Testimonials

“Nailed the brief! From the very first concept we knew we were going to love our Light House home.

The central kitchen and living space brings the whole family together throughout the day. We love being able to cook, talk and play in the same light-filled space. The deck and backyard flows so naturally from there and with the big north facing windows we can see the whole yard if the kids are playing outside.

There is just nothing that we would change ...”

“Light House have a team of wonderfully talented architects. They’re very invested in achieving, and helping you as the client achieve, a great outcome. They provide honest advice and great guidance to help you make difficult decisions along the way. This makes us really confident we’ve made good decisions that will result in a comfortable home.

We couldn’t have come close to coming up with some of the solutions they have, to deal with some complex problems. In addition to being clever, they’re committed to staying the course to produce optimal solutions.”

“Fantastic service, fantastic product knowledge, fantastic result. The energy-efficient residence Light House designed for us is saving us hundreds in energy bills every year”

“We did a knock down rebuild of a family home with Light House and were so impressed and happy with the entire process, from design through to handover and now living in it!

The team worked closely with us to design a house that perfectly suited our needs, while thoughtfully incorporating elements of the original house into the new house to keep the family memories. We have lived in many different houses but none of them have come close to the comfort that we enjoy in this home – from open and light-filled rooms, clever storage, and incredibly functional spaces.

Best of all we love being part of the Light House community! ”

“The team have been absolutely amazing, particularly in:

1. High quality design of a home that is absolutely bespoke to us and our needs;

2. Faultless client engagement throughout all stages of the scoping, design, building support and scientific testing of our house;

3. Excellent understanding of energy efficiency, building practices and climate specific requirements to deliver a cost effective and extremely comfortable house. ”

“The amount of time they devoted to our project through constant communications and advice step by step through the process from initial concept to final completion was well worth their fees. Their creative ideas, which contributed so much to the aesthetics of the house, meant that there was a great blend of art and science. This has made our living environment a delight in many ways.”

“Light House provided not only a spectacular design, but one that works perfectly for me and my partner. They were professional throughout and kept us informed of the process and the likely cost of the design they were formulating to ensure that what we were requesting would be achievable within our budget.

Light House persisted with us through many trials and tribulations of the government approvals, and financing, phases of the project. I very much appreciate their support throughout. ”

“We interviewed various builders, designer/builders and construction companies before we set about the process of knocking down and rebuilding. While some options were cheaper, the end outcome would not have been, and it would not have been tailored to suit our needs. The insight that the Light House team brought to the table has helped us achieve a very high EER rating house, designed specifically for the location, taking into account the needs of our family.

While the cost at the outset seemed like a lot, the benefits of architectural design are already being observed as we watch other houses being built/renovated around us. We spent the time with them to get the design right on paper before starting to build, rather than changing the design during the build. In the end, we had no cost variations on the house as all work was done on paper first. The cost of Light House paid for itself in well managed construction and efficient housing.”

“We are loving it in our new house! It’s so quiet, and a very comfortable temperature all day and night.

There are many examples of fine design and craftsmanship, some needing a trained eye to see - thankfully Sarah and Jenny have pointed these out to us. However, every day we look at and admire the metal work, the tiling, the stonework, the strip drains, the timber battens, the balcony, and much else besides.

Thank you for making this once in a lifetime experience so stress free and enjoyable.”

“We genuinely enjoyed building this house, a cleverly designed practical home, and love your functional, science-based ethos.”

“Consultations - friendly and helpful.
Knowledge - leading edge yet practical.
Finished product - amazing, sustainable home.

The quality of the finished home is impeccable without being extravagant.”

“Engaging Light House to design our much loved home will always be one of our best life decisions. From concept sketch to completion, we thoroughly enjoyed the process of working with super friendly architects who shared our vision of creating an energy efficient, flexible family home - built to embrace both Canberra’s climate and our wishes. We loved our architects’ intuition, design flair and innovative ideas and insight. We are forever grateful to live in a house that is warm in winter and cool in summer - the perfect place to be all year round! ”

“This house is beautiful. The way it fills with sunlight; the way it shows us the sky; the way it is constantly warm and draft free. It fills me with pleasure just to walk from room to room watching how each room deals with space and light at every time of day. It was a pleasure to work with you all to achieve it. Thank you.”

“It was so refreshing talking to Light House, as they take it as given that you want your house to be contemporary, well-designed, well-insulated, energy-efficient and comfortable – in contrast, when I first started researching my options, one builder tried to talk me out of double-glazing because ‘no-one would notice it at re-sale and you wouldn’t get your money back’. Light House have their finger on the pulse in a way that so many in the industry just haven’t. The team really takes a personal interest in their projects, and in their relationship with you as a client. I just love living in this house.”

“We are so happy with our amazing sustainable home. We sought out architects that share the same values that we have of sustainability and liveability. Our journey from design, through construction, to completion was very rewarding with Light House.

We have a home that’s designed and constructed for our site, for our family and is future-proofed for a changing climate. It is spacious and light-filled. We were very comfortable through summer, using only ceiling fans and night time passive ventilation to cool the house.

Good orientation, design, insulation and glazing have made a huge difference compared to our old ex-govie house. We are looking forward to a sun-filled warm house this winter.”

“Our house is not only functional - it’s also beautiful and highly energy efficient. The team’s creativity in the design phase was matched by their practicality and skill in the construction phase. With the help of their online project management software, our decisions were all captured, questions responded to and costs fully tracked. It was a very smooth process from concept to completion - we loved designing and building our house and living in it is even better!”

