Sustainable building design
Early design decisions have the greatest influence on a building’s health, performance and cost. That’s why we focus above all on refining the brief with you and the concept design, then apply low environmental impact, high-performance principles throughout all stages that follow. Services are tailored to the scope of your project – from a fixed-fee design workshop or specialist consulting to full building design. Whether for a home or a larger project, we create healthy buildings with long-term value through a clear, collaborative process.
1. Getting to know your project
We start by understanding your needs, priorities and site, and bring technical expertise and strategic thinking to identify the key factors before you commit to detailed design.
Have a project in mind? Book a free, no-obligation 30-minute online meeting to discuss your vision, timelines, budget and anything else that matters to you.
Alternatively, a site visit and consultation at your property can provide valuable early insight. We also offer site selection, pre-purchase or strategic advice and feasibility studies to help you make informed decisions.
2. Exploring ideas in a design workshop
Our design workshop is an in-depth session to sketch options and set a clear direction for your project, whether you‘re just starting out or already have more advanced ideas. Based on a desktop review of your property and any existing plans, we’ll cover:
-Vision, brief and master planning strategies
- Site opportunities and constraints
- Planning pathways
- Sustainability and performance goals
- Budget, timeline and construction options
Where helpful, this can include preliminary advice from other experts such as a town planner. You’ll receive a report documenting the workshop outcomes, including opportunities, risks, and recommended next steps. This also becomes your project brief, refined as your design develops. The workshop is offered at a fixed fee based on your project’s complexity, and is fully credited towards the next stage if you proceed.
3. Developing your design
When you are ready to start the design, we visit your site (if we haven’t already). Our concept design typically includes 2–3 options informed by initial town planning and site investigations, presented with sketches, graphics and simple 3D models for easy visualisation.
Each concept is compared against your budget and developed to a level suitable for initial costing by a builder. We involve builders early where possible, whether your preferred company, one from our network, or a good match we help you find in your area.
We typically use early energy modelling to optimise building performance and construction cost, and recommend experts such as a bushfire consultant or ecologist where needed. Your preferred design is then developed into a more detailed 3D model, coordinated with structural and other consultant input.
4. Documentation and approvals
At this stage we confirm statutory requirements and assist with lodging a Development and/or Building Application.
We design projects with critical detailing in mind and resolve this in the early stages as much as possible with sketches and the 3D model. Usually only some fine-tuning is needed, ensuring that all consultants’ information is fully integrated.
Our focus during construction documentation is to maintain and optimise the design quality within your budget. This can include a few project-specific details in discussion with the builder or more comprehensive documentation such as interior details if you would like.
Our adaptable modular design is an option to streamline the process as we use standard details that are easily customised.
5. Working towards construction
Our integrated approach gives everyone involved a good understanding of the project and supports a collaborative working environment. We offer either traditional tendering or a negotiated process, where we work with selected builders or manufacturers from early on.
Where suitable, prefabrication can bring your project to lock-up stage within days on site. Precision manufacturing, factory quality control and weather independence reduce waste and risk, such as moisture damage and mould, while improving material supply security and cost certainty.
Whether we’re engaged for contract administration or just answering RFIs, we include a tailored healthy spec document builders actually enjoy reading! Our commitment to innovative, future-proof design makes the process enjoyable and sustainable building easy for you. Get in touch today to discuss your project.
6. Enjoy your new space!
Your building is designed to achieve the best performance and build quality for your budget: healthy, comfortable all year round and easy to maintain. We’re also here for any future adaptations or project stages.
Whether you’re at the start of your design or have a more detailed concept, we’d love to hear from you.
Sustainability Consulting
All Hallows Catholic School, Five Dock NSW
Architect: BVN Sydney, completed Oct. 2018
Photo: Katherine Lu
Net Zero Design offers sustainability consulting services to private clients and like-minded organisations. We have worked with leading firms such as Thomson Adsett, BVN and PDT Architects. Our integrated approach, diverse experience across many sectors and technical expertise have added proven value to projects.
Working towards a sustainable future requires input from experts in different fields. We welcome collaboration with professionals who raise the bar and offer real solutions to address the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and housing affordability.
Our R&D-focused work is based on regenerative and nature-positive design principles such as lifecycle design and the use of underutilised native timber in modern methods of construction (MMC), in collaboration with industry and academia.
We are proficient in Building Information Modelling (BIM) and building performance analysis to optimise both CAPEX and OPEX and continue to explore new tools and technologies to further improve the triple bottom line.
Planning a unique sustainability project? It could involve a social cause, an innovative industrial building, modular/prefab design, ecosystem regeneration or any other project that aims to make a lasting difference in the community. We’d welcome the opportunity to collaborate.
