Planning to build?

Building or renovating is a challenge. Making sure we end up with a health-sustaining home, as well as an environment-sustaining home, adds additional levels of complexity.

Personally, I love to help my clients with this, as it saves a lot of headache (and money), later. It is such an opportunity, to be able to get things right in the planning stage! I love to be able to contribute from my years of experience, - and at times I even learn from my clients. - This week, I met up with one of my very favourite architects, Matt Elkan. He and his team are working on an incredible project, and it is a huge privilege to be able to contribute to it: The home will not just be amazing, it will be healthy and amazing! This process excites me so much, - I decided to become an architect, in my next life….

Generally, during the initial consultation, we look at

• Indoor air quality

• Indoor climate

• Water quality

• Electro-pollution

• Sustainability

• Comfort (sound, light, heating/cooling, pests)

• Connected living (sensory perceptions, harmonic proportions, ergonomics, …)

• Community context

These points translate into a variety of materials and processes - and I can assure you that it does not have to become as expensive as you may think. Spending at the building stage saves replacements, later.

After that, I might have to meet with the electrician or the builder, but all the basics are in place to make your home a healthy one.

In case you are planning to build, and you want to go all the way, consider having your home certified as a Healthy House Australia by your local Buildingbiologist. This process will ascertain your home’s health to Buildingbiological standards and if it ever comes to reselling, this is a great accreditation to show off.