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25.01.2022 ? But you still have no idea where to start? And with everything going on if there is a way to get started at all? Building cost, design brief, planning regulations? Does this all sound too daunting?... Are you afraid to spend lots of money on a design to only find out too late that what has been designed is way about your budget? to get you started and well prepared once things go back to normal. To give you a clear strategy before embarking on a design and build journey Sign up to receive our checklist with 7 simple questions to get you thinking and get clear about your design brief. Even before talking with a designer or an architect. Now is the time to get planning and get clear about what you want and need. http://ow.ly/UwNU50zAs3l

25.01.2022 R U OK? How are you feeling today? Have you checked in with your loved ones and particularly those who are on their own?... Start the conversation

24.01.2022 . Talking about: her mission to make energy efficient and sustainable homes as staple in the Australian landscape. ... why she loves passive house and about what it means for her being a finalist for the Aus Mumpreneur awards. If you want to polish up your German, here is the link http://ow.ly/vNS550Baesw

23.01.2022 Ahhh #gmaildown. Who else is struggling?

23.01.2022 #TBT #2020House We have received a written confirmation that we do not need a planning permit. We have received the preliminary engineering for our house and have started to integrate structural elements into our drawings. ... We have also fine tuned the interior, so that we can fit in flat pack ikea cabinets throughout the house, in order to save some money. All bedrooms have been adjusted so that we can fit in the pax robe systems. Our kitchen, pantry and laundry cabinets have been selected and modelled in and our bathrooms have been updated to incorporate the godmorgon vanities. But there are still a lot of little decisions to make, that have quite a big impact on the details. We are going to build an insulated slab (split level) with a timber finish on top. We now have to decide / lock in what kind of timber we use. As this will determine what kind of substructure we will need below. And hence this will determine on what level our concrete floor must be. We still must decide what material we will use for our outdoor areas. Wherever we will be using paving out of the living room. Which means the paving will have to have a 50mm step down from the living room. And will require some fill, in order to get the levels right. Or will we go for a timber decking. Meaning we could have a step-less transition from inside to outside. But would require more earthwork and small retaining walls under the decking. We are also in the process of getting quotes for HRV systems and heat pumps. And are considering getting hydronic heating for the bathrooms (if we can afford it ?) On top of that we are working on a detail for our outside blinds. Trying to find a solution where the tracks and case is kind of invisible. The challenge here is to come up with a solution that does look good but does not create a massive thermal bridge : http://ow.ly/iMrN50AGPIW

23.01.2022 We are doing another FREE & Session soon in our Facebook Group. . .... Where we will be talking & and answer any questions you may have. Lunch & Learn - Sam has come from a background in interior and exterior construction design and sales, working closely in the past with several premium German kitchen, wardrobe and furniture manufacturers on modular and custom fit outs in a variety of residential and commercial spaces. Sam joined Stiebel Eltron in 2017 and had been encouraged by the high uptake of energy efficient all electric solutions offered by Stiebel. With Australia becoming increasingly more aware of renewable solutions, Sam is a champion of all-electric energy-efficient solutions for homes. Since Joining Stiebel Eltron, Sam has used his contacts and industry knowledge to engage with architects, building designers, builders and trade services to assist in promoting the great range of Stiebel Eltron products out into the broader construction and building design market. Sam has been actively involved with the APHA and continues to follow the increasing trend in Australia towards a better than minimum standard building practice being employed by an increasing number of design professionals. Simone is a certified Passive House designer and director at Gruen Eco Design. Their mission is to make energy efficient homes a staple in the Australian landscape. Everyone should have the right to live in a comfortable house that does not cost the earth! She has used the passion, experience and knowledge she gained from her upbringing and architectural studies in Germany to create Gruen Eco Design. A business where she works with her clients to create not only beautifully designed homes. But also homes that are affordable, healthy, thermally comfortable, energy efficient and resilient for future generations. Simone loves making the world a better place by improving the way houses are built. And helping others to live a more sustainable life. If you have any topics you would love us to discuss. Please comment here. . https://www.facebook.com/groups/GruenEcoDesignSustainableLivingTribe See less