“Our brief was to design a house with clean, simple, well designed spaces that are light and airy. We wanted a thermally comfortable, energy efficient, and low maintenance house, as well as good quality fittings, materials, and build. Our house has achieved all of that and more. We couldn’t be happier.”

“When we tell people that we managed the whole process of design and construction of our renovation remotely, while overseas, they don’t believe us! But thanks to Jenny and the team at Light House we did - and on budget and on schedule.

We’re very happy with the outcome. We love the light, warmth and natural flow of the house. We love standing at the kitchen bench looking out over the setting sun towards Black Mountain and then turning our heads to see the kids playing cricket on the back patio framed by the golden glow of the gum trees in the nature strip. We love the gentle whirr of the Haiku fans and the varied shades of the recycled hard wood floor. We love the clean, stylish and functional bathrooms. And we love the smaller power bills!”

“We have settled into our home - it is just lovely. We really think there needs to be greater awareness about of the value of smart design and construction - our experience and house is just too good not to share so as to educate people on how easy it can be to make a wonderful home!”

“Thanks to the excellent combination of architect + scientist + builder we have a beautiful and comfortable family home with a flexible layout that will adapt with us over time. From design through to build process, the team were excellent at listening, engaging and providing ideas. We love the final result which is a warm, inviting and light-filled home that is energy efficient to run.”

“It’s almost exactly two years since we moved back into our brighter, warmer (definitely less draughty!) more beautiful house. And we’re still loving every moment we’re in it, all year round.”

“We have a small, smart and energy efficient house, thanks to Light House. They were enthusiastic, committed to quality, and attentive to our ideas and needs throughout the entire design and build process. Having built before, we knew the importance of having an experienced builder of integrity committed to our project. Light House ensured this. We are delighted with our house.”

“The collaboration between architecture, science and construction is the reason we have such a comfortable and liveable home. Having lived in many houses, we had clear ideas of what we wanted - to design a home that would work with us as a family. The team had the expertise to maintain a creative approach while problem-solving the many limitations of a modern build on a Heritage listed block.”

“We had a dream run. Our project ran on time and within budget and we were completely satisfied with the outcome. We attribute this to the unique and well-blended combination of architect, energy efficiency consultant and builder, as well as the professional, honest and open way they conduct their business. They strive for excellence and their enthusiasm for their work is contagious!”

“The first thing I would like to say is I love my house! It is a real pleasure to live in a house that works so well and is so comfortable. The recent very hot weather was a real test and coming home after a 40+ degree day at the end of a week of 40 degree temperatures, my house was a very reasonable 25 degrees inside before turning on any cooling. I have been in my home for three months now and it still puts a smile on my face!”

“Throughout the planning stages for my extension, the team were most generous with their time – not to mention infinitely patient and good natured. The design is a joy to live in, and Jenny has ensured optimum energy efficiency. I am delighted at their success.”

“We were looking, unsuccessfully, for something small, smart and energy efficient… Choosing from among Light House’s modular room options streamlined the design process without compromising our objectives. By using their Co-Construct software, we were kept fully informed and engaged during the design stage and were able to have those unforeseen issues that invariably arise during a build dealt with quickly and efficiently ‘in house’. We moved in a few months ago, and are delighted with our house. We would happily recommend Light House to anyone wanting to design/build a home.”

“The support and advice at all stages throughout the design and build process was excellent. All questions were addressed comprehensively and the documentation was very detailed.

Their professional expertise provided a quality product that met our needs. The attention to detail was exceptional and the ability to think outside the box and provided solutions to unforeseen problems was outstanding. ”

“Excellent communication with comprehensive information provided, and intensive exchange of ideas. I started the project with almost no knowledge and gained an enormous education on the journey with Light House. Their passion for their work was very obvious to me from the very beginning of my contact with them.

They are backed up by an excellent, experienced and knowledgeable staff. All processes involved in the design and building were carefully explained and each step logically set out on a plan. They were always aware of costs and budget, and always communicated to us the cost implications of various choices.

They adhere faithfully to a strong framework of environmental and scientific principles. They convey a deep and genuine interest in applying these principles to achieve the best individual result for each client. The result for us is excellent - a quiet and comfortable home with minimal energy costs, aesthetically a pleasure to be in, with outstanding quality of construction.”

“Light House were incredibly consultative and supportive right form the start. They took us on a journey about how we wanted to live as an ideal notion and transformed that into reality.

Light House delivered to an incredibly high standard and always on time. They provided excellent advice during each phase of design and this continued during the build. There were no hidden costs ever, with their fee structure very transparent and accurate. They seemed personally invested in our project which built considerable trust and confidence in their service and advice.”

“The Light House team challenged me to think differently, to consider functionality and sustainability. I had no appreciation for good design and working with the Canberra climate until working with them.”

“Light House Architecture and Science has demonstrated an excellent customer-centred focus, industry knowledge, experience and overall competency. They were also instrumental in selecting the right builder to realise the design. Extremely happy with everything they have done for us.”

“We absolutely love it! You nailed the brief!

We can clearly see how each of the principles we outlined were thoughtfully accommodated, including those that required discretionary trade-offs and design decisions. You did a wonderful job incorporating the specific details from our initial session, and the loft bed/study/library space is a thoughtful and creative way of accommodating a complex set of needs in a compact space.
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