During my architecture studies and 15 years of industry experience with medium to large sized architecture practices in Europe and Australia I specialised in holistic sustainable development. In 2015 I founded Net Zero Design, where I have been working on residential projects and as sustainability consultant on education- and community projects.
I see the greatest value for any project in early design collaboration with the project team, especially builders where possible. My R&D on lifecycle concepts, healthy building design and using materials in more efficient, innovative forms is reflected in a modular zero carbon house I have been developing with industry partners.
My work aims to push the boundaries further towards regenerative and net positive design with high quality, practical solutions that actively counteract climate change and improve the health and wellbeing of people and their environments. It has won Awards and presented and published internationally (Australia, Germany, Canada, Spain, UK).
I am an Associate Member of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA), hold an Open Building Designer licence with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) and have been supporting other organisations such as Zero Emissions Byron and the Living Future Institute as part of the Living Building Challenge Collaborative.

My interest in high-level sustainable development dates back to the early 2000’s after my graduation in Architecture / Urban Planning from the University of Applied Sciences Kiel, Germany, where I received a Design- & Technology Award for my thesis, a high-density, modular multi-residential development, designed with passive climatisation principles. Starting in the building industry with internships in 6 different trades and working in an award-winning architecture firm during and after my studies gave me a good foundation for developing my practical and creative skills. My passion for sustainable design led me to hands-on work on energy efficient- and Passive Houses soon after graduation.

Although having worked on building sites, I also questioned the waste and nature of materials used to create even ‘green buildings’. Developing an interest in lifecycle concepts, I undertook postgraduate studies at Technische Universitaet Darmstadt (TUD) in sustainable design and energy-efficient construction for admission to a PhD. Although I decided to continue work in practice, this was the seed for my interest in exploring if it is possible to create buildings that contribute back to nature instead of depleting resources and ecosystems.

In 2006 I relocated to Australia and worked with medium to large sized architecture firms on a broad range of project types and scales, including residential / multi-residential, commercial, retail, education, mixed use, public, hotel / resort, industrial, health care and master planning projects. I also continued academic work at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) where I met Prof. Janis Birkeland who originated the concept of ‘Net Positive Development’ which aims to proactively reverse impacts of development on human and ecosystem health. My focus since has been on testing in measurable terms if / how we can achieve this standard, starting with my M.Arch. project in 2011 which was later presented and published internationally.

In 2015 I founded Net Zero Design to make holistic sustainable development more accessible and affordable. I see the key to this in early sustainable design integration and collaboration. My award-winning modular zero carbon house reflects my R&D to date, using today’s technologies while refining materials and construction methods to further improve sustainability standard and cost.

Christina Renger
Founder / Principal, Net Zero Design