22.01.2022 Here come an update from our & Kitty has been fine tuning the interior design and the selections with the clients over the last few weeks. We are getting so close now.... Can't wait for construction to start soon with Hamish White &

20.01.2022 Im so thrilled to be part of this amazing upcoming Webinar: : , As part of the Sanctuary magazine and the Australian Passive House Association (APHA) bring you a discussion with Passive House experts, focusing on the basics of the Passive House standard and how these high-performing, low-energy homes can be achieved on a reasonable budget.... , . Speakers Andy Marlow, Passivhaus Design & Construct and Envirotecture Ben Caine, Leanhaus Burkhard Hansen, CarbonLite Simone Schenkel, Gruen Eco Design Mon 28th Sep 2020, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm AEST : https://events.humanitix.com/passive-house-for-everyone #passivehouse #passivhaus #sustainablehouseday Renew Sanctuary Magazine

19.01.2022 . The last few months have been difficult. Who would have ever thought the year could turn out like this? And of course, we all had our own challenges and different circumstances. But the one thing that we all have in common is that we are all spending much more time in our homes. ... I dont know about you. But our normal lives are pretty hectic. But 2020 had something different in store for us. Now you are home all day long. With the kids. Kids stuff everywhere. You not only need a place to live, eat and play, but also to work. But recently, we have had to come up with ways to work and home school at the same time. How to bring some sort of structure back into our new reality. Working on the dining table is okay for a few days but is not a permanent solution. Especially if the kids play in the same room. What does that all mean for the future? How would you change your house if you could? Or what would you do if you were to build a new home? We all love our big open kitchen / living / dining spaces. But it turns out, when it comes to homeschooling and working from home. They are not that practical. You know the feeling when you have a zoom meeting. While your partner has a work phone call and your kids are in a teams meeting with school. It can get pretty loud and chaotic with everyone sitting in one room. Headphones only help somewhat. We need smarter spaces. Multi-functional spaces. Spaces that can open up or be closed off when needed. : https://gruenecodesign.com.au/what-will-the-post-covid-hom/

19.01.2022 "Organic architecture seeks superior sense of use and a finer sense of comfort, expressed in organic simplicity" - Frank Lloyd Wright #Quote #architecturequote #nature #simplicity #organic #FrankLloydWright

19.01.2022 Earlier this year we took part with a project from the . A Project for Professional Orientation. Called: ... Enterprise German promotes the collaboration between schools and German companies or Australian companies with a relationship to German speaking countries within the region. The project combines aspects of professional orientation with creativity and inventor spirit. We actually did work with 2 schools. And both of those groups have come up with an amazing idea and made it into the finals. Kenmore State High School, QLD Grn Eco Design Check the video here https://www.goethe.de/ins//en/spr/unt/kum/cli/cli/unt.html Camberwell Girls Grammar School, VIC Grn Eco Design Check the video here https://www.goethe.de/ins//en/spr/unt/kum/cli/cli/unt.html How amazing are these girls? Please vote and support your favorite

19.01.2022 The best things in life aren't things - Art Buchwald #GruenEcoDesign #InspirationalQuotes #TheBestThingsInLife #ArtBuchwald

18.01.2022 To all the Dads, Grandads, Fathers-to-be and wonderful role models in our lives.

17.01.2022 Meet - After completing his Masters of Architecture, Radek went on to work for a number of design firms before joining us here at Gruen Eco Design. As building and construction is a significant contributor to the worlds carbon emissions, Radek is motivated to lessen the effects of climate change through careful design, material selection and continual education in sustainable development.... Along with his passion for sustainable design, he also enjoys the elegant, simple forms of Mid Century Modernist architecture and is immensely influence by the work of Le Corbusier, not only his architecture but also his contribution to art and urban planning. Over the next 5 years Radek hopes to continue to develop his skills in the sector and to master the art of residential design. , , . , . . -

