This episode covers the latest updates in the Australian building industry, including new legislation, code transitions, and innovative materials. Hosts Matt and Hamish analyse recent news, government policies, and emerging technologies impacting builders and homeowners.

Matt and Hamish from The Mindful Builder are launching a new, "short and sharp" weekly news segment. Capped at 10 minutes, the offshoot aims to provide a non-biased rundown of Australian building industry news, focusing on facts and positive stories while navigating a shifting legislative landscape.

In their first wrap-up, they tackle the Victorian Government’s "Dodgy Builder" bill, which empowers the Building Plumbing Commission to halt defective work early and targets "phoenixing"—where builders fold companies to dodge warranty claims. While they welcome the move, they note it may inadvertently hike consumer costs through increased insurance premiums.

The duo also discussed the NCC 2025 transition. While some states have delayed adoption, Victoria is moving ahead on 1 May 2026 with no transition period, introducing crucial lead-free plumbing requirements and mandatory condensation management. Hamish argued that any "pause" in standards must include mandatory as-built verification to ensure seven-star ratings are actually met.

Other highlights include:

• Levy Relief: Victoria is winding down the combustible cladding levy, saving developers significant costs on large projects.
• EPA Crackdown: The EPA now considers poor moisture management during builds as "environmental pollution," holding builders liable for future mould growth.
• Fungi Tech: A "quirky" look at Swinburne University researchers using mycelium to grow fire-resistant, breathable structural blocks.

The segment wraps up with a cheeky acknowledgement of their "work-it-out-as-we-go" style, promising more prepared insights in the coming weeks.

“Sustainable design is not just lower energy bills. It is health, comfort, moisture safety, and long-term performance.”

We sat down with Marcus Strang, Technical Lead in Passivhaus at HIP V. HYPE, to explore what sustainable building design really means in practice. With a PhD from the University of Queensland and deep expertise in building science, Marcus shares how Passive House design is helping shape healthier, more energy efficient buildings in Australia.

We unpack how Passivhaus principles go far beyond energy efficiency. This conversation covers thermal comfort, indoor air quality, moisture safety, and why high-performance homes need to respond to Australia’s diverse climate zones. Marcus explains how sustainable architecture is not about applying one formula everywhere, but about designing buildings that perform properly in their specific environment.

A major focus of the episode is hygrothermal modelling and moisture movement in engineered timber buildings, including CLT construction. Marcus shares why condensation risk, mould prevention, and long-term durability are critical parts of sustainable construction, especially in hot and humid climates. If you care about building performance, timber construction, and low-energy design, this part of the conversation is especially valuable.

We also talk about the bigger picture for the construction industry. How technical expertise, early design decisions, and better collaboration can help drive net zero carbon outcomes and more resilient buildings. If you are interested in Passive House Australia, sustainable design, building science, energy-efficient homes, and the future of high-performance construction, this episode is packed with practical insight.

👇 CHAPTER MARKERS 👇

00:00 Intro

01:58 Favourite Passive House Build

03:19 Meet Marcus Strang

04:05 What Is High Performance

07:44 Passive House In Humid Environments

12:41 ERVs And Dehumidification

14:08 Why Schools Need It

20:30 Commercial Modelling And Roles

22:52 Conflicts And Certification

23:37 Avoiding Certification Failures

25:29 Common Airtightness Mistakes

27:07 Moisture Risk in Cavities

27:29 Ventilated Brick Drainage

28:22 Photo Checklist Workflow

29:52 First Home Retrofit Plan

33:12 Low Cost Efficiency Upgrades

34:40 Step by Step Passive Retrofit

35:01 Windows and Air Quality

37:41 External Insulation Debate

42:06 Airtightness Without Intello

46:20 Apprentice Mindful Moment

48:44 Embodied Energy Tooling

50:57 EasyPH Controversy

52:14 Wrap Up and Thanks

LINKS:

Connect with Marcus:

https://hipvhype.com/our-approach/our-people?t=marcus-strang

Our Sponsors:

Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima

MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with Hamish:

Instagram: @sanctumhomes

Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:

Instagram: @carlandconstructions

Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Proclima Sponsor

“Sustainable buildings focus on what's invisible, not visible”

In this episode of The Mindful Builder, we sit down with Roberto Petruzzi, an Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) specialist, to unpack what building performance and energy efficiency really mean in practice. We talk about energy modelling, building science, and why the details you cannot see often matter most for comfort, durability, and running costs.

