Highly respected Australian residential architect Stephanie Skyring interviews industry experts to share the latest environmentally sustainable home design ideas, products and materials.
Each podcast season demystifies a specific topic. Episodes are released weekly on Tuesdays.
Australian Architects can claim their formal CPD hours for listening to the podcasts and completing an online quiz. Find out more at www.renovationcollaborative.com.au
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Get Started: Climate Action in the built environment across Australia
Saison 3 · Épisode 17
lundi 17 novembre 2025 • Durée 01:03:11
Across Australia numerous groups are taking meaningful climate action and working hard to develop inspiring solutions.
Today, I speak with representatives from five different organisations from the built environment to find out what’s happening. These groups tackle climate change from various angles, employing different structures and methods. They include formal committees, research groups, informal support and information sharing, and grass roots action.
Today we’ll hear from:
1. The Australian Institute of Architects, Climate Action and Sustainability Committee – Andrew Noonan
2. The Retrofit Lab, from the University of Melbourne – Professor Sarah Bell
3. Australian Architects Declare – Steffen Welsch
4. Parlour Regenerative Designers Annexe – Anna Lindstad
5. Architects Climate Action Network, Australia – Lucy Humphrey
Most of the groups I speak with today welcome all built environment professionals. And most importantly, they all provide free environmental information on their websites.
Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours the time they spend listening to the podcasts.
MORE INFORMATION
Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.
[00:02:19] What are the primary functions of the committee at State & National level?
[00:05:24] What projects are you working on at the moment?
[00:07:08] Can you tell us about the Embodied Carbon Curriculum?
[00:09:43] How can architects get involved?
[00:11:27] The Retrofit Lab, The University of Melbourne – Professor Sarah Bell
[00:12:08] How did the Retrofit Lab get started?
[00:14:13] Can you tell us about the Retrofit Lab and the work you do?
[00:20:18] Tell us about your project investigating digital info for retrofit decisions?
[00:23:53] Tell us about about your Climate Safe Rooms project?
[00:26:42] How can we get involved and find out more?
[00:28:29] Australian Architects Declare – Steffen Welsch
[00:29:29] How did Architects Declare get started in Australia?
[00:31:06] What are your primary aims?
[00:31:44] How is it run?
[00:33:49] How can architects get involved?
[00:35:17] What campaigns are you working on?
[00:39:35]...
Get Started: Reducing Embodied Carbon – Lucy Humphrey, Studio Ecology
Saison 3 · Épisode 16
lundi 10 novembre 2025 • Durée 01:12:57
Reducing embodied carbon in all new buildings and renovations is fast becoming a global priority, and in Australia new regulations are on the horizon.
In today's episode, we move on to our final theme - Getting Started - and the first of two episodes to conclude the season.
I talk with environmental architect, artist and well known Australian climate advocate Lucy Humphrey. Lucy is a director of the climate active architecture practice Studio Ecology, she teaches at the School of Architecture at the University of Sydney and the Sydney University of Technology and was a co-founder of the Australian branch of ACAN.
Today, Lucy gives us a powerful wake up call about the current state of our planet. And she shares strategies to help us decarbonise our designs and meet our global targets, so together we can bring about change.
We'll learn about:
What's really happening to the planet and why change is urgent,
The validity of climate emotions
About Life cycle carbon assessments and practical strategies to reduce embodied carbon.
What's happening to the construction industry in Denmark where construction carbon caps are now mandatory, and also
The critical importance wholistic design thinking
Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours the time they spend listening to the podcasts.
MORE INFORMATION
Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.
Water & Ecosystems: Delight in your environment – Tim Bennetton, Tim Bennetton Architects
Saison 3 · Épisode 15
lundi 3 novembre 2025 • Durée 48:04
Careful consideration of water is now a critical part of design as we confront increasing floods and droughts due to climate change.
In today's episode, we move on to our next sustainable design theme - Water and Ecosystems.
We'll investigate the design of a small extension to an old timber home located in suburban subtropical Brisbane. This project has a very challenging site with overland flow and stormwater flooding issues. I talk with architect Tim Bennetton, the director of Tim Bennetton Architects, who will share the inside story on his Yeronga House project.
Tim has successfully transformed this problem site into a valuable asset that not only brings joy to the homeowners, but also provides much needed habitat for local flora and fauna.
Today we'll learn about:
The importance of retaining stormwater and rainwater on site and appreciating water as a very valuable resource.
Ideas that improve the resilience of cities to heavy rainfall and flooding, while also improving water quality and biodiversity, and
We'll also cover a wealth of other insights from Tim's years of experience.
Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours the time they spend listening to the podcasts.
MORE INFORMATION
Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.
PODCASTKey points summary, timestamps and resource links
Healthy Buildings: Hempcrete and materials for a healthy home – Michael Leung, Balanced Earth Architects
Saison 3 · Épisode 14
lundi 27 octobre 2025 • Durée 58:46
Prioritising health when selecting materials and products is simply common sense, and the best thing about healthy materials – they are also brilliant for the environment.
In today’s episode we move on to our next sustainable design theme – healthy buildings.
We’ll investigate the design of a house on an off grid site located in Mullumbimby in the Subtropical northern New South Wales hinterland. I talk with architect, Michael Leung, the director of Balanced Earth Architects, who will share the inside story on his Sky Farm project.
Today we’ll learn about:
The key design considerations, materials and products for a healthy home,
We talk further about the process, costs and benefits of using hempcrete in custom architectural construction, and
We’ll also cover a wealth of other insights and practical information drawn from Michael’s extensive experience as both an architect and a builder.
Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours for these podcasts.
MORE INFORMATION
Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.
SIPS, or structural insulated panels are a fast and efficient way to achieve very high thermal performance.
In today's episode, we continue exploring prefabricated panel solutions. We investigate the design of a passive house built from SIPS on a very challenging site in the oceanic temperate climate of Wellington, in New Zealand. Architect Murray Robertson, the director of Robertson Architects, shares the inside story of his Bell House project.
Today we'll explore the process, benefits and costs of SIPs and when they're an ideal solution.
Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours for these podcasts.
MORE INFORMATION
Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.
CPDAustralian architects can find more information on CPD, and
COURSESEleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.
KEY POINTS SUMMARY
The panels are made by sandwiching a core of rigid foam plastic insulation between two structural facings and in this case Murray used oriented strandboard (OSB). SIPS are manufactured off site and are custom designed for each project.
House prefabrication using flat pack panels delivers multiple environmental and cost benefits and is the way of the future.
In today's episode, we dive into our next sustainable design theme, prefabrication, and we'll explore house design and construction using cross laminated timber. Architect Jae Warrander, director of Makers, shares the story behind his Akaroa Bach: a prefabricated holiday home situated in a mild temperate climate on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island.
Makers, located in Wellington, New Zealand, is a collaboration between Makers of Architecture and Makers Fabrication.
Today we'll explore what CLT is, the process, benefits and costs of using CLT for prefabricated panel construction, and the ideal scenarios for utilising CLT.
Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours for these podcasts.
MORE INFORMATION
Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.
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 INFORMATION
Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.
CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.
Renewable Materials: Affordable sustainable design and Durra Panel - Matt Delroy-Carr, MDC Architects
Saison 3 · Épisode 10
lundi 29 septembre 2025 • Durée 54:53
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 INFORMATION
Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.
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 INFORMATION
Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.
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, and
A 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 INFORMATION
Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.
CPDAustralian architects can find more information on CPD, and
COURSESEleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.
KEY POINTS SUMMARY
[01:08:57] Stephanie:
Today's summary only scratches the surface, and I found it very challenging to narrow down six key points. Lucy’s knowledge and passion are both inspiring and empowering so I recommend listening to the episode or reading the transcript.
1. Climate emotions are valid and can include heavy feelings such as anger, isolation, grief and guilt. It's completely acceptable and healthy to take a step back and say, ‘No, I'm not engaging with this today.’ As an industry, we need to foster open conversations about this to enable everyone to embrace change.
2. Enable clients to make informed decisions about their home designs by sharing embodied carbon information and letting them decide.
The best time to start talking about reducing embodied carbon is in the concept design stage at the very beginning of the project. This is when we have the most power to reduce carbon and all environmental impacts, because we can choose not to build, to reduce the size, we set the direction for the structural system and the form.
CPDAustralian architects can find more information on CPD, and
COURSESEleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.
KEY POINTS SUMMARY
1. This site was affected by overland flow or water that runs or ponds on the site after rainfall. Overland flow may occur before the stormwater enters a creek, or when the stormwater leaves the creek as floodwater, or in some cases when stormwater rises to the surface naturally from underground. Overland flow typically occurs in natural low lying drainage paths. And as we discover today with good design, overland flow can become a positive asset because water is a valuable resource, particularly into the future as droughts increase.
