Prefab vs Traditional Building: What Really Matters When You’re Planning Your Home

Prefab vs Traditional Building: What Really Matters When You’re Planning Your Home Prefab vs Traditional Building: What Really Matters When You’re Planning Your Home Building a home is a big decision. And somewhere along the way, most people find themselves asking: 👉 Do we build the “traditional” way… or do we explore prefabrication? It’s a […]

Beyond Carbon: Why Timber Is Changing the Way We Design and Build Homes

Beyond Carbon: Why Timber Is Changing the Way We Design and Build Homes For a long time, timber has been talked about as the “low-carbon alternative” to concrete and steel. And while that’s true… It’s only part of the story. At reimagined habitat, we see timber as something much bigger. It’s not just about reducing […]

When Homes Make You Sick: The Hidden Danger of Mould (and What We Can Do About It)

When Homes Make You Sick: The Hidden Danger of Mould (and What We Can Do About It) We don’t often think of our homes as something that could make us sick. But for many people across Australia, that’s exactly what’s happening. And in most cases, the cause isn’t obvious. It’s not structural failure. It’s not […]

Podcast Feature: The Performance Gap and De-Risking Your Build with Michael Drage

Podcast Feature: The Performance Gap and De-Risking Your Build with Michael Drage We’re excited to share that Michael Drage recently joined Jess on The Building Sciology Poddie for a deep conversation about one of the biggest challenges facing the construction industry today — the performance gap between how buildings are designed and how they actually perform in […]

What If The Biggest Health Risk Isn’t Outside — But Inside Our Homes?

What If The Biggest Health Risk Isn’t Outside — But Inside Our Homes? If We Spend 90% of Our Lives Indoors, Why Aren’t We Talking More About Indoor Air Quality? Indoor air quality in homes is becoming an increasingly important issue as Australians spend more time indoors. We recently read an ABC article about the […]

Affordable Housing Starts with the Envelope: Why Windows Matter More Than You Think

Affordable Housing Starts with the Envelope: Why Windows Matter More Than You Think When people talk about affordable housing, the conversation usually focuses on land prices, construction costs or planning approvals. All important topics. But there is another factor that quietly shapes how affordable a home truly is — not just on the day it’s […]

Why “Building to Passive House Principles” Isn’t Enough

Why “Building to Passive House Principles” Isn’t Enough We often hear the phrase: “We built it to Passive House principles.” And while that sounds reassuring, here’s the honest truth: Simply applying the five Passive House building principles does not guarantee good performance. You can add more insulation. You can specify triple glazing. You can tape […]

Is Privacy Overrated? What Germany Taught Me About Community and Belonging

Is Privacy Overrated? What Germany Taught Me About Community and Belonging Written by Simone Schenkel I’ve had the privilege of spending time in Germany twice in recent years — first in 2019, and again in 2023. Both trips were deeply memorable. Of course, it was wonderful to visit family and friends and to immerse myself […]

Why Australian Homes Are So Cold, Hot, and Expensive to Run It

Why Australia’s Homes Are Still Failing Us — and What We Can Do About It Insights from a conversation with Jo Taranto and reimagined habitat founder Michael Drage Why are so many Australian homes freezing in winter, overheating in summer, and expensive to run year-round? It’s a question more homeowners are starting to ask as […]

When Climate Research Becomes Personal: Heat, Health and Rental Housing in Australia

When Climate Research Becomes Personal: Lessons on Heat, Health and Housing Written by Simone Schenkel Australia’s Heatwave Reality Heat, health and rental housing in Australia are becoming increasingly connected as our climate changes and more homes struggle to remain safe, comfortable and liveable during extreme weather. In a recent blog post, we shared research and […]