Late 2009 What have we done?

Our new place is freeeeezing. We thought our old place was drafty and cold in winter. In this one, half the rooms have windows that don't even close.

Still it's only temporary and we are now fast tracking getting plans done. We thought about using a volume builder and trying to engage them on the sustainability opportunities for the new place. But by now you won't be surprised to learn that we didn't do this and instead went back to one of the 'sustainable' architects.

As well as listing all the environmental sustainability features and space requirements in our brief, we threw in some others:

• the home should respect the streetscape and homes around it. This doesn't mean it has to look the same, but that it not be a 'blot on the landscape'
• we wanted a carport not a garage. One of the aspects of our lives we have enjoyed is seeing our neighbours and having a chat over the fence.
• access to our bikes. We want them to be at the front of our house as they are as important as our cars.

What will come back?