On a crisp March morning in the Blue Mountains, I had the pleasure of catching up with Kirstie Wulf at the Building Smarter Using Passive House Design & Natural Building Materials event. Hosted at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre, the event was part of Planetary Health Day, an inspiring gathering of sustainability advocates, designers, builders, and community members eager to explore better ways to build for both people and the planet.
Building Smarter Using Passive House Design
& Natural Building Materials day
A Meeting of Minds in the Mountains
While so much of our work can be done remotely, there’s nothing quite like coming together in person to share ideas, experiences, and inspiration. Kirstie, the award-winning founder of Shelter Building Design, took the stage alongside Karina Rafailov, the founder of Earthy Haus, to present on building smarter with natural materials and Passive House Design.
Their talk explored the five core principles of Passive House Design, airtightness, continuous insulation, thermal bridge-free construction, high-performance windows and doors, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. These elements create energy-efficient, comfortable, and healthy homes while significantly reducing environmental impact.
Kirstie also highlighted the benefits of using natural building materials, such as hempcrete, which boasts low embodied energy, excellent thermal performance, and non-toxic properties that contribute to healthier living environments. If you’re curious about how hempcrete can revolutionise home construction, check out her insights here.
A Day of Learning, Community, and…Frogs?
Beyond the insightful talks, Planetary Health Day was packed with engaging activities. The event showcased live demonstrations, such as how to repurpose fallen trees into usable timber, and hands-on workshops in bushcare and plant-based cheesemaking. Attendees also got a chance to experience the fascinating Frogs of the Blue Mountains Exhibition, where they could learn to identify local frog species using the Australian Museum’s Frog ID app.
From energy-efficient homes to resilient ecosystems, the event reinforced a key message: smart design and natural solutions are essential to creating a sustainable future.
Looking Ahead
Meeting up with Kirstie and connecting with so many passionate individuals was a reminder that sustainability is as much about community as it is about technology and materials. Whether you’re designing a new home, retrofitting an existing space, or simply looking to make better environmental choices, events like these provide the knowledge and connections to move forward with confidence.
If you missed this event, keep an eye out for future opportunities to learn, collaborate, and build smarter for a healthier planet!
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