Sustainability Services

Healthier homes. Better performance. Lasting comfort.

Ballast Point creates homes that are more comfortable, energy-efficient and healthier to live in. By combining thoughtful architectural design with sustainability expertise — including Passivhaus-informed thinking through certified partner NININ Studio — we help clients go beyond minimum compliance and create homes that perform beautifully year-round.

Sustainability should improve the way a home feels.

High-performing homes are not only about reducing energy use. They are about comfort, health and how a home supports everyday life over time. Ballast Point approaches sustainable design as part of good residential architecture — using light, ventilation, materials and building performance to create homes that feel better to live in and cost less to run.

Book a Service

Ballast Point has simplified how architectural, interior and construction services are delivered, making it easier for you to find and book the right service at the right price.

Design Lite Consultation
Inspection + Advice + Sketches
$3,650
https://calendly.com/ballastpointdesign/design-consultation-sketches
Architecture, Interiors

3D Design & Sustainability Consultation
Architectural Design Sketches + 3D Vignettes + Sustainability Review
$6,225
https://calendly.com/ballastpointdesign/design-sustainability-consultation-report-sketches
Architecture

Performance you can actually feel.

More stable year-round indoor comfort
Better use of natural light and ventilation
Lower reliance on heating and cooling
A healthier indoor environment
A home designed to perform beyond minimum compliance

Build sustainability into the design from the beginning.

step 1

Set the priorities

We understand your goals for comfort, health, efficiency and long-term performance.

step 2

Integrate sustainability into the design

We shape the design response around passive principles, performance and everyday liveability.

step 3

Create a better-performing home

You move forward with a clearer strategy for a home that feels better and works harder over time.

Architecture & design services across every stage.

Pre-Design

Early architectural thinking to explore potential, define direction and shape the right brief.

Planning & Approvals

Clear guidance through design development, documentation and the approval pathway.

Heritage Architecture

Sensitive design for heritage homes that balances character, compliance and modern living.

FAQ

Here are some common questions to help you understand how our architectural design consultation works and what to expect.

Can’t find the answer that you’re looking for? Get in touch with our team.

A Passivhaus – or a home built to Passivhaus principles – is designed to be energy efficient, comfortable, and healthy. Regular homes often lose heat through gaps, poor insulation, and inefficient windows, relying heavily on heating or cooling.

Passivhaus sets a much higher benchmark. It delivers comfort through airtightness and insulation, health through constant fresh, filtered air, and savings on energy bills because very little heating or cooling is required. Every certified Passivhaus is independently tested to ensure it performs as designed.

For families considering a knock down rebuild, adopting Passivhaus design principles means you can create a home that’s sustainable, future-proof, and tailored to modern living.

BASIX: Mandatory in NSW. A compliance tool to meet minimum government sustainability targets.

NatHERS: A national star rating system (0–10) that predicts thermal comfort and energy efficiency at design stage.

Passivhaus: A voluntary international standard focused on health, comfort, and verified performance, with independent testing.

In short: BASIX = minimum compliance, NatHERS = predicted efficiency, Passivhaus = proven comfort and performance.

BASIX is mandatory in NSW. To meet its thermal comfort requirements, a 7-star NatHERS rating (or equivalent) is generally used as the benchmark. Passivhaus, on the other hand, is voluntary.

While BASIX and NatHERS ensure minimum compliance, Passivhaus is considered the “gold standard.” It goes well beyond compliance by delivering verified comfort, health, and ultra-low energy use through independent testing and certification. If your goal is more than just meeting the rules, Passivhaus represents the highest level of performance.

Passivhaus works in every climate. In Sydney, it means homes stay cool in summer, warm in winter, and healthy year-round. You can still open your windows, but when closed, the ventilation system filters pollution, allergens, and even bushfire smoke while recovering warmth or coolth.

The Property Inspection + Sustainability Service is best for buyers or current owners who want a clear picture of how a home is performing now. It includes an on-site inspection, issue identification (leaks, mould, inefficiencies), and a 10–12 page report with tailored recommendations.

The Design & Sustainability Consultation + Report + Sketches is ideal for property owners at the start of a new build or major renovation. Alongside planning advice and budget guidance, you receive a feasibility report, sustainability assessment, and two hand-drawn sketch options tested against performance criteria.

A Property Inspection usually takes an hour on site, with the report delivered within about 10 working days. A Design & Sustainability Consultation involves more detailed analysis and sketches, so we also allow up to 10 working days to prepare the full report and drawings.

The Property Inspection report is 10–12 pages with findings, photo markups, and recommendations on energy, water, thermal performance, and property condition.

The Design & Sustainability Consultation report includes a Development Feasibility Report with planning details, sustainability performance summary, tailored recommendations, and two sketch options reviewed by a certified sustainability consultant.

The best starting point is early planning. Engage a sustainability consultant at concept stage, alongside your architect or builder. This ensures sustainability strategies are integrated from day one rather than added later as “fixes.” For renovations, a sustainability consultation can help identify the most cost-effective improvements.

At Ballast Point, we offer two tailored services to help you start: Design & Sustainability Consultation + Report + Sketches and Property Inspection + Sustainability Service. Both combine architectural expertise with certified Sustainability advice, giving you a clear roadmap to a healthier, more efficient home.

The best way is with expert guidance at the start of your project. At Ballast Point, we bring together our architect, builder, and a certified Passivhaus consultant to give you practical solutions, clear budgets, and a pathway toward a healthier, more comfortable, and energy-efficient home.

Book a Design & Sustainability Consultation + Report + Sketches and Property Inspection + Sustainability Service to get started.

A clearer way to begin your project.

Ballast Point brings architecture, interior design and construction together in one integrated practice — with services designed to make the first step easier.