'Design for Place': Free, energy-efficient house plans from Your Home

Join architect Ben Walker and Felicity Woodhams, Assistant Manager of the Your Home Team from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, as they discuss the recent release of Design For Place energy-efficient house plans. This webinar will provide an introduction to the new free house plans and supporting materials, and will outline the key energy-efficiency principles demonstrated by the plans. It will also explore how an energy assessor can assist during the design process to achieve a cost-effective, energy-efficient outcome. Participants will meet Richard, a homeowner who has built a home using the ‘Banksia’ Design For Place plan. 

Speakers

Felicity Woodhams, Your Home and NatHERS Operations Team at the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources

Felicity is an Assistant Manager in the Your Home and NatHERS Operations Team at the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources. Felicity’s background is in Environmental Science, holding both undergraduate and Masters qualifications in this field. She has worked in numerous government roles in program delivery, research and communications, and in international organisations in Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Due to a growing interest in sustainable building design, Felicity sought out a professional role in this area in 2015. She spent three years working on the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), and in the past 18 months has been leading a small team delivering the new Design For Place house plans and a comprehensive update of the Your Home guide to sustainable building.

www.yourhome.gov.au

www.industry.gov.au

Ben Walker, Ben Walker Architects 

Ben Walker graduated from the University of Canberra with a Bachelor of Architecture in 2005, and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture in 1999. Since that time he has worked in numerous private and public positions in Canberra and Melbourne, including an Associate role at Townsend + Associates Architects from 2006 – 2012. Ben established ben walker architects (bwa) in 2012.

Ben has worked on a diverse range of architectural, urban design and planning projects in a professional capacity over the last 15 years. This has included several large scale multi-unit and mixed use residential projects, commercial office towers, numerous private houses, concept planning for new estates and building audits. Ben received the Australian Institute of Architects ACT Chapter Emerging Architect prize in 2011, and has won a number of Institute Awards and Commendations for projects over the last 8 years.

Ben has been involved with the Australian Institute of Architects since graduating in 2005 and has been an active member of the ACT Chapter Planning Committee and Small Practice Committee. Ben has contributed to and

Co-authored a number of submissions to government on behalf of the Planning Committee.

Ben also continues his relationship with the University of Canberra and has lectured and tutored in the Architecture stream for several years.

www.benwalkerarchitects.com.au

Richard, Homeowner

Richard and his wife discovered the Design For Place home plans while looking to build a house on a moderate budget and utilise modern passive design features. Their resultant home, called ‘Harmony House’, makes use of solar passive design elements such as internal thermal mass, cross-flow ventilation and window placement to create a bright and nurturing living environment. The family are overjoyed with the result and enjoy comfortably stable internal temperatures year round.

https://sustainablehouseday.com/listing/harmony-house/

MC: Anna Cumming, Editor Sanctuary Magazine, Renew

Tickets

• Webinar capacity of 3000 people
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