McMahons Point

By Envirotecture

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The design brief called for a renovation to a 70s vintage apartment that had been bequeathed to the Australian Conservation Foundation, but had some serious problems.

The ACF is Australia’s peak environmental body and saw both the need to lead by example and the opportunity to set new standards in this often-overlooked field of work. Envirotecture was approached to design the renovation using the best available sustainable principles, methods, and materials. Steele Associates was selected as a partner builder, as they share the same modis operandi.

Project Details

The aim was to transform this cold, damp, south-west facing apartment into a light, warm, water & energy efficient home for a future tenant. The apartment would be used as a case study to assist others to eco-renovate. The subtle redesign of the space focused on making the space dry, light, and warmer in winter. The technical advances would be mirrored by a timeless but contemporary style and finishes.

This has been achieved by making an opening between the kitchen and living area, using light paint colours and pale bamboo floors. The orientation could not be improved, with virtually no winter solar access, so all efforts focussed on resisting heat loss. An understanding and cooperative body corporate enabled all existing windows and external doors to be replaced with double glazed units. This has since been adopted as the new standard for all future renovations. Hemp curtains with solid pelmets also improve the weatherproofing and thermal performance of the external skin of the unit.

All electrical appliances and water fixtures were selected for their best performance with assistance from the team at the ACF. All materials were selected to improve indoor air quality, using plant-based paints exclusively, and a zero-VOC MDF board for the new kitchen cabinets.

By installing water-efficient fixtures with the highest water efficiency rating, water demand has been significantly reduced, and an efficient ‘through pan’ extractor fan in the toilet dramatically improves ventilation.

Winner of BDA NSW RESIDENTIAL INTERIORS DESIGN AWARD, 2008

Photography by Simon Kenny

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About the
Professional

At Envirotecture we design beautiful, sustainable buildings that work for you, your family or your business.

With over 35 years’ experience in sustainable architecture, we can offer you a full range of building design and consulting services to deliver the best possible built outcome for your build.

Facilitate and future-proof your lifestyle with our cost-effective designs that provide stylish design solutions. See our sustainable design portfolio.

We Design for Comfort
Our designs, using state-of-the-art materials and passive design principles, will keep you cool in summer and warm in winter.

We Design for Style
You want you to enjoy spaces that inspire your soul. We will design your building so that it not only works really well, it looks great too!

We Design for Value
We can give you the biggest bang for your buck. Our sustainable designs are an affordable alternative to traditional design and will significantly reduce your long-term operating costs.

We Design for the Environment
When you chose our sustainable architectural solutions your build will have a direct beneficial impact on the environment by helping to:

  • protect the ecosystem
  • reduce emissions
  • improve air and water quality
  • conserve water
  • reduce waste
  • conserve and restore natural resources

We Design for the Future
Our architectural solutions will help create you a responsive, beautiful, energy efficient home that will continue to work for you and your family as your needs changes.

Sustainable design will also optimize the life cycle of your building and increase your property value.

We use the latest technology to ensure clever, creative design solutions that last the distance.

We Design for Business
You want your commercial building to provide environmental, economic and social benefits to your business.

We can design your building to:

  • help reduce your operating costs
  • improve workplace environment
  • optimize the life cycle of your building
  • increase your property value
  • improve your employee’s attendance and productivity

We Believe in Giving Back
At Envirotecture we always have a pro bono project, or ‘love job’ on the go.

The current Love Job is for the Read Triplets who are wheelchair bound with muscular dystrophy

Previous love jobs include:

  • Wakisa Foundation's shelter for homeless pregnant girls in Kampala, Uganda
  • the Laotian School project

We Believe in Sustainable Architecture

We have over 35 years’ experience in sustainable design, and our team are all leaders in their fields.

We each bring different skill sets to the business but we all are inspired by sustainable design because we see the difference it makes on so many levels.