Roberto explains the unseen layers that shape high-performance homes, including airtightness, thermal performance, insulation continuity, ventilation strategy, glazing choices, and shading. These are the decisions that determine whether a home feels stable and comfortable, or whether it runs hot, cold, damp, or expensive. Sustainability is not about ticking boxes. It is about designing buildings that perform as intended in their climate.

One of the most interesting parts of the conversation is Roberto’s take on restraint. Sometimes, the most sustainable decision is choosing not to build when financial or environmental constraints do not stack up. It is not a popular message in construction, but it is an honest one. Sustainability is not only about what you add to a project. It is also about what you avoid.

We also dig into collaboration across the whole project team. Architects, engineers, builders, and clients need to be aligned early, because the biggest performance wins happen in the early design stage. If you care about sustainable architecture, energy efficient homes, ESD, and building better in Australia, this episode will give you a clearer way to think about it.

👇 CHAPTER MARKERS 👇

00:00 Welcome

03:41 Budget Reality Checks

05:48 Meet Robert Petruzzie

07:26 From Switzerland to ESD

09:24 What ESD Consultants Do

11:12 Council Plans and Greenwashing

15:17 Balancing Daylight and Thermal

16:33 Perfect Buildings and Tradeoffs

20:56 NAB HERS vs Passive House

24:41 Air Change Assumptions

25:37 HERS Rating Limitations

26:21 What Is WUFI

27:38 Retrofit Moisture Risks

30:59 Reading Mould Index

35:00 Parklife Wall Assemblies

39:02 Airtightness Skills Gap

40:02 Building the Backyard Pod

43:24 Retrofit Priorities

44:49 Curiosity for Apprentices

45:52 Mandatory Airtight Testing

46:50 Wrap Up

LINKS:

Connect with Roberto:

https://hipvhype.com/our-approach/our-people?t=Roberto-Petruzzi

Our Sponsors:

Proclima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima

MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with Hamish:

Instagram: @sanctumhomes

Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:

Instagram: @carlandconstructions

Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Proclima Sponsor

“Commercial teaches you speed and logistics. Residential teaches you people.”

In this episode, we sit down with Alistair Meallin, Director at Y Projects, to talk about what it really takes to build high-quality custom homes in Australia. With over a decade in construction and a construction degree from the University of Melbourne, Alistair shares the lessons he learned on big commercial sites and why he ultimately moved into residential building for the client connection.

We unpack Alistair’s path through construction management and working with larger builders, including Icon Construction, and how those early years shaped the systems and standards he now brings to Y Projects. This is a practical look at site management, trade coordination, and what it means to run a building business without losing the human side of the job.

A big part of the conversation is the design process and budget reality. Alistair explains why a successful build is not just the final product, but the client experience along the way, and how small design upgrades can stack up fast. Clear communication, grounded expectations, and aligning design with budget are key to avoiding stress and cost blowouts.

We also talk team culture, staff retention, and advice for apprentices and future builders. Alistair shares why curiosity and learning the “why” matters, plus his vision for making custom-designed, high-quality residential construction more accessible.

👇 CHAPTER MARKERS 👇

00:00 Podcast Welcome

02:59 Commercial Builder Lessons

05:32 Defects And Retrenchment

07:31 Mentorship Deep End

08:56 High End Homes Shift

11:21 Client Emotions Process

15:05 Onboarding Handover Systems

17:47 EBA Unions Explained

21:50 Starting Y Projects

22:25 Footscray Development Story

28:22 Y Projects Name Origin

29:34 Leaving Commercial For Townhomes

32:21 Flexibility for Family

33:10 Retention Through Realistic Timelines

34:08 Carpenters Hours and Value

35:24 Hiring for Team Fit

35:56 Positive Site Leadership

39:22 Frozen Yogurt Budget Trap

42:57 Precon Costs and Risk

45:28 Making Custom Homes Attainable

48:43 ECI Early Budget Alignment

51:34 Architect Retention Debate

54:04 Builder Network and Support

55:19 Advice for Apprentices

59:59 Wrap Up and Contact

LINKS:

Y Projects:

https://yprojects.com.au/

Y Projects Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/yprojects/

Our Sponsors:

Proclima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima

MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with Hamish:

Instagram: @sanctumhomes

Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:

Instagram: @carlandconstructions

Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Proclima Sponsor

“Architecture is not just drawings and pretty renders.” In this episode, we sit down with Roger from Borland Architecture to unpack the overlap between architecture, construction, and real estate, and why those worlds are far more connected than most people realise. This is a practical conversation about problem-solving, designing for real life, and making decisions that affect how people live every day.

Roger shares his journey from Northwest Ireland to training in England, and how that hands-on background shaped his people-first approach to design. He describes his process as method acting, getting inside a client’s routines and priorities so the end result is not just an impressive plan, but a home that actually works. The kind of house that feels effortless to live in.

We also talk about the gap between architectural education and real-world building outcomes, and why sustainability and practical thinking cannot be treated as optional extras. If we want energy-efficient homes, better building standards, and high performance design at scale, the industry needs training that reflects what actually happens on site.

Finally, we dig into prefabricated high-performance homes and affordability through projects like StllHaus with Carbonlite, plus Roger’s take on real estate as a lever for better outcomes. We wrap with a Mindful Moment on AI in architecture, and why the human part of design is still the point. Listening, interpreting, and translating real needs into spaces that work.

👇 CHAPTER MARKERS 👇

00:00 Welcome

01:26 Meet Roger Borland

01:42 Farm Roots to Architecture

04:15 Architecture Training Path

05:08 Design as Method Acting

07:15 Is Architecture School Broken

10:03 Passive Solar Basics

16:44 Reading the Site Deeply

20:16 Sustainability Origins

31:47 StllHaus Prefab Vision

33:16 Build Timeline Iteration

34:12 Orientation Passive House Standards

34:46 Certification Optional Baseline

35:31 Volume Builder Partnership

37:24 Pricing Market Position

40:48 Designing Smaller Better Homes

41:47 Real Estate Design Concepts

54:03 Pre Purchase Site Analysis

58:30 Mindful Moment AI Future

01:02:06 Where To Find Roger

LINKS:

Borland Architecture:

https://www.borlandarch.com.au/

Our Sponsors:

Proclima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima

MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with Hamish:

Instagram: @sanctumhomes

Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:

Instagram: @carlandconstructions

Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Proclima Sponsor

“Success looks great on social media. The reality is usually messier.”

In this episode, we sit down with Liam Wallis, Founder and Managing Director of HIP V. HYPE, to talk about what sustainable development really looks like behind the highlight reel. Not just pretty renders and big announcements, but pressure, responsibility, and the constant work of improving systems so each project is better than the last.

Liam shares why sustainable success is built through iteration, not perfection. Using ParkLife 2 as an example, we unpack how strategic planning, process improvement, and a long-term mindset help create high performance apartments that can scale without losing the values that matter. This is sustainable building that is practical, repeatable, and designed for real people.

We also explore how lived experience shapes better design. From simple moves like bike storage on apartment levels to bigger performance goals like an eight and a half star NatHERS rating, Liam explains how energy efficiency, comfort, and lower running costs become tangible outcomes when you design for the long game. Better thermal performance. Smarter energy decisions. Homes that support people to live well.

Finally, we talk about why experience is belief through the HV Hotel, and why community does not happen by accident. Liam breaks down the importance of community-centric design, feedback loops, and building places where residents feel connected and invested. We also touch on construction mental health, and why building better buildings means building better support systems for the people doing the work.

