Architecture that embodies Wellness and Environmental Sustainability with Passive House Design.

Evan McClean Photographer

Sue Connor Architects was established over 33 years ago on the Northern Beaches of Sydney.

To represent our commitment to creating a healthier natural and built environment by embracing Passive House Design and Certification we changed our business name to GAEA Architects.

We have been working with a team of experts to create prefabricated architectural buildings to meet the Passivhaus Building Standard since 2019 and have several Passive House Projects we are proud of.

Through meticulous attention to detail, innovative prefabricated construction techniques (Eclipse Passive House), and use of ecologically sustainable materials, our Buildings of Wellness not only reduce energy consumption but also contribute to the overall health and vitality of communities.

Our Passive House approach prioritises Passive Solar Design principles, Energy Efficiency, superior indoor air quality, and Thermal Comfort, ultimately promoting the well-being of occupants while minimising environmental impact.

From optimising natural materials, daylight and ventilation to employing renewable energy sources, our architecture exemplifies a harmonious coexistence with nature.

GAEA ARCHITECTS PASSIVHAUS PROJECTS

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    Kangaroo Valley NSW Passive House

    Newly completed courtyard home design incorporates passive solar design principles.

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    Tarlo River Passive House Goulburn NSW

    Completed 2023. Our first Certified Passive House was also shortlisted for Houses Sustainability Award in 2023.

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  • Newport Northern Beaches Sydney NSW

    This resort style contemporary home was designed and approved by Northern Beaches Council and was a Passive House design.

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  • Newport Passive House Northern Beaches NSW

    This contemporary home has been approved by Northern Beaches Council and is to be built to the passivhaus standard to be a Certified Passive House

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  • Avalon Passive House Northern Beaches Sydney NSW

    A new, multi-level passivhaus home soon to be submitted to Northern Beaches Council.

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  • Tiny Passive House Shoalhaven NSW

    This passive house tiny home near Huskinson was to off grid and be built on an extremely complex site.

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PAST PROJECTS (Conventional Build)

COMMUNITY & COMMERCIAL PROJECTS

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    Tathra Hotel South Coast NSW

    Total renovation, refurbishment including alterations and additions to existing heritage Hotel.

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  • Commercial Cafe and adjoining residence Queenscliff Manly NSW

    Cafe and Residence Queenscliff NSW

    total refurbishment, alterations and additions to a building on a tiny site of heritage significance

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  • Batlow Library NSW

    This commercial building was fully documented to the Passive House Standard. Built by Snowy Valleys Council in 2020 as a conventional build due to very tight budget constraints.

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  • Manly Yoga Studio Photos : David OSullivan

    Manly Yoga Studio NSW

    Interior Design,documentation for new Fitout for the Mall Yoga Community.

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DESIGN PRINCIPLES

We apply diverse environmental design guidelines to create sustainable and beautiful spaces.

Passive House1:

Passive House promotes health and well-being by providing thermal comfort with no condensation or mould.

It represents a building that is high performance, energy efficient and comfortable.

This is achieved by applied building physics to create a building with continuous and complete thermal envelope, airtight construction and a heat recovery ventilation system.

With rigorous construction methodology, minimal building services and technology it represents the buildings of the future.

Passive Solar Design:

Not to be confused with Passivhaus, ‘Passive Solar Design is well known by most people. It incorporates correct building orientation, thermal mass and cross ventilation. Where the right orientation is not available the Passive House building is able to provide thermal comfort year round.

The Living Building Challenge2:

A Living Building aims to replenish communities and the planet. The Living Building promotes the most advanced measurement of sustainability in the built environment. It can be applied to development at all scales, from building construction and renovation to infrastructure, landscapes, neighbourhoods and communities.

The International WELL Building Institute3:

The international WELL Building institute is leading the global movement to transform our buildings and communities in ways that help people thrive. This standard focuses exclusively on the ways that buildings, (and everything within them), can improve our comfort, drive better choices, and generally enhance, not compromise, our health and wellness..

Modular/prefab components:

By considering standard sizes of building components during the design process we are able to save waste.
Eclipse Passive House panels (http://www.eclipsepassivehouse.com.au) are incorporated into our certified Passivehaus buildings.

Non-toxic materials:

In alignment with our wellness philosophy (WELL/ Living Building) we avoid toxic substances. Continual off gassing of these materials can cause sick building syndrome, leading to illness and sensitivities.

Local, natural, recycled and recyclable building materials (and local labour) are specified and utilised as much as possible.

Landscape Solutions:

In recognition of how important it is that we connect with nature on a daily basis the whole site is considered to enable the most appropriate landscape solution.

Interior Alignment®:

As a Certified Interior Alignment practitioner we apply the principles of Feng Shui and energetics to our space planning to assist further in creating healthy buildings.

OUR SERVICES

  • Tarlo River House

    Architectural Design

    Focusing on Passivhaus Standard, Passive Solar Design, The WELL building Standard, and Ecologically Sustainable Design Practices

  • Kangaroo Valley House

    Consultation

    Master Planning, Interior Alignment, Instinctive Feng Shui, Passive House Principles, Landscape Design Concepts and Biophilia.

  • Newport Beach Passive House

    Collaborators

    Passive House Builder, PHHP Consultant, Passive House Certifier, Structural Engineer, Hydraulic Engineers and Bush Fire Consultant.

Services

TESTIMONIALS

  • ECLIPSE PASSIVE HOUSE

    “We have had the pleasure of knowing Sue Connor for many years and particularly over the past 4-5 years where we have developed a very strong working relationship based around Passive House buildings. Sue has an unflinching belief that buildings should enrich the lives of the occupants and her passion and drive towards Passive House is a testament to this. She is a highly skilled Architect and always works with the client’s best interests at heart and in our experience always over delivers for her clients. We look forward to our continuing relationship with Sue and her practice”

    Darryn Parkinson, Director

  • COMMERCIAL PROJECTS

    Sue Connor Architects has performed projects for my companies and myself for over 30 years. The projects have varied in size. The largest was the design of a hotel in Snowy Mountains. During that period I have found Sue Connor Architects to find innovative and sensible solutions which are both aesthetically pleasing as well as being sensible from an environmental and financial perspective.The principal Sue Connor and her staff are very professional and care about their clients and the designs they propose. I would not hesitate to recommend the firm or the principal to any person or organisation. -

    Ferrie Oosterhoff

  • TARLO RIVER PASSIVE HOUSE

    We are incredibly pleased we chose Gaea Architects to design our certified Passive House, which completed construction in 2022. Sue Connor – Gaea’s exceptionally creative, talented and passionate architect – engaged with us in a highly consultative process to design a unique pavilion style that fully met our brief, creating a floorplan that maximised our site’s views from every room. Sue also worked closely with our builder throughout the construction process, considering our builder’s prefabricated system in the design process to ensure our house was built efficiently and to the high-performance standard required for a Passive House. Sue passion for eco-friendly architecture extended to actively sourcing new and emerging materials for our build. Our house has been shortlisted for several prestigious awards in sustainable architecture categories, which is a testament to the exceptional standard and quality of Gaea Architect’s work. We highly recommend Sue and Gaea Architects for anyone interested in designing a beautiful, comfortable and efficient sustainable home.

    Kelly and Duncan Handley - Google Maps Review

Join us in reimagining the future with environmentally sustainable, adaptive, and resilient architectural structures to promote the well-being of all. 

Sue Connor - Registered Architect - 6080

Sue Connor

Registered Architect - 6080

Certified Passivehaus Designer

Certified Interior Alignment Practitioner