17.01.2022 #FBF Take a look at the write up in #MelbourneWeekly with our very own Simone Schenkel talking about the steps to create an energy efficient home. : http://ow.ly/YixL50AGPEW

15.01.2022 "Less is More" - Mies Van Der Rohe #Quote #architecturequote #lessismore #minimalist #MiesVanDerRohe

15.01.2022 What an amazing event it was last night. Very excited and honoured to be the runner up in the category : ... AusMumpreneur AusMumpreneur Awards

14.01.2022 For those of you speaking German I will be on sbs radio tonight between 7-8 pm Simone Schenkel von Gruen Eco Design ist eine qualifizierte Passiv-Haus-Designerin. Nachhaltige Huser zu einem festen Bestandteil der australischen Landschaft zu machen, ist ihr erklrtes Ziel.

14.01.2022 . So we are getting our pedometers out and pounding the pavement (in a 5km radius) to raise money for for children and adults living with cerebral palsy. We have 3 teams registered and would love your help in supporting such a worth cause by donating or sponsoring one or all of our teams.... The first team is made up of Mel, Dee and Ross. If you would like to donate and sponser this team go to: https://www.steptember.org.au/fundraise/shakeyourgruenthang .

14.01.2022 ? ? .? ? ? ? Making your home more energy efficient isnt that hard. Even small changes can have a huge impact on how comfortable your home feels and on your energy bills.... Some of them you can even do yourself. Without needing lots of money or skills. Firstly, I would be looking at draught sealing and weather-stripping your house. Replacing windows might be out of your budget. So, start with weather-stripping your windows. Close off walls and ceiling vents. This can make a huge difference. Old fireplaces can also be a problem. They are literally huge holes in your house. If you dont use them, close them off. Same goes for exhaust fans in the bathrooms or the kitchen. They are money pits. Another hole in the wall. Install self-closing exhaust fans if you can. It can also help a lot to replace a few windows, if money allows. For instance, the big glazing areas in your living and dining area. Or an old rusty window. Or the ones where the gaps are so huge that you can see light coming in! Next, look at the insulation. In an ideal world your house should have a continuous insulation layer all around it. Often this might prove too difficult or too expensive. But again, every bit counts. The easiest thing is to add insulation to the ceiling/roof... http://ow.ly/OkSE50Bdb3A

14.01.2022 After completing the Advanced Diploma in Building Design (Architectural), Bevan has worked exclusively for boutique design firms where he has acquired an exceptional understanding of town planning and construction processes. Detail oriented and a problem solver, Bevan gets a real buzz out of being part of the process of creating a clients dream home or improving their existing one. He loves creating spaces that are functional and also thermally com...fortable for the occupants. Bevan has always been a fan of 1920-30s heritage style homes, particularly red brick Californian bungalows with thick white features. But he is also quite partial to clean lines, thin black window frames and strong geometric shapes of contemporary Architecture. Growing up on a dairy farm in the Gold Coast hinterlands, Bevan loves nature and the outdoors. His weekends are often filled with bike riding, hiking, eating great food and playing is Baritone Saxophone for a community wind orchestra. He is also a mean baker, always bringing naughty/nice treats into the office to share. After completing the Passive House Introductory course, Bevans future ambitions are to complete the Passive House Designer course and build his own with a vegie garden. , . . , . -

13.01.2022 Here finally a few first impressions from our Some of you might remember my post from a few months ago. When I had the most amazing site visit here. This is such a beautiful and stunning site. Breathtaking. Im not sure what did impress me more. The view or all the kangaroos jumping around. But the horses running wild where also amaaaazing!!!