👇 CHAPTER MARKERS 👇

00:00 Introduction

01:38 Park Life Two Intro

10:13 Building In House Engineering

12:11 What Park Life Two Is

13:39 Lived Experience Design

16:44 Solar And Regulations

18:21 Electrification And Hot Water

23:03 NatHERS And Passive House

27:22 Design Versus Performance

29:18 HV Hotel Experience

33:59 Park Life Two Sales

36:43 Owner Occupiers Vs Investors

39:29 Collaborating With Builders

42:23 Tendering And Capability

44:08 Scaling Industry Capacity

44:56 Open Sites And Trade Schools

48:15 Parkside Project Vision

49:19 Mindful Moment Mental Health

52:51 Closing Reflections

LINKS:

Stay in HV Hotel:

https://hipvhype.com/hotel

ParkLife 2 Project:

https://hipvhype.com/projects/parklife-2

Our Sponsors:

Proclima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima

MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with Hamish:

Instagram: @sanctumhomes

Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:

Instagram: @carlandconstructions

Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Thanks to Proclima for sponsoring this podcast

Visit www.proclima.com.au to find out more

“I’m not just a carpenter.”

That’s the energy Sam Aitken brings to this episode, and it is exactly what the construction industry needs more of. Carpentry is not a fallback job. It is craft, problem-solving, and leadership on-site. Sam is also using social media to show what pride in the trade actually looks like, without turning it into a glossy performance.

We sit down with Sam to talk about his journey from Carisbrook to completing his apprenticeship in Ballarat, and why he stayed working with the same boss who trained him. We also unpack what that kind of loyalty says about standards, mentorship, and doing things properly, especially in an industry where good guidance can make or break a career.

Sam pushes back hard on the idea of being “just a carpenter”. Whether he is framing, finishing, or solving the tricky problems nobody else wants, he treats the work like it matters, because it does. We talk about how good carpenters understand sequencing, tolerances, and how their decisions affect every other trade on site, and why attention to detail lifts the standard of the whole build.

We also get into the future of carpentry, including specialisation, better pathways, and what it takes to develop mastery instead of just speed. Sam shares why teaching apprentices the “why” matters, and his message to new tradies is simple. Take pride in the job, keep learning, challenge the norm, and do not shrink your ambition just because someone told you it is “just carpentry”.

👇 CHAPTER MARKERS 👇

00:00 Introduction

03:13 Who Is Sam? Instagram, Confidence & Showing Up Uncurated

05:03 Volume-Build Reality: Pride, Budgets & Doing Quality Work Anyway

07:51 Sam’s Path: Apprenticeship, Small-Town Roots & Staying With One Boss

11:06 Rethinking Carpentry: Specialisation, Trade Shortages & Micro-Certs

17:15 Teaching Apprentices: The ‘Why’, Leadership Mistakes & Better Communication

23:36 Firm vs Abusive: Feedback Culture, Praise, and Raising Standards

28:18 Why Carpentry Matters: Craft Pride & ‘I’m Just a Carpenter’ Mindset

32:25 Becoming a ‘Professional’ Carpenter: Why Mastery Takes a Decade+

33:38 Staying Loyal vs Going Solo: Security, Mentors, and Motivation

34:25 The Apprenticeship Problem: Competency Gaps, Licensing, and the Housing Shortage

39:33 Social Media as a Side Hustle (Without Losing the Craft)

41:35 Building Better: Sustainable Builds, Wraps, and Site Quality Control

44:40 Should Carpenters Be Licensed? Respect, Standards, and Advocacy

47:29 Calling Out ‘Get Rich’ Courses Targeting Apprentices (Appointment Setting & High-Ticket Sales)

53:27 Mindful Moment: Must-Have Tools + Advice for New Apprentices

59:09 Final Wrap: Consistency, Rite-of-Passage Stories, and Where to Follow Sam

LINKS:

Connect with Sam:

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/sammy_aitken/

Our Sponsors:

Proclima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima

MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with Hamish:

Instagram: @sanctumhomes

Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:

Instagram: