Get It Right with Undercover Architect

Navigating Interior Design and Other Project Choices for a New Build, with Jan and Landon

Aug 18, 2025
Jan and Landon, homeowners from Sydney, share their journey of building a passive house. They discuss the progress on their granny flat and the hiccups they've encountered with stormwater management. Jan opens up about her struggles choosing an interior designer and fixtures for the kitchen and bathroom. Amelia provides helpful insights on visualizing selections and ensuring aesthetic coherence. The podcast also touches on meaningful moments like their sod-turning ceremony, blending functionality with design.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Granny Flat Build Choice

  • Jan and Landon decided the granny flat will use the same panelised, highly insulated build method as the main house.
  • They accepted some deviations from strict Passive House certification for pragmatic reasons like venting the laundry outside.
ADVICE

Ask About Blower Door Testing

  • Consider asking for a blower door test on the granny flat while the testing team is mobilised for the house to save costs.
  • Use dampers on external vents like the laundry to prevent uncontrolled air movement when not extracting.
ANECDOTE

Stormwater Surprise On Site

  • The project team discovered stormwater connection pits were installed 290mm too high, complicating drainage plans.
  • They explored tanks and an in-ground retention option called a bund to avoid large visible tanks in the yard.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app