Each issue of green (published six times a year) showcases the most interesting and creative sustainable designs from architects and landscapers around Australia and internationally. 

In the sample issue #30 you will find projects by some of the most innovative architects from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane plus the story of a renovation on a tire factory in Montreal. We give you the lowdown on efficient heating options and we check out some inspirational garden projects.

Our annual theme of small spaces has broadened over the years. 

Rather than just a series of small houses, I’m finding that the task of densifying inner urban suburbs has resulted in fabulous infill projects and creative reworkings of original floor plans. In an effort to accommodate more in less space we have leaned heavily on architects who have risen to the challenge. 

In this issue you will also find a couple of projects that utilise the back laneway as a street frontage for new builds of backyard additions or subdivisions. Thankfully, this is now a well- established typology in our cities. 

We are also seeing an intentional drive to live with less in regional and coastal areas. One house on Victoria’s Surf Coast has kept within its sweet original footprint but expanded its outlook and made better use of space, no doubt enticing those inside out into the surrounding landscape. All of these efforts prove just how much we need and that we can, in fact, thrive in smaller spaces. 

Taking every scrap of land available to build up a garden in tight urban locations can also be a challenging pursuit. Take Andrew Moulton, a keen amateur gardener. His home hangs off an escarpment along the Yarra River. Beneath the house, he and his neighbours have removed the invasive plants and established a garden. On a tiny piece of weed-infested land there is now an oasis of flowering natives which attracts birds and adds enormously to the outlook. 

In the words of Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto: "Luxury is not about size; it is about the poetry of space."