Designers tackle challenge of ‘true zero’ homes

Omnia House, by Elizabeth Wheeler of Future Focus Buildings and Tamar Boyd of Blue Lotus Energy Rating, has taken out the National Award for the Design Matters National (DMN) True Zero Carbon Challenge 2022.

The DMN True Zero Carbon Challenge is an annual home design competition focused on net zero goals. A building designer and home energy assessor team up to design a home that produces more power than it uses over a year and also pays back the home’s entire carbon – including embodied emissions – debt by 2050. This requires energy-efficient design, careful appliance and material selection, and judicious use of photovoltaic panels.

According to the organisers, the challenge furnishes entrants with the skills to thrive in the coming decades, and paves the way to true net zero housing.

MC Jeremy Spencer announced the worthy winners to DMN members, guests, VIPs, and major sponsors in the carbon neutral Rainforest Room at Melbourne Zoo.

“DMN members Elizabeth Wheeler and Tamar Boyd were the deserving recipients of the highest accolade in the 2022 True Zero Carbon Challenge Awards, which saw entries from Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, and Queensland, this year,” DMN CEO Peta Anderson congratulated DMN members and challenge winners Elizabeth Wheeler and Tamar Boyd.

“Their project is a real stand-out, sustainable, and ready to build,” said Anderson. “Omnia House makes a strong sustainable statement and is an exceptional conceptual design.”

In awarding Omnia House the top prize, the judges highlighted Omnia House’s edible garden with raised wicking beds and dwarf fruit forest providing organic produce, as well as the front lockable bike port to encourage healthy transport habits.

They also praised the flexible layout, allowing for changing occupation over the years. This includes easy separation of the dwelling into two homes for extra rental income, or for a live-in carer later in life.

Omnia House won both the National and Victoria State Award.

Commendations were awarded to Swift Parrot House by James Goodlet and Daniel Prochazka, and the Smarter Sustainable Home by Griff Morris and Debbie Bute.

Alicia Ferrer and Tristan Stanley-Cary won the student award with their Bare House.

State winners were as follows:

• Omnia House by Elizabeth Wheeler and Tamar Boyd (Vic)
• Secret Garden Home by Suho Studio and Jim Woolcock, Suho Studio (SA)
• Sips and Sire by Chloe Overton (Tas)
• Bare House by Alicia Ferrer and Tristan Stanley-Cary (WA)
• Little Pot of Gold by Talina Edwards and Luc Plowman (Qld)
• True Blue Zero CO₂ by Lachlan McEwen and Melanie Lupis (NSW)

More information is available at the Design Matters National website.