CROSBY architects in Castlemaine, Victoria | Home improvement

CROSBY architects

Locality: Castlemaine, Victoria

Phone: +61 3 5472 3100

Address: 16A Lyttleton Street 3450 Castlemaine, VIC, Australia

Website: http://crosbyarchitects.com.au

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24.01.2022 Work starts at Bull Street Terraces with the renovation of the existing cottage oil the site. Stripping off the weatherboards to fully insulate, keeping the existing internal lining intact.

23.01.2022 STAGE 1 complete and first people moving in.

21.01.2022 Welcome to the agrihood. Read more: https://wef.ch/2Hf1tNm

20.01.2022 The Paddock - Stage 1

20.01.2022 Berkeley Street House from the north being clad.

20.01.2022 This historian told a room full of billionaires at Davos that they need to step up and pay their fair share of taxes

19.01.2022 Soon to look like this

18.01.2022 Construction of STAGE 1 of the Paddock

17.01.2022 Kennedy St nearly finished

16.01.2022 We had primary school kids come and see what we were doing today and interview the team about gender in the work place.

11.01.2022 The builder is on site at the Paddock. Ecological diversity will be increased on this land despite, or because of the 27 homes that will be built.

07.01.2022 'Vaughan Springs' 2019, Ink on paper, 189 x 269 cm. Part of my up coming show at Lot19 in Castlemaine, opening Saturday 15th Feb at 2:00pm

07.01.2022 House in Chewton about to be handed over.

07.01.2022 The Paddock is underway.

06.01.2022 Building an Eco Village - The Paddock: Eco Village, Castlemaine. Back in 1983, Heather and Neil Barrett moved from Melbourne to a disused chicken farm on the we...stern outskirts of Castlemaine. From there they raised a family, ran their business and developed strong connections to the Castlemaine community. They sold their film making business in 2001 and in recent years they decided to do something with the three acres of land adjacent to their house that they were not using for their personal space. They could have sub-divided it, and sold it off which would have turned into another little pocket of suburbia, but that is not Heather and Neil's style. They decided to use the opportunity to build an eco village with the aim of creating a new standard in sustainable living. Heather and Neil both have a strong history of being environmental activists. In 1975 Neil was the Victorian State Co-ordinator of Friends of the Earth. More recently they founded the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group and the Hub Foundation which is a not-for-profit company aiming to reduce carbon emissions in the shire. Neil also founded the bulk solar panel buying organisation More Australian Solar Homes (MASH). Heather manages the Hub Plot which is a demonstration food growing garden and she is an active member of The Growing Abundance Project which is a social enterprise organisation involved with sustainable food supply. With those environmental credentials one would expect something special with their housing project and it looks like The Paddock will deliver on those expectations. The plan is to build 26 two-storey houses which will be built in four stages. The buildings will be sited in a horseshoe shape around a large area of communal vegetable gardens. Each home will have its own private garden space and be built to a very high energy rating. Electricity will be abundant with 16 solar panels on the roof of each home. The site will be fully landscaped and have a community centre and shared electric docking stations for electric cars or bikes. The village has been specially designed to facilitate interaction between the residents. Already Stage One of the village has sold out and the building work has commenced. A highly experienced team of people have been brought together for the project. Architect Geoff Crosby introduced Heather and Neil to The Living Building Challenge and they decided that they would set the goal of meeting the very high standard expected to receive the Living Building Certification. The use of recycled materials, carbon-offsetting, minimisation of waste are just a few of the stringent requirements that need to be met. Heather and Neil were happy to answer questions about the eco village and its progress. What do you think are the key ingredients to a happy and healthy village? * Heather: Firstly we are not creating the community, we are providing a beautiful space for people to create a community. Private spaces and open spaces are important, as is a community centre to meet, share activities and make good connections. * Neil: We are not selecting people but trust that mature environmentally minded people will buy into it, people who will want to contribute to the project. Good governance through the owners' body corporate will be essential. How do you personally feel about your role in creating the eco village? * Heather: Inspired! It is an exciting thing to be a part of. * Neil: There have been some difficult times but now we feel very comfortable. So far, is the project taking shape the way you expected it to? * Heather: Our expectations have evolved as the project has evolved. * Neil: We are pretty much on schedule for Stage One to be completed in August. The builder is going well. How much interest is there in the next three stages of the project? * Neil: We have 420 people who have registered their interest. Interest in Stage 2 is very strong. Are there any particular difficulties you have had to overcome? * Neil: Financing has been a major one. Getting finance was a long, arduous and complex process. Also cost rises that were not expected and the cost of recycled materials sometimes costing more than new. Tell me about the people interested in the eco village? * Neil: The interest goes across all ages. The people who have bought in so far range from young singles to an 82 year old retired medical professional. * Heather: I am pleased that there is also a six week old baby. Has the interest been mostly from locals or are you attracting people from other areas who like the eco village concept? * Neil: Half and half. We showed a couple from Alice Springs around the other day. Have you had any interest from other landholders wanting to build a similar project? * Heather: That is what we would love! * Neil: There has been some interest but we expect that to grow as the building progresses. In a few months time it is expected that The Paddock will host an open day and Stage Two will be offered for sale. The first residents are expected to move in later in 2019. For more information see www.thepaddock.com.au To find out more about the Living Building Challenge see www.living-future.org.au Jackie McMaster (Business of the Month for the February Chewton Chat).

06.01.2022 The first Bull Street house, a renovation of the existing cottage (registered under the LBC) is nearing completion. The recycled weatherboards are almost finished, just tracking down another supply .

04.01.2022 New house in Castlemaine ready for cladding

04.01.2022 Steve Bracks speaks at the launch of the Paddock eco village in Castlemaine.

03.01.2022 This is the first part of the first project registered under the Living Building Challenge in Castlemaine. We have used this to explore the issues, we will then apply this learning to the 4 Bull Street Terraces and to the 27 houses at The Paddock.

02.01.2022 The Paddock terraces, a working model.

01.01.2022 House Renovation at Bull Street is getting close. Recycled barge, deck, posts, weatherboards, front door.