Net Zero Design - Services
We provide Sustainable Building Design and consulting services for home renovations and extensions, new builds of any type and urban design/master planning projects. We work with clients who share our commitment to intelligent, holistic design to create healthy buildings that don’t cost the Earth, so that every project delivers long-term value.
DESIGN QUALITY
Every project is unique and requires a tailored approach to best suit your needs and add the most value to your land. We work with you to create individual, high quality buildings that reflect your personal values, support health and wellbeing and enhance life quality.
Our continued applied research on innovative materials and construction methods aims to further improve efficiencies, sustainability standard and build quality.
LESS IS MORE
We help to save the environment and cost through efficient use of space, materials and technology and prioritising retrofits / repurpose where possible. Our philosophy is to create more with less - flexible, adaptable and multi-functional spaces, designed for longevity and long-term use. We support local production and use resources wisely by specifying durable, recyclable and/or biodegradable materials.
COLLABORATION
Our integrated approach aims to maximise value through early design collaboration, balancing environmental, social and economic considerations. Investment in front-end design is the best way to identify opportunities and risks early on and save cost overall. Most importantly, our collaborative and transparent approach makes the process easy to understand and enjoyable.
Sustainable Design
1. Introduction: Online meeting or site visit
We believe that high-quality, sustainable buildings come from a deep understanding of your needs, along with technical expertise and strategic thinking. Our process ensures that no time is wasted by diving into documentation too early, instead we identify key factors with you upfront, before you commit to a more detailed design.
Do you have a project in mind? We offer a free, no-obligation 30-min. online meeting to explore how we can work together. This is an opportunity to discuss your overall project vision, design ideas, local context, timelines, budget and any other points that are important to you.
Alternatively, you can arrange a site visit / consultation to obtain valuable upfront information at your property, charged on an hourly rate - no obligation at this stage. We also help with site selection, pre-purchase or early strategic advice and provide feasibility studies to inform your property journey.
2. Design Workshop
For a more in-depth discussion with plan review and sketches, our creative design workshop is a great way to refine your brief, whether you are exploring initial ideas or already have a more detailed understanding. Based on a desktop review of your property, we workshop high-level strategies for the design and master planning, initial town planning considerations, material preferences and any project specific factors. This can include preliminary advice from other experts such as a town planner if of advantage.
We offer this service for a fixed fee and provide a written summary for you to consider if and how to proceed. This process ensures that you can make informed decisions early to save time and cost later on. It also gives us a good understanding of your project so that we can tailor the design approach and fees to your needs.
3. Developing your Design
If you are ready to make a start on the design, we come out for a site visit (if we haven‘t already). Our concept design typically includes 2-3 options based on initial town planning- and other investigations, presented with sketches, graphic illustrations and basic 3D models to make it easy to visualise. We may recommend preliminary advice from other consultants as appropriate (e.g. bushfire, ecologist). Where possible, we consider prefab options and work with builders early on.
The concepts are compared against the budget and suitable for initial costing by a builder. We can work with your preferred builder, refer one from our network or help you to find a good match in your area. Your preferred design is then developed into a more detailed 3D model with input from consultants on structure, energy efficiency etc.
4. Getting your 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 to resolve this in 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 ensure that the design quality is maintained and optimised within your budget. This can include a few project specific details in discussion with the builder or more comprehensive packages if you would like (e.g. interior). Prefab design may be an option to streamline the process as we use standard details that are easily customised.
5. Working towards construction
Our integrated approach creates a good understanding of the project by all parties and a collaborative working environment. We offer full building design services in a traditional or streamlined process through early collaboration with builders and prefabrication where suitable. Our flat-pack system can get your project to lock-up stage in just a few days on site, reducing risk through precision manufacturing and quality control in the factory, material supply security and weather independence.
Our commitment to innovative, future-proof design makes the process enjoyable and sustainable building easy for you. Get in touch today to discuss how this can benefit your project.
6. Enjoy your new space!
We ensure that your building meets the highest standard you can achieve for your budget and is comfortable all year round. We are also available for any future adaptions and/or stages.
Whether you are exploring initial ideas or have a more detailed concept, we would love to hear from you and discuss your project.
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 likeminded organisations. We have worked with leading firms such as Thomson Adsett, BVN and PDT Architects. Our integrated approach, diverse experience across many sectors along with technical expertise has added proven value to projects.
We appreciate that working towards a sustainable future requires input from experts in different fields. We welcome collaboration with likeminded professionals who challenge best practice and aim to offer real solutions to address the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and housing affordability.
Our R&D focused work is based on regenerative and net-positive design principles, in collaboration with industry and academia. We are proficient with Building Information Modeling (BIM), Building Performance Analysis to optimise both CAPEX and OPEX and continue to explore new tools and technologies to further improve the triple bottom line.
If you plan a unique sustainability project, you are most welcome to get in touch - it could involve a social cause, an innovative industrial building, a modular / prefab project, ecosystem regeneration or any other development that aims to make a real difference in the community.
