All homeowners will soon be able to assess their home’s energy efficiency, following the Australian Government’s announcement that it is expanding the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) to include assessments for existing homes. Previously, the scheme has only offered…
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Sales of new homes rose in October, continuing a trend that is increasingly evident in most markets across Australia, the Housing Industry Association (HIA) announced this week. New home sales rose by 8.8% in October, driven by increasing activity in…
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A carbon-positive house that immerses its residents in nature has been named winner in the Single Dwelling (New) category of the 2024 Sustainability Awards this week. ‘Holocene House’ by CplusC Architects + Builders is canopied in plants and features water…
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When applying for a loan to buy your home, it is important to know just what you can and can’t do and what the costs are, before you sign up. Take this checklist with you and make sure you are…
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Leaving a huge boulder in place to divide the living room and main bedroom of his house was all part of the brief for mid-20th century Californian architect Albert Frey. Frey designed his home to sit in harmony with the…
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If you are considering building or renovating your home to be more sustainable, the Australian Government’s free ‘Design for Place’ house plans have just been updated and expanded to capture new requirements for energy efficiency, accessibility and liveability. Created by…
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Three out of five Australian renters do not expect to ever own their home, with new research showing that many would be happy to spend more money to ensure a long-term lease. Three in four, however, would certainly prefer to…
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Innovative use of materials and the preservation and adaptive re-use of existing heritage were common themes among the winning entries in this year’s National Architecture Awards. Jury chair and immediate past national president of the Australian Institute of Architects Stuart…
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Renovating can be stressful, with timelines, budgets, noise, dust, or even living out of half the house at a time. If it’s tough on us, imagine the effect it has on our pets, who just don’t understand that knocking down…
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The super-cute native blue-banded bee has this week been named 2024 ABC Australian Insect of the Year. A total of 13,593 people voted in the inaugural ABC poll, with just over 50.1% (6,815 votes) choosing the blue-banded bee (Amegilla cingulata)…
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