The New Sustainable House

A showcase from across the globe of 25 houses offering creative solutions for planet-friendly home design.
Designing with the environment in mind is not 'new'. What is new is the increasing number of ways houses can be more sustainably built. With a fresh focus on design ingenuity, new technologies and materials, The New Sustainable House demonstrates that there is more to ecologically motivated construction than solar panels and water tanks.
From a mud-brick single-storey box built in the Texas desert to an all-timber Swedish cabin that is completely petrochemical-free, what unites this diverse collection of houses is the shared motivation of the architects and clients to do as little damage as possible to the planet, without compromising on comfort or aesthetics. This compelling survey shows that the environmental impact of every home, no matter the size or location, can be greatly reduced with creative and responsible design.

Penny Craswell is a Sydney-based editor, writer and curator who specialises in design, craft, architecture and interiors. She is the former Editor of Artichoke magazine, Deputy Editor of Indesign magazine and Creative Strategy Associate at the Australian Design Centre, and has been published widely in design periodicals, books and online media around the world. She also writes a blog called The Design Writer. Thames & Hudson published her book Reclaimed in 2023.

Introduction
List of Terms
GREEN HOUSE IN THE CITY 19 Waterloo Street by SJB
BACK TO FUNDAMENTALS Minimum House by Nori Architects
BURNT TIMBER MEETS EARTHY TONES Somers House by Kennedy Nolan
CONSTRUCTED FROM MUD Marfa Suite by DUST
VERDANT OFF-GRID RETREAT Weave House by The B.A.D Studio
ENERGY GENERATOR Garden House by Austin Maynard Architects
REGENERATING AN ECOSYSTEM Sumu Yakushima, Regenerative Life Studio by tono Inc.
HOUSE WITH A VISION Sheffield House by Of Possible
ENERGY EFFICIENCY WITH A PINCH OF SALT Saltbox Passive House by L'Abri
PROTOTYPING A REVOLUTION HUTT 01 PassivHaus by Melbourne Design Studios
LAYERING WITH LIME Puigpunyent Eco-Passive House by Miquel Lacomba Architects
LIVING LIGHTLY IN THE FOREST Anawhata House by Paul Davidson
WRAPPED IN A PROTECTIVE SKIN Camp O by Maria Milans Studio
MANY HANDS MAKE HEMPCRETE Hempcrete House by Altereco Design
A DOWN-TO-EARTH CITY PAD Karper by He! Architectuur
ON THE COAST AND OFF THE GRID Bass Coast Farmhouse by Wardle
BUILDING BETTER WITH BAMBOO Echo House by IBUKU
DEEP RETROFIT WITH PREFAB EXTENSION Low Energy House by Architecture for London
CUSTODIAN OF THE WATERS Tropical House by Jaque Studio
SOURCED FROM THE EARTH Driemond House by The Way We Build
GREEN TO THE CORE Green House by Hayhurst & Co Architects
MATERIAL ADVANCES WITH HEMP Flat House by Material Cultures
FROM FREEZING TO FIRE CAMPout by Faulkner Architects
HOUSE FOR WOODWORKERS HIEN House by Winhouse Architecture
ALL NATURAL IN THE FOREST Svinninge Cabin by Lowen Widman Arkitekter
ARCHITECTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS