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About Our Services

Since 2009, TS4 Living has brought together a wealth of technical knowledge and ‘hands on’ building experience to the world of sustainable design. Our energy efficient homes range from traditional builds to modern, lightweight construction.

Creating Sustainable Living

TS4 Living, is passionate about producing sustainable, carbon sensitive designs that create affordable and energy efficient homes that save you money on heating, cooling and electricity costs while paying homage to the intangible poetics of space and light.

At TS4 Living our approach to designing your home is a little different. We listen to you, work with you and create what you want; an affordable and energy efficient home. A home that will remain comfortable all year round, no matter rain, hail or shine. We want you to benefit from our experience so together we can create your home that compliments your lifestyle and ensures energy efficiency.

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TS4 Living, is passionate about producing sustainable, carbon sensitive designs that create affordable and energy efficient homes that save you money on heating, cooling and electricity costs while paying homage to the intangible poetics of space and light.

At TS4 Living our approach to designing your home is a little different. We listen to you, work with you and create what you want; an affordable and energy efficient home. A home that will remain comfortable all year round, no matter rain, hail or shine. We want you to benefit from our experience so together we can create your home that compliments your lifestyle and ensures energy efficiency.

Design to Build

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Design to Build

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Our delighted clients

Our energy bills have gone from $3300 to $100 per year

After paying a fortune to live comfortably in our previous home, we wanted a home that would keep us warm in winter and cool in summer with minimal impact on the environment or our wallets.

Our TS4 home has proven far more comfortable, and so energy efficient that over the course of a year we export more energy than we consume. Architecturally, the house is perfect. It’s light, welcoming, and makes us feel good just being in there.

See Jeff’s Piano House

Our new layout came out perfectly

We wanted to turn our 1940s house into a home customised for our family’s lifestyle; one that used minimal energy to give us year-round comfort.

Despite our block not being suited to the layout that we wanted, TS4 used their talents to make it work, all while coming up with clever ways to help us save money in the process. 

Our new and improved home not only looks great – it’s perfect for our lifestyle and everyone who visits is impressed by the functionality. Paul was honest from the start and taught us a lot along the way, so we would happily work with TS4 again.

Matt and Kate Reimann

Our stunning off-grid home

When we were looking to build a home off the grid, we knew we needed a designer who was highly experienced in sustainable homes and cared enough to make sure the final result was exactly what we wanted. We chose TS4 because we were impressed with their passion, knowledge and honesty from the start.

Paul and Alan took the time to understand us and what we wanted, before shaping our ideas into something that was both stunning and highly functional

We are so pleased with the end result that enables us to live off the grid in a beautiful, eye-catching home.

Shane and Tegan Budd

Case Studies

Be inspired by some of our climate responsive homes

Mair House

Client Brief

Our clients wanted a home that was warm in the winter and cool in the summer, the opposite to their existing Adelaide Hills home. Realising that Kuitpo Forest was a similar climate they decided to commission us to design and construct a family home for four people. The brief was reasonably relaxed apart from the requirement for an entertaining area, the desire for rich palette of materials and the urge to experience the views to the East and West from as many rooms in the home as possible.

  • STATUS: Completed, 2015
  • LOCATION: Kuipto Forest, SA
  • BUDGET: $600,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 228m2
  • PHOTOGRAPHER: Shane Harris

Client Brief

The existing cellar door was a small timber shed, which could barely hold five people but had a charming rustic appearance. The brief consisted of increasing the size of the cellar door, adding a seated dining area and separate food preparation. There were also a number of reclaimed items including several large jetty timbers and warehouse lighting that had been acquired over the years that if possible could be integrated into the design.
  • STATUS: Completed, 2011
  • LOCATION: Mount Lofty Ranges, SA
  • BUDGET: $275,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 100m2
  • PHOTOGRAPHER: Shane Harris

Approach

After several floor plans were considered a “T” shape was chosen that placed the main entrance and living areas on a North to South axis. Northern windows in the living areas allow both sunlight and natural light into the space during the winter and natural ventilation during the summer months. Shading is provided by the use of galvanised outriggers and wire supports that vines will be trained over. These will die back during the winter months allowing sunlight to enter. In summer they will create a beautiful dappled light as well as absorb solar radiation helping to create small micro climates around the house.

Natural materials were chosen wherever possible to help integrate the home within its landscape; timber cladding, Weathertex compressed hardwood boards, galvanised and ColorBond steel and rammed earth. The latter greets the visitor on arrival at the entrance to the property and again at the door. It also features in the living area forming an open fireplace and then in a dividing wall between the main bedroom and en-suite.

The home has hydronic underfloor heating as well as hot water with power provided by the large solar panel array that has been installed on the two North facing roofs.

Howlet House

Client Brief

A retired couple’s desire to be close to their family and grandchildren was the driving force for this project: a self contained addition to a 1950’s home that belonged to their son and his family. With a finite income the couple wanted predictable future heating and cooling costs. They also wanted integration with their family as well as the ability for privacy when needed. They also valued natural ventilation and light, a feature that the design embraced.

  • STATUS: Completed, 2015
  • LOCATION: Adelaide, SA
  • BUDGET: $325,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 128m2
  • PHOTOGRAPHER: Shane Harris

Client Brief

The existing cellar door was a small timber shed, which could barely hold five people but had a charming rustic appearance. The brief consisted of increasing the size of the cellar door, adding a seated dining area and separate food preparation. There were also a number of reclaimed items including several large jetty timbers and warehouse lighting that had been acquired over the years that if possible could be integrated into the design.
  • STATUS: Completed, 2011
  • LOCATION: Mount Lofty Ranges, SA
  • BUDGET: $275,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 100m2
  • PHOTOGRAPHER: Shane Harris

Approach

The kitchen and living area of the existing 1950’s home were combined to form one open plan living space which leads to the new self contained addition. A new single access door was created opening into a light filled entrance where the family and grandparents enter their own areas. This “link” can be opened to provide an uninterrupted transition from one area to the other. It can also be closed off if privacy is needed. This approach fully integrates the addition with the home giving greater flexibility in the future.

The home uses TS4’s wall construction and double glazed windows throughout which includes replacing the steel framed windows of the 1950’s home. With modernisation to the existing home in the form of windows and insulation the overall Energy Rating rose from 2.5 Stars to 7.2 Stars.

The home is thermally comfortable throughout the year, with a combined energy bill that is typically below $250 per quarter for the equivalent of four adults and three young children living in two homes.

Piano House

Client Brief

The clients approached us with a site in suburban Adelaide, facing North-West to South-East and asked if a home could be designed to be warm enough in the winter and cool enough in the summer without the area facing due-North. Could it be possible?

  • STATUS: Completed, 2019
  • LOCATION: Adelaide, SA
  • BUDGET: $550,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 248m2
  • PHOTOGRAPHER: Shane Harris

Client Brief

The existing cellar door was a small timber shed, which could barely hold five people but had a charming rustic appearance. The brief consisted of increasing the size of the cellar door, adding a seated dining area and separate food preparation. There were also a number of reclaimed items including several large jetty timbers and warehouse lighting that had been acquired over the years that if possible could be integrated into the design.
  • STATUS: Completed, 2011
  • LOCATION: Mount Lofty Ranges, SA
  • BUDGET: $275,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 100m2
  • PHOTOGRAPHER: Shane Harris

Approach

Our response was; yes!

A beautiful, 8.1 star, 3 bedroom home has been designed to minimize its carbon footprint, allow northern light into the living spaces and piano room and provide comfortable ambient temperatures all year round without the need for mechanical heating or cooling.

The double-storey home hosts a piano room and ‘creative corner’ for the artistic clients, invites northern, winter sunlight into the double height kitchen and dining area. Deciduous vines decorate the inner courtyard, adjacent to the dining area to provide summer shading. This approach allows the house to maintain cool temperatures even during extreme heatwaves without relying on the excessive use of air conditioning.

The high quality 6.4kW solar panel array creates free hot water even in the middle of winter while still exporting energy to the grid; essentially the home generates more energy than it consumes making it carbon positive. Combined with quality LED lighting and the latest in energy efficient appliances they overall energy consumption for the home is significantly less than our clients have been used to in their past home.

The home has been future proofed against climate change and advancements in technology with a hard wired communication networking throughout the home and provision for an electric car charge point.

Beach House

Client Brief

“We’re tired of being too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter,” began the client’s brief. The rather run-down beach-side shack had been constructed in the 70’s to a very low specification. Originally used infrequently, the shack is being used far more regularly and this has forced a rethink.

  • STATUS: Completed, 2019
  • LOCATION: Coffin Bay, SA
  • BUDGET: $500,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 160m2

Client Brief

“We’re tired of being too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter,” began the client’s brief. The rather run-down beach-side shack had been constructed in the 70’s to a very low specification. Originally used infrequently, the shack is being used far more regularly and this has forced a rethink.
  • STATUS: Completed, 2019
  • LOCATION: Coffin Bay, SA
  • BUDGET: $500,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 160m2

Approach

The orientation was not ideal. Views to the East and South East were priorities as well as trying to achieve Northern solar access to the living space. A multi-faceted design was conceived to create areas that are protected from both the summer sun and from the on- and off-shore breezes that change direction daily and seasonally. The combination of carefully placed louvred windows alongside the large uPVC double glazed windows and the fanned-out floorplan creates natural ventilation throughout the home and an abundance of natural light.
The new house has minimal heating and cooling requirements. For convenience a multi-head reverse cycle air conditioning system has been installed that will be powered mainly from the solar panel installation. This system is being combined into an automation system that will allow remote control by mobile phone. This will also combine security and fire protection measures.

The house is being constructed using the TS4 wall system and low-maintenance materials and is expected to have an energy rating of at least 7.5 Stars.

Myrtle House

Client Brief

Master Builder Association’s ‘Excellence in Environmental/Sustainable Construction’ 2019 Winner by Aria Homes

After living in a thermally and acoustically under-performing house, the clients moved locations, due to lifestyle changes and a growing family and approached us wanting to replace an existing 1930’s house with a contemporary home, generous enough for a family of 6 people while maintaining a low carbon footprint and adequate water storage on site.

  • STATUS: Completed, 2018
  • LOCATION: Adelaide, SA
  • BUDGET: $650,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 284m2
  • PHOTOGRAPHER: Shane Harris
  • BUILDER: Aria Homes

Client Brief

The existing cellar door was a small timber shed, which could barely hold five people but had a charming rustic appearance. The brief consisted of increasing the size of the cellar door, adding a seated dining area and separate food preparation. There were also a number of reclaimed items including several large jetty timbers and warehouse lighting that had been acquired over the years that if possible could be integrated into the design.
  • STATUS: Completed, 2011
  • LOCATION: Mount Lofty Ranges, SA
  • BUDGET: $275,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 100m2
  • PHOTOGRAPHER: Shane Harris

Approach

Our response was; a contemporary, 8.1 star, 5 bedroom home passively designed to minimize its carbon footprint, invite northern light into the living spaces and thermal conductivity into the bedrooms with generous doors and windows to enhance the connection from the outdoor to the indoor.

The single-storey home was designed to incorporate passive design techniques such as maximum solar gains in the winter, with the open living/dining/kitchen area facing north and deciduous vines along the outdoor area to prevent harsh summer sun from penetrating the windows during the summer. This approach allows the house to maintain cool temperatures even during extreme heatwaves without relying on the excessive use of air conditioning.

A generous 6.4kW solar panel array was incorporated into the design from concept stage and is controlled to supply the heat pump hot water system with power during the daytime. Winter sun shines onto the masonry stone wall that the bedrooms back onto, creating natural radiant heat and thermal store to significantly reduce the need for additional heating during winter for the family. In the summer the wall also acts as a thermal store of cooler nighttime air. Local materials have been sourced where possible to give the home a comfortable and welcoming first impression, adapting seamlessly into the site and surrounding neighbourhood.

Campbell House

Client Brief

A recently retired, environmentally conscious couple looking to build a house in a sustainable village chose TS4 to design and build their dream home. They needed a three bedroom home with plenty of room when children and grandchildren came to visit, while keeping their options open for a time when their mobility might become compromised and climbing stairs would not be possible. Together with ticking all the boxes for the client, the house also had to pass the strict guidelines of the sustainable village it was situated in which included double glazing, 7.5 minimal energy star rating, restrictions on build height and limitations to materials and colour.

  • STATUS: Completed, 2016
  • LOCATION: Adelaide, SA
  • BUDGET: $600,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 242m2
  • PHOTOGRAPHER: Shane Harris

Client Brief

The existing cellar door was a small timber shed, which could barely hold five people but had a charming rustic appearance. The brief consisted of increasing the size of the cellar door, adding a seated dining area and separate food preparation. There were also a number of reclaimed items including several large jetty timbers and warehouse lighting that had been acquired over the years that if possible could be integrated into the design.
  • STATUS: Completed, 2011
  • LOCATION: Mount Lofty Ranges, SA
  • BUDGET: $275,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 100m2
  • PHOTOGRAPHER: Shane Harris

Approach

The resulting building is a blend of open space, light and vibrant colours – after all, who said that retirement should be boring?

At first glance the home is conventional in its layout, however the entrance provides a glimpse to the living area. Walking down the short linking passageway the living area opens up to a void and to the ceiling 6m above creating a sense of unexpected space and light. The stairs were designed to allow both easy access to the main bedroom upstairs as well as being semi-transparent to maximise the sense of space and to be able to look through the full height window behind.

To future-proof the home there is also a guest room with en-suite on the ground floor that can, if required, act as the couple’s bedroom should the stairs become too difficult in the future. The clients’ love of gardening was also catered for with a design using native plants and geometric structures of Corten Steel creating unique fencing and privacy outside.

The Addition

Client Brief

The clients want to modernise their heritage-listed cottage, improving its currently very poor thermal performance and to add additional accommodation in the form of a living space, kitchen, bathroom and laundry. The garden is to the West and the view had to be maximised.

  • STATUS: Completed, 2018
  • LOCATION: Adelaide, SA
  • BUDGET: $300,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 68m2

Client Brief

The existing cellar door was a small timber shed, which could barely hold five people but had a charming rustic appearance. The brief consisted of increasing the size of the cellar door, adding a seated dining area and separate food preparation. There were also a number of reclaimed items including several large jetty timbers and warehouse lighting that had been acquired over the years that if possible could be integrated into the design.
  • STATUS: Completed, 2011
  • LOCATION: Mount Lofty Ranges, SA
  • BUDGET: $275,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 100m2
  • PHOTOGRAPHER: Shane Harris

Approach

The original lean-to addition is being demolished and a new highly insulated addition added. This features a distinctly different architectural language and materiality to contrast the existing home. Almost all of the Western elevation is glazed and reduced performance is being offset by the TS4 wall construction.

Over 5m2 of Northern light and solar gain is created by the high level electrically operated windows, inset from the boundary to comply with local fire regulation. Both the existing home and the new addition will have underfloor heating installed that has been designed to run using the solar generated energy and battery system that will be installed upon completion.

Cellar Door

Client Brief

The existing cellar door was a small timber shed, which could barely hold five people but had a charming rustic appearance. The brief consisted of increasing the size of the cellar door, adding a seated dining area and separate food preparation. There were also a number of reclaimed items including several large jetty timbers and warehouse lighting that had been acquired over the years that if possible could be integrated into the design.
  • STATUS: Completed, 2011
  • LOCATION: Mount Lofty Ranges, SA
  • BUDGET: $275,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 100m2
  • PHOTOGRAPHER: Shane Harris

Client Brief

The existing cellar door was a small timber shed, which could barely hold five people but had a charming rustic appearance. The brief consisted of increasing the size of the cellar door, adding a seated dining area and separate food preparation. There were also a number of reclaimed items including several large jetty timbers and warehouse lighting that had been acquired over the years that if possible could be integrated into the design.
  • STATUS: Completed, 2011
  • LOCATION: Mount Lofty Ranges, SA
  • BUDGET: $275,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 100m2
  • PHOTOGRAPHER: Shane Harris

Approach

The old cellar door was removed and in its place two new forms were created. Entering from the vineyard you find yourself on the veranda leading to the wine tasting area, kitchen and toilet facilities. This was clad in weathered galvanised corrugated tin with a traditional deep profile and rough sawn timbers. Its design language originates from the traditional farm buildings found throughout rural South Australia; a steep roof pitch with gable ends, minimal eaves and simple roof gutters. The second, the seated dining area is contemporary in its language with raked ceilings and a single raked skillion roof.

The individual approach externally follows through internally where there is a distinct difference between the materials used. This further enhances the sense of old versus new. Large timbers, a simple concrete honed floor and exposed structures contrast the crisp white painted plasterboard and polished timber floors, enhancing the difference between the two characters of what is essentially the same building.

Outside, rather than work against the sloping hillside the seating areas cascade downwards seemingly blending into the surrounding landscape.

Zero Carbon House

Client Brief

A South Australian Government initiative, the Zero Carbon House in Lochiel Park is Australia’s first designed and built Zero Carbon Home. Construction innovation, reduced wastage, carbon monitoring during construction and during the life of the home (estimated to be in excess of 75 years) were objectives to be included within the design. Affordability and adaptability were also key factors in the design which won both the People’s Choice Award and the overall competition.
  • STATUS: Completed, 2013
  • LOCATION: Adelaide, SA
  • BUDGET: $350,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 188m2
  • PHOTOGRAPHER: Shane Harris

Client Brief

A South Australian Government initiative, the Zero Carbon House in Lochiel Park is Australia’s first designed and built Zero Carbon Home. Construction innovation, reduced wastage, carbon monitoring during construction and during the life of the home (estimated to be in excess of 75 years) were objectives to be included within the design. Affordability and adaptability were also key factors in the design which won both the People’s Choice Award and the overall competition.
  • STATUS: Completed, 2013
  • LOCATION: Adelaide, SA
  • BUDGET: $350,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 188m2
  • PHOTOGRAPHER: Shane Harris

Approach

An offsite construction approach was chosen over traditional methods to reduce the construction time to only 12 weeks from the first pre-constructed modular wall going up to the home’s open day. The wall construction was designed specifically for the house and was so successful that it is now TS4’s standard wall construction. Careful choice of materials helps to keep the construction carbon footprint significantly below that of a typical project home while improved insulation, careful placement of the double glazed windows and shading combine to create a highly thermally efficient home. Green walls to the East and West have been used along with vines on the Northern elevation for shading.

A home’s air tightness is a key indicator to the quality of construction. After blower door testing, the home was found to exceed the typical Australian standard of construction by three-fold. The attention to detail has made a significant contribution to reducing the ongoing energy requirements and the subsequent operational carbon footprint.

Overall it has been calculated that the home will become carbon neutral by 2045. In other words, all of the carbon generated creating the materials, constructing the home and the transport and shipping during this phase and all of the operational energy required to heat and cool the home will be offset by the energy exported from the solar panel installation.

Corten House

Client Brief

The brief was to take a small, poorly orientated cottage in a heritage listed suburb built in 1900 and transform it into a 165m2 family home for the future. A home that would be comfortable all year round, affordable to run and provide more living space while leaving a rear yard to play in and off street parking if at all possible.
  • STATUS: Completed, 2017
  • LOCATION: Adelaide, SA
  • BUDGET: $300,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 115m2
  • PHOTOGRAPHER: Shane Harris

Client Brief

The brief was to take a small, poorly orientated cottage in a heritage listed suburb built in 1900 and transform it into a 165m2 family home for the future. A home that would be comfortable all year round, affordable to run and provide more living space while leaving a rear yard to play in and off street parking if at all possible.
  • STATUS: Completed, 2017
  • LOCATION: Adelaide, SA
  • BUDGET: $300,000
  • FLOOR AREA: 115m2
  • PHOTOGRAPHER: Shane Harris

Approach

We removed the 60’s built lean-to from the cottage and replicated the existing cottage’s footprint of 8m x 8m where the lean-to had once been. This effectively doubled the ground floor area while adding a basement and mezzanine floors creating more living area without negatively impacting on the small allotment. The basement has become the main bedroom with en-suite and has been designed to be able to view the stars at night-time while lying in bed. Combined with the mezzanine floor it has created an incredible light filled living area.

The original home had an energy rating of just 0.9 Stars. Improvements were made to the existing cottage by upgrading the wall and roof insulation as well as refurbishing the windows. Combining the cottage energy rating with the new addition has increased the energy rating to 8.4 Stars overall. The high level North facing windows allow sunshine and natural light to fill the new addition which consists of one open plan area with kitchen and lounge area combined. The high level windows effectively reduce the need for heating in the winter to a minimum while creating an abundance of natural light and ventilation.

Assisting the natural ventilation is a large galvanised duct creating an industrial feel to the space. It transfers both cool night-time air in the summer and warmth in the winter to the existing cottage which in turn reduces the reliance on more traditional forms of heating and cooling. Overall the energy bills have been reduced 10 fold with quarterly energy bills less than $100.

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