2. Urban development in low lying stormwater flow channels leads to multiple problemssuch as:
Increased flood levels, meaning that buildings take up space causing water to pile up, increasing flood depth and velocity,
Reduction of natural absorption processes, meaning that a natural soft landscape of grasses, trees and other vegetation absorbs water and slows its movement, whereas hard surfaces and buildings prevent this from occurring, and
Increased impervious surfaces, meaning that urban built surfaces like concrete, asphalt and roofs cause rapid and increased runoff. When it reaches the local waterways. The additional fast forward moving water causes erosion of banks and destruction of waterway ecosystems.
3. Sponge cities are urban areas designed to absorb,...
CPD
COURSESEleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.
KEY POINTS SUMMARY
1. Healthy building is about interrogating the detail of materials. Often that's not presented on websites and you have to dig deeper into the Material Safety Data sheets.
After extensive research, Balanced Earth Architects now work with a simple palate of materials and the basics include: hempcrete, recycled timber and other materials from demolition, galvanised steel, timber windows, and natural finishes including clay and lime renders.
2. A hempcrete and lime rendered wall composition prevents mould growth. Hempcrete is vapour permeable, allowing moisture to travel from the inside to outside. In addition, lime render has an alkali surface preventing mould growth.
3. A hempcrete wall is set up as follows:
It can be constructed on a timber framed or concrete floor.
In timber framed construction, the joists or bearers may be doubled up to carry more load when the hemp is wet. Then a 10 or 20mm compressed FC board is fixed on top as a base for the hempcrete.
To build the wall, a timber stud frame is setout 80mm in from the external wall line. The 90x45 stud sits centrally in the 250mm hempcrete wall, allowing 80mm of cover on both inside and outside.
The entire house is constructed with standard timber stud frame construction. All timber can be untreated pine because the lime in the hempcrete protects the timber, and
The services are clipped into the stud wall, and...
1. Structural insulated panels or SIPs are used in floors, walls and roofs for residential and light commercial buildings.
2. SIPs panels do have some timber framing in them, but much less than a standard timber stud wall. The reduced timber content plus the polyurethane insulation deliver better thermal performance than standard insulated timber frame construction.
3. The external wall composition of this project was as follows:
The basic external shell was a 165 mm thick SIPS panel.
Externally, the ProClima weathertight membrane was fixed directly to the SIPS board and a 45x45 timber structural cavity batten attached to the outside of the membrane for the external cladding, and
Internally, 45 x 45 timber battens were fixed to the SIPs, creating space for services, additional insulation and attachment for internal plasterboard lining.
4. Internally, the oriented strandboard lining can be exposed rather than covered with plasterboard to save costs, but this approach makes access to services much more challenging. Additionally, since the strandboard wall serves as the finished surface, it requires protection during construction.
5. SIPS are very airtight, making them very appealing for use in Passive House projects. Only the joints in the very large SIPS panels require taping.
And finally,
6. Important design considerations when using SIPs include:
Lintels above doors and windows cannot be concealed within the ceiling, meaning that floor to ceiling glazing is not possible, and
SIPS roof panels stop at the wall line resulting in no eaves overhang. Therefore, a custom solution to attach eaves is...
COURSES
KEY POINTS SUMMARY
1. Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is an engineered wood panel product created by gluing layers of timber together with the grain alternating at 90 degrees for added strength. CLT panels are cut into entire wall, floor and roof sections with precise computer accuracy.
2. CLT buildings must be meticulously designed and this includes all openings and holes cut for doors and windows, services, fittings and even power points. Everything must be accurately located in the computer shop drawings because making changes on site is very challenging.
3. The CLT serves as both the internal wall lining and the structural shell. Externally, it needs thermal insulation, a weather and air tightness building wrap and cladding for weatherproofing. Internally, makers utilise prefabricated stud frame walls in conjunction with CLT to accommodate access to services, particularly in bathrooms.
4. Once prefabricated, the CLT panels are transported to the site and assembled to create the entire building form. The construction timeline is streamlined because site foundations, retaining walls and service connections can occur simultaneously with the off site CLT prefabrication.
5. Prefabrication using CLT offers several advantages:
It replaces studs, bracing and other structural components.
It eliminates the need for trims such as skirtings, cornices and architraves.
It's made from locally sourced New Zealand pine.
It reduces construction time on site.
It enables building on remote or difficult to...
KEY POINTS SUMMARY
1. 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,...
CPD
COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.
KEY POINTS SUMMARY
1. 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, and
ensuring effective ventilation.
Also, double glazed, thermally broken, clear glass windows greatly enhanced the thermal performance.
4. Matt...
CPD
COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.
KEY POINTS SUMMARY
1. 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...
CPD
COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.
KEY POINTS SUMMARY
1. 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...