12.01.2022 Buy less. Choose well. Make it last. Quality, not quantity. #VivienneWestwood #Buyless #sustainableliving #Qualitynotquantity

11.01.2022 #FBF Check out our 2019 award winning renovation in blackburn : https://gruenecodesign.com.au/?s=winner

11.01.2022 ? ? , ? ... The solution is actually not that hard. Building a sustainable and energy efficient home does not need to cost more than building a standard custom designed home. Sustainable design can and must be affordable for everyone and as a matter of course it should be integrated naturally throughout the whole design process, rather than designing something and trying to make it sustainable later. Nowadays building green is a trend, but there are actually 7 secrets that are often overlooked during the design process and the construction. -- . http://ow.ly/YptA30mKqfO #gruenecodesign #7secrets #energyefficienthome

10.01.2022 For a house to be sustainable and energy efficient, it needs to be well insulated. . Thermal bridges and air-leakage need to be minimised. Ideally the house should have some thermal mass. The house should have good solar access, that is the main thing. The actual roof form or the wall cladding/wall finishes are up to your personal taste.... Having said this, when you are building a ‘standard’ stud frame home the entire home needs to be taped and sealed and hence there is more potential for errors and mess ups. ( ) . For those of you who haven’t come across this type of construction. These prefabricated panels compromise an FSC certified OSB3 board on either side and have a highly compressed insulation internally. The panels are load bearing and can be used for exterior walls, roofs, floors and also internal walls. And it is really important to know: the house can look any way you want it. You can use any kind of material to finish your house; like render, any kind of cladding, timber, metal cladding, brick or stone, there are no limitations. Same goes for the actual build form. No matter if you are after a traditional or an ultra-modern home. But what is so special on those panels you might ask? For once, these prefabricated panels are produced off-site in a factory. Meaning there is less wastage and off-cut on site. The panels are also lightweight, which means less money spent on footings, no heavy machinery is required and setting them up is fast as. In fact, a complete house can be up to lock up stage within days. : http://ow.ly/wXAq50BKr9W

10.01.2022 Meet (Kitty) our / With both Kathleens parents being artists it was almost inevitable that she pursued a creative career. After finishing her Bachelor in Environments at Melbourne Uni, Kathleen went on to complete her Masters in Architecture. While studying, she went on every travelling studio she could, the most memorable being when she studied architecture in the Galapagos Islands. Post Masters she has work for a myriad ...of Architectural firms on residential, multi residential and commercial projects. Throughout her studies and work history Kathleen has found her strengths lie in aesthetic direction and planning. Deriving from her love of the Mid Century Modernist movement, Kathleen has an affinity for architecture with simple, clean lines. The works of Robyn Boyd, Alistair Knox and the Merchant Builders movement always inspire her. A lover of the great outdoors, Kathleen enjoys hiking, mountain bike riding, swimming and gardening as well as getting arty when she can. Kathleen and her partner are gearing up to design and build their own home which will hopefully begin soon. , , , * - . *

10.01.2022 Party time at Gruen Eco Design. for our project in !!! The house has an heritage overlay. So we are keeping the front facade and will be restoring it to is former glory ... The working drawings are already in full swing. Hopefully we can start with the construction soon and show you some updates in the new year.

09.01.2022 lts the simple things...

09.01.2022 Here a little mood-board for our Our interior design superstar Kitty (Kathleen) is currently working on the cabinetry design and interior selections for this highly energy efficient home. The theme we are going for is... nordic simple warm neutral practical & timeless See more

09.01.2022 It is not just enough to follow all the rules and regulations. There are a lot of planning regulations that can be interpreted in different ways. What one planner might approve his college might not. Especially when you are planning to build an energy efficient home, council planner might throw you a few curveballs.... For instance. If you are building a double storey home, first floor and ground floor walls should sit on top of each other. For one reason, as this simplifies the structure, but also minimises the surface area and hence less potential area for heat loss. Sadly, councils are quite fond of what they call articulation. Typically, they DO NOT like it when walls sit on top of each other, creating sheer double storey walls. This results in what is often referred to as a wedding cake style. When you have a look at typical unit developments, this is usually what is done, first floor walls step back, in order to align with councils preferences. Although this is not a law, the council will often force you to step in walls, or they wont grant a permit. Specifically, they will request to recess first-floor walls to reduce bulk. The problem is that if the first-floor wall is stepped back, and does not sit on a wall below, you will most likely need a steel beam, to support the upper storey, which means added cost. You will also need more construction materials; you are introducing another little roof and by doing all that the energy efficiency of your home decreases. With our projects, we usually try to create interest and introduce some sort of articulation by using different materials and textures for the ground floor and first-floor walls. Sometimes the council might be happy with this, but in most cases, they will insist on reducing the size of the first floor, to create a more obvious articulation. For the full post: http://ow.ly/KfIP50AGQrL

