I decided I would construct a model sustainable home. Then I deliberately chose a dark house on a small block in a location that many building experts would consider “difficult”. The aspect is terrible, there are heritage constraints and access to the site is limited.
Sure, I knew it wouldn’t be easy, and I chose the house to show it could be done on even the trickiest site. But I didn’t realise just how many challenges I’d face – from people promising the earth and not delivering, to people telling me it couldn’t be done – when I knew it could. Which is why I’ve been through 7 architects, 15 water specialists, 10 solar experts, 3 sustainability experts, 2 legal experts and 1 project manager