CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! Designing a true zero-carbon home in Australia
MELBOURNE: Omnia House, by Elizabeth Wheeler of Future Focus Buildings and Tamar Boyd of Blue Lotus Energy Rating, have taken out the National Award for the Design Matters National True Zero Carbon Challenge 2022.
In addition to the National Award, Omnia House also came away with the Victorian State Award.
The DMN True Zero Carbon Challenge is an annual competition where a building designer and home energy assessor team up to design a home that not only produces more power than it uses over a year but calculates embodied carbon in material selection. Through energy-efficient design, careful appliance selection and enough photovoltaic panels to pay back the home's entire carbon debt by 2050* this inaugural competition attracted entries from across Australia.
This Challenge not only furnishes entrants with the necessary skills to thrive in the coming decades but paves the way to true Net Zero housing. The competition is pivotal to show what is possible and to let the industry know that DMN members are ready, willing, and able to meet the challenges of the low carbon future.
MC Jeremy Spencer announced the worthy winners to DMN Members, their guests, VIPs, and major sponsors, on Friday 11 November in the carbon neutral Rainforest Room at Melbourne Zoo.
DMN CEO Peta Anderson said, "DMN Members Elizabeth Wheeler and Tamar Boyd were the deserving recipients of the highest accolade in the 2022 True Zero Carbon Challenge Awards which saw entries from Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, and Queensland, this year".
“We congratulate Elizabeth Wheeler and Tamar Boyd on winning the Victorian and National Awards in this year’s inaugural DMN True Zero Carbon Challenge. Their project is a real stand-out, sustainable, and ready to build. Omnia House makes a strong sustainable statement and is an exceptional conceptual design,” Ms. Anderson said.
“In awarding Omnia House the top prize, the judges remarked that they enjoyed the way Omnia House's edible garden with raised wicking beds and dwarf fruit forest provided organic produce, and the front lockable bike port encouraged healthy transport habits. They also liked the way the house is cleverly set up for maximum flexibility of changing occupation over the years, including easy separation of the dwelling into two homes for extra rental income, or for a carer to live in enabling the owners to age in place without losing connection to neighbours and community.” Ms. Anderson said.
DMN Member Elizabeth Wheeler and Tamar Boyd were elated to have Omnia House, honoured with the National and Victoria State Award.
State Commendations
- Swift Parrot House by James Goodlet and Daniel Prochazka
- The Smarter Sustainable Home by Griff Morris and Debbie Bute
Student Award:
- Bare House by Alicia Ferrer and Tristan Stanley-Cary
State Winners
- Omnia House by Elizabeth Wheeler and Tamar Boyd (VIC)
- Secret Garden Home by Suho Studio and Jim Woolcock, Suho Studio (SA)
- Sips and Sire by Chloe Overton (TAS)
- Bare House by Alicia Ferrer and Tristan Stanley-Cary (WA)
- Little Pot of Gold by Talina Edwards and Luc Plowman (QLD)
- True Blue Zero C02 by Lachlan McEwen and Melanie Lupis (NSW)
ABOUT DESIGN MATTERS NATIONAL:
Design Matters National (DMN) is a leading national professional body for 2,500+ Building Designers, Architects, and related industry professionals. The association was formed in 1983, as the BDAV, and in late 2020 DMN amalgamated with the BDAWA. DMN Members share a passion for better design and sustainability across the Built Environment.
The peak body supports Members through networking, education mentoring, and government advocacy programs Australia-wide. DMN works closely with federal, state, and local governments to ensure the quality of building design is maintained at the highest professional and ethical standards.
ABOUT THE DMN TRUE ZERO CARBON CHALLENGE:
For more information about the True Zero Carbon Challenge or how to enter in 2023 please go to the DMN website