Smarter Living Sessions Smarter Living Sessions

Earlier this week, Bill McCorkell, the director of Archiblox, presented along-side some of the country’s best-known thrifty living experts, change makers, gardeners and foodies as they shared their stories, practical advice and secrets to smarter living, for the 2018 ‘Smarter Living Sessions’ hosted by Manningham and Whitehorse Council.

During the event, Tiny Homes Australia’s Indi Hangan and Bill McCorkell illustrated how tiny homes, and prefabricated houses are revolutionising the world of residential architecture and construction. As well as how these offer compact, fully functioning, transportable dwellings that can provide off-grid, eco-friendly and low-cost home solutions.

Image: Click Link to see project > > ‘Carbon Positve House’ by Archiblox

Image: Click Link to see project > > ‘Bonnie Doon House’ by Archiblox

Image: Click Link to see project > > ‘Backyard Room’ by Archiblox

Image: Click Link to see project > > ‘Tiny Homes Australia’s ‘ by Indi Hangan

Image: Click Link to see project > > More examples of The ‘Tiny House’ by Slow Cabins Belguim

Bill’s presentation focused on our holistic approach to architectural design, construction and delivery – from sketch design to handover. During the presentation, he had also outlined the sustainable principles Archiblox adheres to; as well as the plethora of benefits that are associated with prefabricated, modular architecture in rural and urban contexts.

“Orientation, Orientation, Orientation,” says Bill “If you get the orientation right and face north that’s pretty much the starting point”.

“The return is actually for yourself” says Bill. “Christine and I live in a really beautiful sustainable home and I know on hot days and cold days to wake up in the environment you are in, really just sets the mood for the day”.

Its all about really healthy homes and that’s something at Archiblox we really concentrate on. Its not only healthy homes its how you interact with yourself, its what you do with your mindfulness, it’s how you then thrive in the space.

Our mindset is to start small with a properly considered design, orientation and how thoughtful and mindful you are of the design you put in place.

A relevant project to Manningham Council is our Blackburn House here Bill describes the benefits of Biophilic design and how we incorporated this methodology into this home. Images below and link to the project.

Image: Click Link to see project > > Blackburn House’ by Archiblox

Wednesday 19 September 7pm–9pm

Whitehorse Council
Lower Hall Box Hill Town Hall
1022 Whitehorse Rd Box Hill

In this presentation you will be inspired to create change locally to impact globally. They’ll provide you with solutions that you can easily implement to avoid food wastage in the first place.

The statistics on annual food waste in Victoria are staggering, each year we throw out enough food to fill Melbourne’s Eureka Tower. That’s 250,000 tonnes of food going into our bins and into landfill every year!

For the unavoidable food waste that occurs, They’ll explore the different options for household food waste recycling so that you can choose the right option for your circumstances.

Wednesday 3 October 7pm–9pm
Manningham Council
Function Room 1 Manningham Civic Centre
699 Doncaster Road Doncaster

In this workshop, two-time winner of the Australian Barista Championship and head of research and development at ONA coffee, Hugh Kelly, will demonstrate the tips and tricks to making award winning coffee from your home espresso machine. Also hear from Australian researcher Sarah Hardgrove on how to use your spent coffee grinds safely in your garden.

Australians consume six billion cups of coffee every year. This ever growing caffeine addiction and the convenience of disposable cups and coffee pods are creating serious environmental problems.

Smarter Living session: ‘Book Here for Cultivating Community

Smarter Living session: ‘Book Here for Essential Coffee

Craig Reucassel (War on Waste) presented also at the Smarter Living Sessions Craig Reucassel is an Australian writer and comedian best known for his work with The Chaser. In 2017 Craig hosted the War on Waste on ABC TV, a four-part series looking at such issues as fast fashion, food waste and disposable coffee cups. Craig presented his key learnings from this experience and what we can all do to support the War on Waste.

It’s been an amazing initiative by the Manningham and Whitehorse Councils and we feel privileged to have been a part of the Smarter Living conversations – we encourage all Australians to consider these little steps to look after our planet. As they say, ‘many hands make light work’.

Image: ‘Watch Episodes here’ to find out more