1. Firstly, the standard plans do not consider the land upon which the house is to be built. The implications of this are: The house may perform badly in relation to thermal comfort due to no consideration being given to orientation. This can mean very high energy bills from constantly running air conditioning and heating. 2. Inappropriate choice of building materials, such as high thermal mass products such as brick on external walls and tiles on roofs. These again will driv

New home designs, as distinct from the more traditional house plans of our colonial past, are reflecting a more casual lifestyle by creating greater open planning, together with the introduction of light and larger volume of space. Home buyers are also asking for “wow factor” which is present in the home décor of many new houses being built on new housing estates. Warwick O'Brien Architects take a different approach to this trend. For us, the idea of “wow factor” has no groun

House plans by Warwick O'Brien Architects are different from those you may see from those offered by the major builders. Woba designs are bespoke. They are not a set of standard plans from which to make a selection. Warwick O'Brien Architects floor plans are crafted to your specific requirements. They will always address: • your design brief • sustainable principles • site attributes • creative and efficient outcomes Sustainable houses designs are the passion of Warwick O

A project that explores new materials and building techniques. Below are some preview photos of one new house design in Rostrevor. This environmentally sustainable design has used a new profile of corrugated metal cladding as it’s external walling material. The product is called Mid Orb. Its profile is in between Mini-orb and Custom –orb in size of flute. Fixings are smaller and are Colorbond to match the sheet colour. The advantage of this is that the fixings are visually le

Warwick O'Brien Architects floor plans are unique to each individual client. This is because each client brings with them unique personalities, lifestyles, site conditions and budgets. The resolution of these elements therefore results in bespoke new homes in every instance. Warwick O'Brien Architects' homes are energy efficient homes. – that’s what we do! A perception exists that green homes are synonymous with low tech. Houses for tree hugging hippies! A search of our portf

· If we sit down and think about the state of the world and our place within it, I think we would all agree that the planet, and most of us within it, is under considerable stress. · In personal terms, there are financial stresses and uncertainty, marital and family pressures and uncertainty about employment or business stability. · In planetary terms there are all kinds of indicators that earth is struggling – diminished resources, forests that are disappearing at an alarmin

Sustainable homes are Warwick O’ Brien Architects' passion and commitment to the preservation of the natural environment. We have been working in this area for over twenty five years. Sustainable living involves a commitment to the concept of sustainable architecture by the home buyer. They become an ongoing participant of its benefits into the future through saving on energy costs, and greenhouse gas emissions whilst enjoying the comfort and lifestyle it embraces. Understand

The expression “wow factor” has been in most people’s vocabulary when discussing what they are looking for in an interior of a space. It has been promoted as the aspect that sets a space apart from a less spectacular interior. It presumes that it is what people should aspire to – especially by the numerous amateur reality television programmes that seek prominence through creating the dramatic. The essence of what “wow factor” attempts is to create an initial dramatic impress

As an invited panel member of THE LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE in Adelaide last year I presented the following contribution to a discussion on house design and house plans. MAIN FACTORS IN THE DESIGN OF HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS CLIENT BRIEF/LIASON a. Listen b. Question c. Who are your clients - what they believe and how do they like to live d. Establish the accommodation e. Establish a budget f. Begin the process of constant feedback ORIENTATION a. The core of the design proce