07.01.2022 Meet Our After receiving her Bachelor of Architecture, Mellissa has spent the last 16 years working for various firms across Queensland and Victoria and we are now fortunate to have Mellissa, and the wealth of knowledge she brings, here at Gruen Eco Design. Mellissa has strong project management skills and a real flair for design with a particular love for contemporary architecture - simple forms which complement and provide a backdrop for its natur...al context. Since coming to Gruen Eco Design, she has discovered a passion for off the grid living and creating homes with a connection to nature and over the next 5 years she hopes to build her own passive house in the hills for her family. Mellissa loves gardening and has a keen interest in permaculture. When she is not in the garden you could probably find her hiking or taking her motorcycle out for a spin. .

06.01.2022 Dont get me wrong, councils and planning permits are important and there are some instances you cannot get around it, due to a certain overlay or because you are doing a subdivision. , . The question is, why should you try to avoid it?... It is not just enough to follow all the rules and regulations. There are many planning regulations that can be interpreted in different ways. What one planner might approve his college might not. And of course, a planning permit adds quite a bit of money to your project: planning permit fee town planning drawings potentially; the fee for a private planner to private written reports for you advertising council may request an arborist report you might need landscape design plans You will also have to pay the council a fee if the design or some details change after a planning permit has been granted. And it is common for changes to occur while preparing the construction documentation for your project. For instance, due to some structural requirements or potentially by applying some suggestions to reduce the build cost by your builder. On top of that, is the time delay. How long the process takes can vary significantly. Lets say if you have a very straight forward application, with no major overlays and you have a pretty modest design, not pushing any boundaries (and if you dont have to go through advertising), you might get through in 3 months. Sadly, in reality, this often takes much, much longer. Even a simple application takes usually between 3-6 months. : http://ow.ly/Fu1v50AGQ71

06.01.2022 Dont miss this event on Wednesday! Hope to see you then.

06.01.2022 Meet (Dee) our & Dee commenced her career by Completing a Bachelor degree in Architecture and worked with sustainability focused design firms in India. Taking up a new challenge, Dee joined Gruen while she was pursuing her Masters degree in Energy Efficient and Sustainable Buildings from RMIT University. With a curiosity and passion towards integrating sustainability in the ...built environment, Dee began exploring different cultures, the role of architecture and its positive impact on human behaviour while connecting its relationship with the natural environment. She is a great believer in technical yet design-led advice towards a holistic approach of creating a balance between aesthetically pleasing design, its considerations and achieving the most sustainable outcomes. Away from the desk, Dee enjoys nature trails and appreciates the beautiful skies that Melbourne has to offer. She also likes reading and listening to podcasts that keeps her constantly motivated. Occasionally, You would also see her painting with oil and water colours. . . - Dee is thereby looking to learn, grow and contribute her career in delivering future designs pioneering towards progressive, sustainable and innovative concepts in the built environment.

05.01.2022 2 , . , . I mentioned designing your home around the planning regulations, in order to avoid going to council for a planning permit. And the importance of getting a written confirmation that no permit is needed. Today I want to tell you about the process we went through for our new energy efficien...t double storey home in Mount Albert North and the things we had to do to avoid the need for a planning permit. The site is located within a Neighbourhood Residential Zone, Schedule 3. And has Significant Landscape Overlay and a Vegetation Protection Overlay. There were many parameters we had to work with when we started the design: The main thing was we had to stay a minimum of 4 meters away from any significant tree. Where any tree larger than 5m in height and having a single trunk circumference of 1.0 metre or more was considered significant. We also had stricter regulations when it comes to setback, site coverage and so on. I will list the full list of restrictions at the end of this blog. : http://ow.ly/tM2T50AGQDi

