Projects and Neil Architecture that aims to show that incredibly energy-efficient homes can be built, at scale, in Australia. Kin Seng Choo, Projects director, also wants to prove that the private market can contribute to the decarbonisation of the building sector, which accounts for a fifth of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. 'A three-bedroom house would normally consume about 18,000 kilowatt-hours per year, while the passive house should consume about 5000 kilowatt-hours per year,' says Choo. 'This means the house is using about 70 per cent less energy than a typical Victorian home, with a typical annual energy bill of about $700 to $800.' Passivhaus, which translates as 'passive house', is a housing performance standard conceived in Germany in the 1980s by physicist Dr Wolfgang Feist and construction expert Professor Bo Adamson. The concept, which took its cues from ancient dwellings such as turf houses built in Iceland during the Middle Ages, optimises insulation and the airtightness of the building envelope to stabilise the internal temperature.
Sydney Morning Herald
17-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
The house that slashed its energy bills by 70 per cent
At first glance, the eight townhouses don't look like much. White and cream, they stand against the backdrop of clear blue sky and autumnal trees on a busy road in Melbourne's inner east, a perfect example of modern design. The interior is demure, in soothing, earthy tones. The air is warm, and it is quiet – so quiet that the noise generated by the construction site next door has ceased to exist. While roomy, townhouse number 3 (the rest are occupied) isn't huge, but it is comfortable. There is nothing obvious that signals the development is premium, other than its address in Hawthorn, and price tag of $2.5 million plus. And yet, it is Australia's first build-to-sell Passivhaus development, called ECHO.1, a proof-of-concept project by Projects and Neil Architecture that aims to show that incredibly energy-efficient homes can be built, at scale, in Australia. Kin Seng Choo, Projects director, also wants to prove that the private market can contribute to the decarbonisation of the building sector, which accounts for a fifth of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. 'A three-bedroom house would normally consume about 18,000 kilowatt-hours per year, while the passive house should consume about 5000 kilowatt-hours per year,' says Choo. 'This means the house is using about 70 per cent less energy than a typical Victorian home, with a typical annual energy bill of about $700 to $800.' Passivhaus, which translates as 'passive house', is a housing performance standard conceived in Germany in the 1980s by physicist Dr Wolfgang Feist and construction expert Professor Bo Adamson. The concept, which took its cues from ancient dwellings such as turf houses built in Iceland during the Middle Ages, optimises insulation and the airtightness of the building envelope to stabilise the internal temperature.
Sydney Morning Herald
18-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Sydney Morning Herald
The six hottest properties on the market right now
From bold lines to subtle finishes, we've rounded up the best of the luxury property market in Australia right now. Woollahra NSW A four-bedroom home plus a one-bedroom self-contained apartment is hard to find anywhere in Woollahra, let alone in the village centre. Beautifully renovated from top to toe, the property features double-height ceilings over the key living areas, a media room with surround sound and a fireplace, a lift to the upper-level bedrooms and an internal courtyard with a plunge pool. 63 Walpole Street, Kew Vic An imaginative renovation has swept this magnificent Victorian mansion into the 21st century. Bold colours and striking light fittings work well with heritage details, while the modern extension by Neil Architecture results in warm, character-filled interiors. The living room's original painted ceiling is a standout. 'It's a stunning, tasteful modernisation of a classic mansion,' the agent says. 12 Greenup Street, Redcliffe Qld From the circular pivoting entry door to the barrel-vaulted ceilings in Queensland walnut veneer, Lantern is a celebration of fine materials and outstanding craftsmanship. Designed by award-winning architect Nicholas Elias, the home has two main-bedroom suites, two living zones, an eye-catching curvy kitchen with an integrated planter box, and a plunge pool set amid landscaped gardens.
The Age
18-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Age
The six hottest properties on the market right now
From bold lines to subtle finishes, we've rounded up the best of the luxury property market in Australia right now. Woollahra NSW A four-bedroom home plus a one-bedroom self-contained apartment is hard to find anywhere in Woollahra, let alone in the village centre. Beautifully renovated from top to toe, the property features double-height ceilings over the key living areas, a media room with surround sound and a fireplace, a lift to the upper-level bedrooms and an internal courtyard with a plunge pool. 63 Walpole Street, Kew Vic An imaginative renovation has swept this magnificent Victorian mansion into the 21st century. Bold colours and striking light fittings work well with heritage details, while the modern extension by Neil Architecture results in warm, character-filled interiors. The living room's original painted ceiling is a standout. 'It's a stunning, tasteful modernisation of a classic mansion,' the agent says. 12 Greenup Street, Redcliffe Qld From the circular pivoting entry door to the barrel-vaulted ceilings in Queensland walnut veneer, Lantern is a celebration of fine materials and outstanding craftsmanship. Designed by award-winning architect Nicholas Elias, the home has two main-bedroom suites, two living zones, an eye-catching curvy kitchen with an integrated planter box, and a plunge pool set amid landscaped gardens.
