Reducing thermal mass anxiety...
We don't start with compliance checklists. We start with what matters to you — then use building science to balance a large orange ball on your head balance your design.
Because your building should reflect what you care about (it could be one big mirror)
Every project starts with a conversation about you — your goals, your lifestyle, how you want your home to feel. We respect that these values are different for every client, and they should drive decisions we make together.
We're not ones for just going for compliance as default. It's just not our jam. Your home deserves more than a minimum star rating on paper (or papyrus, slate, cardboard or the universe… wherever your stars belong… perhaps even the hall of fame). It deserves to actually be comfortable — genuinely, measurably comfortable — while respecting the design intent your architect has worked hard to create.
Real outcomes, not just paperwork (actually we rarely print stuff, so you may not even get paperwork)
Not just compliant on paper — genuinely comfortable to live in. We model real-world thermal performance so you understand exactly how your home will feel in every season, before a single brick is laid.
We’re architects who get the science. That means your design vision isn’t sacrificed for energy ratings. We find solutions that satisfy both — because we understand both worlds.
Building Code compliance and Passivhaus methodology aren’t competing systems — they’re complementary tools. We use both to find the best path for your specific project, context, and budget.
We work with what you bring to the table and rely on mutual direction to understand the best approach. Architects, builders, homeowners, and developers — your project gets our full attention from day one.
Comfort isn’t just temperature. It’s air quality, moisture management, acoustic performance, and long-term durability. We consider the full picture of how a building affects the people inside it.
We make the complex simple. You’ll understand your options, the trade-offs, and exactly what each decision means for your project’s performance and budget — no jargon, no black boxes.
Architects who found their inner nerd
Architecture is the medium between the artificial and natural worlds. Building Physics makes this medium the best it can be by working with both the artificial and the natural worlds.
Most energy assessors aren't architects. Most architects don't do building physics. We do both — and that Venn diagram overlap is where the magic happens.
Alex calls himself a “quirky architect” because architects typically get excited about a crisp horizontal line or building shaped like a Banana before they get excited about a blower door test result. We bring Australian tried-and-tested energy compliance together with international best practice (read: Passivhaus), so you get the best of both worlds without having to learn German.
The fundamentals of physics embody years of research, and each tool deserves respect. There's always room to learn — use tools for their strengths, understand them for their weaknesses, and never blame the blower door.
Alex Slater — Registered Architect,
Certified Passivhaus Designer
Hear Alex discuss building physics, Passivhaus, and the Australian building industry
Passivhaus Accelerator Podcast — Episode 196. Alex discusses PHPP compliance, the importance of humility in building science, and reflections from the THRIVE 2024 conference.
Passivhaus Accelerator Podcast — Episode 76. Alex traces his path from NatHERS assessor to Passivhaus Designer and how both methodologies complement each other.
“Alex is the Dr Carl Sagan of Building Science or The Science of Better Building. He makes it easy for people to understand.”
“We've enjoyed working with Alex in his role as a Sustainability Consultant - providing Passivhaus services for a number of our early projects that were aiming for the Certified Passivhaus Standard. His knowledge about Building Physics extends beyond the theoretical, to a comprehensive practical understanding of how these homes are constructed. We love that he's a spreadsheet nerd - which meant we could collaborate and focus on our strengths to deliver outcomes for our clients that met their expectations (and sometimes exceeded them too!).”
“We've worked with Alex on a few projects now and his advice has always been sound and grounded in practicality, with a clear focus on the most efficient outcome. He knows building science and building physics inside out, and that depth has been a real value add to the Haven Homes process. Happy to recommend him.”
(or the puncher (keyboard))
For each project, we generally suggest an initial 30-minute consultation where together the scope and compliance requirements of the project can be worked through and clarified.
Our mailing list is irregular and typically insightful. We aim to demonstrate ideas, challenge the status quo and be a friendly voice with a message.