04.01.2022 ? ? Or do you want some advice on how to improve the design or the overall energy efficiency of the home?... Register for a free half an hour design consultation with our sustainability experts and passive house designers to get you and your project started. : http://ow.ly/fmjX30n3nqa : ** **

04.01.2022 "The home should be the treasure chest of living" - Le Corbusier #Quote #architecturequote #LeCorbusier

03.01.2022 "Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you." - Frank Lloyd Wright #Quote #architecturequote #nature #minimalist #FrankLloydWright

03.01.2022 . Obviously, it was great to visit our family and friends and see some amazing architecture. But what had a much bigger impact on me was the community and neighbourhood connections we saw throughout our time in Germany. , there is a much greater concern about privacy. People are very wary of neighbours looking into their garden, so much so that we have stringent building laws regulating this. When building... or renovating each garden / private open space has to have a 1.8m fence to prevent overlooking. This ensures no one can see you inside your yard. Similarly for upstairs balconies or windows. These need to be screened or frosted up to 1.7m height. Making sure that you can not look into your neighbours garden. What does this mean? You can often end up with closed off and dark gardens and outdoor areas. This is especially the case for smaller lots. But even more obviously: You do not see your neighbour. In Germany, this is quite the opposite. Often there are no fences at all between gardens, or alternatively, they may have shrubs or low fences to define their property boundary. This leads to neighbourhoods having a very open and spacious feel. Even when you only have a small garden area yourself you are still surrounded by beautiful greenery. But, the biggest difference is that neighbours can see each other. Yes, they actually talk to each other. And what happens when you talk to each other? You make connections. You might even invite each other over for a barbeque or for a drink? This is how friendships are created. I have always wondered why most Australians are so concerned about their privacy. Whats the harm if your neighbour sees you having a barbeque or your kids playing in the backyard? : https://gruenecodesign.com.au/is-privacy-overrated/

03.01.2022 We are a huge fan of SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) and use them on a lot of our projects. For those of you who haven’t come across this type of construction. These prefabricated panels compromise a FSC certified OSB3 board on either side and have a highly compressed insulation internally. The panels are load bearing and can be used for exterior walls, roofs, floors and also internal walls. The panels can come as big as an entire wall, complete with all window and door ...openings. And really important to know: the house can look any way you want. You can use any kind of material to finish your house; like render, any kind of cladding, timber, metal cladding, brick or stone, there are no limitations. Same goes for the actual build form. No matter if you are after a traditional or an ultra-modern home. For once, these prefabricated panels are produced off site in a factory. Meaning there is less wastage and off-cut on site. The panels are also lightweight, which means less money spent on footings, no heavy machinery is required and setting them up fast. In fact, a complete house can be up to lock up stage within days. Although the product itself is more expensive than a standard stud wall construction, the construction is so fast that actual labour cost is reduced. So, in the end, the construction costs about the same as if you were to build with standard std wall. But you have the added benefit of a much faster construction, which could save you on interest rates and or rental expenses. Panels are highly energy efficient and offer a much better rating than a standard wall. Due to their outstanding performance sips are regularly used on passive standard homes as well. Sips panels are also ideal for townhouse and unit developments and can be used for parting walls. You can also get approved Sips in bush fire prone areas, up to a BAL 40. Please contact us if you need help designing your own sips house For the full blog: http://ow.ly/9REB50xLfbX

01.01.2022 . So we are getting our pedometers out and pounding the pavement (in a 5km radius) to raise money for for children and adults living with cerebral palsy. We have 3 teams registered and would love your help in supporting such a worth cause by donating or sponsoring one or all of our teams.... The first team .. is made up of Simone, Marian and Shaily. If you would like to donate and sponser this team go to: https://www.steptember.org.au/fundraisers/gruenecodesign .