I’ve got no-one to blame but myself
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
See my step-by-step breakdown
Everything I wish I’d known before I started
With my current team we’re developing a number of solutions:
- A pre-fab timber construction that salvages as much of the existing materials as possible
- A water solution that recycles every drop of water I use and isn’t connected to town water
- A self-sufficient solar solution (still some negotiating to be done on that with council)
- An incinerating toilet (not connected to the sewerage system)
- Interior design based on recycled, sustainable materials that are beautiful too
- A vegetable garden designed for small spaces