PAGE 30 | Home &Lifestyle Tailored process with SandS Building Design “Design your home to complement the land” is perhaps the most valuable advice for anyone embarking on the journey to new home ownership. For many, buying land and constructing a new home presents a compelling alternative to purchasing an existing property. This path offers the unique opportunity to design and build a home that perfectly suits your lifestyle while taking full advantage of the land’s unique features. A notable trend today is selecting a pre-designed floor plan, sometimes even before acquiring the land. While this method may address your lifestyle needs, it often neglects the essential consideration of aligning the home with the land’s characteristics. Clinton Smith of SandS Building Design Pty. Ltd. emphasises, “A good design should be shaped by the land, making the most of its unique qualities, rather than forcing the land to adapt to the home.” When engaging a building designer to prepare house plans for a particular lot, the initial step is a site visit for a thorough appraisal. Key characteristics such as aspect, topography, geology, vegetation, drainage, access, prevailing winds, views, neighbouring houses, streetscape, services, and existing infrastructure are all considered before developing an initial concept. Additionally, incorporating solar passive design principles into a custom home design is crucial for optimising energy efficiency and comfort. By strategically orienting the home and integrating features such as well- placed windows, thermal mass, and shading elements, homeowners can harness natural light and heat to reduce reliance on artificial heating and cooling systems. This approach not only lowers energy costs but also enhances sustainability, aligning the home with both environmental stewardship and long-term economic benefits. Additionally, a well-presented design increases the likelihood of obtaining planning approval, while comprehensive drawings reduce interpretive errors by tradesmen. Cutting costs on house design can prove to be a false economy. The choice of design and designer is crucial to the success of your building project, emphasising the importance of approaching this decision with an open mind. Investing in a thoughtful, tailored design ensures your home will not only meet your lifestyle needs but also respond to and harmonise with the land it occupies. A three-dimensional concept design from SandS Building Design Pty. Ltd. Building Design + Drafting RESIDENTIAL • ADDITIONS • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL clinton@sandsbd.com.au | 309 Main St, Bairnsdale 3875 P. 03 5152 7200 • Concepts to Working Drawings • 3D Modelling and Visualisations • Passive Solar Design • Energy Rating • Commercial • Residential • Apartments and Townhouses • Alterations and Additions EN24724
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