Testimonials

“Having David as the designer AND builder gave us a distinct advantage during construction.”

Meet our wonderful, planet loving clients, Howard and Libby Elston.

“David lives and breathes the Sustainable Building & Design mission statement of delivering beautiful buildings that perform.  He enthusiastically joined us on the epic voyage that was designing, then building three cutting-edge "green" homes on a suburban block in Ringwood East.  The third of those homes is the one in which we now live.”

The finished houses are something we're proud to look at.  Our neighbours are equally pleased, based on the many positive comments we have received. David took our conceptual idea of an attractive, highly efficient, 2-bedroom home and let loose with his experience and imagination. During the design phase, he continuously improved the concept, investigating a variety of building materials and methods.  David took the time to get to know us and our aspirations so that he could anticipate what we wanted in the design.  At all stages of the process, we felt this was a team effort with David having our best interests at heart.

“David could easily picture the finished homes because he'd designed them.  As building works progressed, he quickly identified improvements and made them seamlessly.”

We appreciated the way David was personally invested in the project and ensured everyone working on the site knew this was something special.  We are confident there aren't many building sites that put on an "open house" BBQ meal so families can see what the workers have been raving about for months.  I think every worker became personally attached to their part of the job because of David's passion for building homes that would be exemplars for sustainable living.

David's creativity was most obvious in his ingenious use of recycled materials.  The original house on the property was dismantled, not demolished, so that the beautiful hardwood timbers could be reused in the construction.  Oiled timbers and floorboards used as board & batten cladding are an eye-catching feature near the front doors. Visitors cannot believe this old-growth timber is usually sent to the tip when an old home is demolished.

Steel roofing from the old carport on the site re-appeared as cladding on our home, giving a unique appearance that surpasses Core-ten steel. These are just a few of the inventive ideas for using sustainable materials.  Others include Timbercrete blocks for internal thermal mass and low-carbon footprint concrete for the slab.

David also leads the way in how he builds.  We like to say that the three homes were built using sunshine because he set up an off-grid electricity supply to power the site.  David embraces the concept that sustainable homes consider construction methods as important as the materials being used.  

A solar powered worksite is a clear demonstration of this commitment.

Living in our home confirms our belief in David's skills.  The home is built to last by craftsmen who care about what they are doing.  The home performs well in every way - cool in summer and warm in winter with just the occasional use of the air conditioner during a run of extremely hot or cold/cloudy days.

This home is everything we dreamed of and hoped for.  David made our dream come true and we are forever grateful to him.

Howard and Libby Elston, 23b Alexandra Road, Ringwood East

“David is inspirational to work with as a designer.  He is a fountain of ideas, both for ways to make a home design more efficient and more eye-catching.”