Get It Right with Undercover Architect

Amelia Lee, Undercover Architect
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If we haven’t met before, I’m Amelia Lee, the architect behind Undercover Architect: an online business to help and teach homeowners like you how to get it right when designing, building and renovating your home. Undercover Architect is all about giving you access to the industry knowledge and insights you need to avoid the mistakes and dramas that can cost you thousands, tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars. And it’s about levelling the playing field, so that the world of renovating and building doesn’t seem so mysterious, and you can be the active driver in your project, navigating it with know-how and confidence. Undercover Architect helps and teaches homeowners through this podcast, the website, and online courses and programs, including my flagship program, HOME Method. I truly believe that when you know the questions to ask, the steps to take and the best way to create a home that works, feels great, and that you feel great in, you can enjoy the process of building and renovating, as well as the home you move into at the end of this ambitious journey. Consider Undercover Architect your secret ally: whoever you’re working with, and whatever your location, your budget or your dreams. For more, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com

  1. 22h ago

    44 Ways #12: Store and Reuse Water for Greater Water Saving

    Hello! This is Episode 412. This is Way #12 of the 44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home series. We’re continuing through Section Three: Sustainable Services and Infrastructure. In Episode 411, we looked at where household water goes, especially in indoor use, and how to reduce consumption through fixture selection and design decisions.  In this episode, we’re looking at the other side of that equation: not just using less water, but capturing and reusing the water that falls on and around your home. Way #12 is: Store and Reuse Water for Greater Water Saving. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/412] In this episode, I share information on rainwater harvesting, greywater systems, and what it looks like to meaningfully reduce, or in some cases almost eliminate, your home’s reliance on mains water for outdoor use. I’ll also share a little of my own experience with whole-of-home rainwater supply, as we’ve been living entirely on rainwater for over a decade now. As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/412. Now, let's dive in! RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/412 Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/ Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    21 min

  2. 3d ago

    44 Ways #11: Reduce Your Water Use In and Around Your Home

    Hello! This is Episode 411. This is Way #11 of the 44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home series. We’re continuing through Section Three: Sustainable Services and Infrastructure, and today we’re looking at water. In the last episode, we covered Way #10: reducing your energy use through your selections. In this episode, we’re looking at water efficiency. Where does water really get used in your home? What do the ratings mean in practice? And what decisions, beyond just choosing efficient fixtures, can actually make a difference? Way #11 is: Reduce Your Water Use In and Around Your Home. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/411] Water tends to receive less attention than energy in a sustainability brief. I think this is partly because the financial feedback is less immediate. Electricity bills arrive more regularly and can feel significant. Water bills are often quarterly, and in many areas they feel manageable, or are wrapped up with your council fees.  But around 12% of Australia’s water use is in residential homes. Water is a finite resource, and under pressure in many locations around the world, and the decisions you make about how your home uses it can carry through for the life of the home. Interestingly, water efficiency can be one of the most straightforward areas to address, purely through specification. The ratings systems that exist for water-efficient fixtures are clear and accessible. The products are widely available. And in most cases, the cost difference between a high-efficiency and a standard fixture at specification stage is minimal, while the savings over time are significant. In this episode, I take you through where household water actually goes, what the rating systems mean in practice, the design decisions beyond fixture selection that can reduce water use, and why outdoor water use deserves its own conversation, which we’ll cover in the next episode. As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/411. Now, let's dive in! RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/411 Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/ Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    18 min

  3. Jun 18

    44 Ways #10: Reduce Your Energy Use Through Your Selections

    Hello! This is Episode 410. This is Way #10 of the 44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home series. And with this episode, we also begin Section Three: Sustainable Services and Infrastructure. If you’ve been following the series from the start, you’ll know that Section One was about designing for climate and site: orientation, breezes, passive heating and cooling, and climate zone.  Section Two was about sustainable design strategies: home size, your team, structural efficiency, accessibility, and indoor air quality. We’re beginning Section Three with Way #10: Reduce Your Energy Use Through Your Selections. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/410] In the first 9 episodes of the ‘44 Ways’ series, I’ve stepped you through some key decisions that will shape the sustainability of your new home or renovation before any system is installed in it. Section Three is where we look at the services and infrastructure inside your home. Think energy, water, hot water, and renewable supply. Interestingly, these areas are often where people start their sustainability conversations, as they can feel much more tangible than the project initiation and design decisions we’ve been discussing up to this point. They’re the actual systems that determine how your home runs day to day, how much it uses in resources, and what it costs to run. In this episode, I take you through where your home’s energy is actually being spent, how to approach appliance and system selection for efficiency, how to correctly size your mechanical heating and cooling systems, and the hierarchy that I think every homeowner should have in mind when making these decisions. As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/410. Now, let's dive in! RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/410 Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/ Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    18 min

  4. Jun 15

    44 Ways #09: Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

    Hello! This is Episode 409. This is Way #9 of the 44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home series. This episode also closes out Section Two: Sustainable Design Strategies. In this episode, we’re finishing Section Two with Way #9. Way #9 is: Improve Your Indoor Air Quality. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/409] The ways I’ve been sharing in Section Two have been about the bigger-picture design decisions that need to be thought about early, but can create a huge amount of impact in your future home’s sustainability, functionality and performance.  We’ve covered designing a smaller, smarter home, choosing an aligned team, creating an efficient structural design collaboratively, and future proofing your home with accessibility. I know that when most people think about sustainability, they’re thinking about energy, water, and materials, and how they can save all of those things. But a sustainable home is also a healthy home.  And, given that we spend 80 to 90% of our time indoors, and especially since COVID, much of that time is now in our homes. The quality of indoor air that your renovation or new build creates will have a big impact on the health of all living in the home, and how the home functions for you long-term. Indoor air quality is directly impacted by decisions you make about the materials and finishes you include in your home, and the ventilation strategy you adopt. Those decisions are ideally made during design and specification.  If indoor air quality is important to you, your goals for it belong in your Design Brief, right alongside other strategic design and specification decisions you want to prioritise in your project. In this episode, I take you through how indoor air quality is part of your sustainability considerations, the main sources of indoor air pollution in residential homes, how moisture and ventilation connect to this, and what you can actually do at the design and specification stage. As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/409. Now, let's dive in! RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/409 Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/ Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    20 min

  5. Jun 11

    44 Ways #08: Future Proof Your Design with Accessibility

    Hello! This is Episode 408. This is Way #8 of the 44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home series. We are in Section Two: Sustainable Design Strategies. The ways I include in this section are about the strategic design decisions that have consequences well beyond the immediate project, and Way #8 is a strong example of that. Way #8 is Future Proofing Your Design with Accessibility. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/408] I want to start by saying that the word ‘accessibility’ comes with a lot of connotations for some people, and it can immediately bring to mind images of hospital-grade handrails, institutional flooring, and design that feels clinical rather than inclusions you’ll happily consider for your future home. However, that is not what accessible design means, and it is not what this episode is about. What it is about is designing a home that works well for people, at every age and stage of life, without requiring expensive modification when circumstances change. And the design features that achieve that are, in most cases, simply good design that support the longevity, durability and ease of use of your home, whether you’re building new or renovating. In this episode, I take you through what accessible design actually means in a residential context, the case for including it from the brief stage, the specific features worth considering in your project, and how to approach it with your design team. As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/408. Now, let's dive in! RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/408 Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/ Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    16 min

  6. Jun 8

    44 Ways #07: Create an Efficient Structural Design, Collaboratively

    Hello! This is Episode 407. This is Way #7 of the 44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home series, and we are continuing through Section Two: Sustainable Design Strategies. The ways in Section Two are about the bigger-picture decisions that shape a project from a strategic level, before we get into the detail of specific systems, materials, or construction. Way #7 is Creating an Efficient Structural Design, Collaboratively. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/407] In the last episode, we covered the importance of choosing an aligned team.  This episode is about something that your aligned team needs to do together: create a structural design that is genuinely efficient.  This Way #7 tends to surprise homeowners, because structural design often feels like something that happens in the background of a project and rarely gets discussed with the client directly. But the decisions made around your home’s structural design have direct consequences for cost, material use, durability and longevity, and consequently, the sustainability of your finished home. Whether those decisions are made in the most efficient way usually comes down to one thing: when and how your designer or architect and structural engineer collaborate and integrate their work. In this episode, I take you through what structural efficiency actually means, why it typically doesn’t happen by default, what collaborative structural design looks like in practice, and the questions worth raising with your own team. As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/407. Now, let's dive in! RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/407 Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/ Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 min

