Published by Thames & Hudson, The New Sustainable House is a substantial and engaging contribution to one of the most pressing emergencies of our time. Rather than meander meaninglessly around the usual staid topic of ‘sustainability,’ long since emptied of meaning when used thoughtlessly, this book seeks to outline new ways of approaching sustainable residential design – new being the key word.
The question is no longer why sustainability, but how. We all want ‘planet-friendly home design,’ as the subtitle of the book goes. But what design methodologies and approaches are needed to actually achieve this? Designers and design enthusiasts need to know about the new – and indeed often old – ways of making home design truly sustainable and environmentally friendly.
To begin with, Sydney-based editor, writer and curator Craswell takes a global view of things. The 25 homes covered in the book include SJB’s 19 Waterloo Street in Sydney as well as other Australian projects such as Garden House by Austin Maynard Architects, Bass Coast Farmhouse by Wardle and Somers House by Kennedy Nolan. Indeed, the cover of the book features a Melbourne project: HÜTT Ø1 PassivHaus by Melbourne Design Studio. Our Asia-Pacific region is also covered with inclusions such as Weave House by The B.A.D Studio in India, Anawhata House by Paul Davidson in New Zealand and HIÊN House by Winhouse Architecture in Vietnam. Elsewhere, there are projects in Spain, the USA, UK and Mexico to enjoy.
The book was recently recognised with the Adrian Ashton Prize for Architectural Culture and Literature, with the AIA stating that the work “is a considered, important and enjoyable curation of projects from across the world… Presented without dogma, the techniques and approaches utilised in the projects show how sustainably-aware design doesn’t need to compromise a design approach, in a way that appeals to all levels of design literacy.”
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Spotlighting new materials and technologies alongside good old design ingenuity, The New Sustainable House aims, refreshingly, to do much more than showcase the odd solar panel or water tank. The book explores different approaches in each of its highlighted projects; as the author writes in the introduction, “We all need to think outside the box and consider better solutions – clients, architects and builders.” Craswell adds that sustainable design “starts with the location of the project,” a nod to the importance of architectural knowledge and sensitivity.
Helpfully, a list of terms is included for clarity on concepts such as net zero, off grid, passive design and embodied energy. Meanwhile, the projects of course include beautiful photography too, as well as insightful text outlining the specific sustainability relevancies.
The New Sustainable House by Penny Craswell, published 29th October 2024 by Thames & Hudson Australia, AUD$69.99 – see here for more information.
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