Three things home renovators need to know about building in 2026

With construction costs, regulatory requirements and expectations around energy performance continuing to evolve, there are three things I believe are particularly important to consider before starting a renovation.

1. Budget for uncertainty.

Construction costs, labour availability and builder capacity remain unpredictable. Don't allocate every dollar to the construction budget. Allow for professional fees, approvals, unforeseen conditions and a realistic contingency.

And don't automatically choose the lowest quote. The experience, capacity and financial stability of your builder are important considerations in managing risk.

2. Design for performance, not just appearance.

A renovation is an opportunity to improve the comfort, efficiency and resilience of your home.

Consider orientation, insulation, glazing, shading and natural ventilation from the outset. Then look at technologies such as solar, batteries, heat-pump hot water, induction cooking and EV charging.

Good passive design can reduce the amount of technology a home needs in the first place.

Our St Peters House renovation has reinforced this for me. Relatively simple decisions around orientation, shading, insulation and ventilation have made a significant difference to the way the house performs.

3. Think carefully about what you don't need to build.

The answer isn't always a bigger house.

Retaining existing spaces, improving what you already have and making rooms more flexible can often deliver greater value than simply adding more floor area.

A smaller, better-considered renovation can reduce cost and environmental impact while creating a home that is more adaptable and works better for longer.

For me, the three key considerations for renovating in 2026 are:

Budget. Performance. Restraint.

Or, perhaps more simply:

Spend carefully. Build better. Build less.

St Peters House | Photography by The Guthrie Project

If you would like to arrange a consultation and site visit to discuss your project, you can find out more information by clicking on the button below.

Learning from Place

I'm pleased and very grateful to have been accepted into the 2026 Glenn Murcutt International Masterclass.

This year, invitations have been extended to just 35 architects from eleven countries to join Glenn Murcutt AO, Richard Leplastrier AO, Brit Andresen and Peter Stutchbury on Milson Island in the Hawkesbury River from 9–19 July 2026.

I've long admired Glenn Murcutt's commitment to an architecture that responds thoughtfully to climate, landscape and place. The opportunity to learn from Glenn and the other Masterclass leaders, alongside a diverse group of architects from around the world, is both an honour and a privilege.

I'm looking forward to the conversations, challenges and insights that will emerge from this unique experience, and to bringing those lessons back into my practice and future projects.

Thank you to the Glenn Murcutt Architecture Foundation for this opportunity.

Winter has changed how I use my battery — and not in the way I expected

Earlier this year I shared the installation of a 7.1kW rooftop solar system and 13.3kWh battery at my home in St Peters.

As we've moved from summer into winter, it's been interesting to see how the system performs under different conditions.

During summer, the battery was typically charged by excess solar generation. In winter, shorter days and increased household demand mean there are times when it makes more sense to charge the battery using low-cost electricity from the grid during the middle of the day, when wholesale prices are often at their lowest.

That stored energy can then be used later in the evening when demand is higher and electricity is more expensive. It's a reminder that batteries are not only about storing solar energy — they're also becoming an important tool for managing when and how we use electricity.

What has become clear is that the value of battery storage extends beyond self-sufficiency. It provides flexibility, supports grid stability, and helps households respond to increasingly dynamic energy pricing.

As designers, we're often focused on buildings themselves, but the systems that support them are becoming just as important. The transition to a more distributed and responsive energy network is already underway, and residential batteries are playing a growing role.

Beyond the Brief

A successful project is rarely defined by a single moment or design gesture.

More often, it’s the accumulation of smaller decisions made carefully over time.

The orientation of a room that changes how morning light enters the house.
A plan that simplifies daily routines rather than complicating them.
Materials selected not simply for appearance, but for how they age and endure.
Spaces that feel calm, adaptable, and connected to the way people actually live.

Individually, these decisions can seem subtle. Together, they shape the experience of a home in lasting ways.

In architecture, it’s easy to focus on the visible outcome—the finished building, the photographs, the details.

But much of the value of the process exists long before completion.

In the listening that happens early.
The clarity established before major decisions are made.
The collaboration required to carry an idea through to construction.
And the discipline to prioritise what matters most.

Good architecture isn’t measured only by the finished building.
It’s measured by how well it continues to support everyday life over time.

Timelessness

“Timeless” is a word used frequently in architecture.

Often, it’s associated with a particular aesthetic—something restrained, neutral, or familiar.

But timelessness isn’t really about style.
It’s about whether a building continues to work well over time.

Natural light that enhances the experience of a space throughout the day.

Spaces that are carefully proportioned, not simply styled.
Materials that age with dignity rather than requiring constant replacement.
Plans that can adapt as life changes.

These qualities aren’t always immediately noticeable. But they shape how a home is experienced every day—and how well it endures over time.

Trends tend to prioritise what feels new.
Timelessness prioritises what continues to feel relevant.

As Frank Gehry once said:

“Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.”

That idea feels increasingly important now, when so much of the built environment is shaped by short-term trends and rapid consumption.

In that sense, timelessness is less about making a statement, and more about creating something thoughtful enough to remain meaningful long after the moment it was designed.