  7. Jun 4

    44 Ways #06: Choose an Aligned Team

    Hello! This is Episode 406. This is Way #6 of the 44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home series, and the second episode of Section Two: Sustainable Design Strategies. In Episode 405, we covered Way #5: Designing a Smaller, Smarter Home. The case for asking what is enough, and building to that rather than to the status quo that drives a bigger home with more in it. Way #6 is choose an aligned team. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/406] In this episode, we are covering something that will affect every single sustainability decision you make in your project, from the very first design conversation all the way through to the final stages of construction. Way #6 is choosing an aligned team. Teamwork really does make the dream work in any new build or renovation project. But in a project with sustainability goals, I find it can matter significantly. Because the building industry is not universally aligned with sustainability. Building codes and regulations set a minimum floor, and most projects simply meet that minimum. The professionals who go beyond it, who have made sustainable design and construction a genuine area of expertise and commitment, are still only a subset of the industry. And finding them, and knowing how to assess them, takes preparation and know-how so you can find the best fit. In this episode, I take you through why team alignment matters so much in a sustainable project, what alignment looks like in practice and how to recognise it, how to find aligned team members, the questions that can help you assess their genuine capability and commitment, and what to do if you are already working with a team whose priorities do not match yours. As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/406. Now, let's dive in! RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/406 Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/ Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    21 min

  8. Jun 1

    44 Ways #05: Design a Smaller (Smarter) Home

    Hello! This is Episode 405. This is the first episode of Section Two of the 44 Ways to Create a Sustainable Home series. Section One, which we completed in the last episode, covered the foundational climate and site strategies: orientation, breezes, passive heating and cooling, and climate zones. We are beginning Section Two with Way #5: Design a Smaller, Smarter Home. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/405] Section Two is called Sustainable Design Strategies. This section covers the bigger-picture design and process decisions that make a home more sustainable from a strategic planning and design level, before we get into the detail of specific systems and materials. Interestingly, these decisions can often be the most impactful for your home’s sustainability as well. In my experience, when homeowners are considering sustainability, they’re often thinking of inclusions, upgrades and enhancements to their project. And design-wise, it can be common to be considering how many rooms you want, how much you can get for your budget, and how much functionality you can cram into the home you’re envisaging. However, whether you’re building or renovating, a foundational choice in sustainability can be to simply create a home that has a smaller footprint. And to do this, your project can begin with asking the question: ‘what is enough home for us?’ In this episode, I share the data on what Australian and international homes look like in terms of size, I introduce the concept of sufficiency or ‘enoughness’ as an alternative to the more common conversation about efficiency and sustainability, I give you a practical framework for interrogating your brief before design begins, and I explain why building less can create compounding benefits across sustainability, budget, and quality. As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/405. Now, let's dive in! RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/405 Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/ Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    18 min
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About

If we haven’t met before, I’m Amelia Lee, the architect behind Undercover Architect: an online business to help and teach homeowners like you how to get it right when designing, building and renovating your home. Undercover Architect is all about giving you access to the industry knowledge and insights you need to avoid the mistakes and dramas that can cost you thousands, tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars. And it’s about levelling the playing field, so that the world of renovating and building doesn’t seem so mysterious, and you can be the active driver in your project, navigating it with know-how and confidence. Undercover Architect helps and teaches homeowners through this podcast, the website, and online courses and programs, including my flagship program, HOME Method. I truly believe that when you know the questions to ask, the steps to take and the best way to create a home that works, feels great, and that you feel great in, you can enjoy the process of building and renovating, as well as the home you move into at the end of this ambitious journey. Consider Undercover Architect your secret ally: whoever you’re working with, and whatever your location, your budget or your dreams. For more, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com

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