About

Improving lives through energy positive architecture + sustainable building design

Habitance is an innovative studio specialising in energy positive architecture and urban design. Committed to incorporating energy saving aspects into each of our designs we meet and exceed standard benchmarks. At the heart of Energy Positive Architecture lies a social and moral conscience, good practices, and a sense of responsibility, to design and provide healthy indoor and outdoor spaces for all. Utilising natural resources, clever design, new technology and Australian made products the team uses skills gained internationally to explore creative ideas, reframe complex problems, and generate inspiring solutions.
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Mission

The buildings we design produce more energy than they need, positively impacting the lives of people who use them and the communities who surrounds them, for the benefit of future generations.

Vision

Innovators in Energy Positive Architecture collaborating with likeminded industry leaders to lower environmental impacts for an energy positive future.

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Goals

• We design buildings which use less energy at the outset

• The people who live with our designs are healthier + happier

• The surrounding community benefits from our design

• We source homegrown Australian materials to reduce carbon footprint

• We use innovation and new technologies to reduce construction time

• We work with likeminded professionals driven by a moral conscience

• Our team and studio systems apply these principles everyday

“Energy Positive Architecture is not just about sticking a solar panel on a roof to reduce energy bills, it’s the the thought process which goes into every aspect of the development ensuring the site and design, materials and build, maintenance and lifecycle, enable people to live an Energy Positive Life.”


Alex Hoffmann
Director, Habitance

values

Adaptable

Working in a collaborative manner designing spaces that adapt to change over time positively responding to life’s constant change.

Purposeful

Purposeful in our design and deliver design that has a clear understood intent.

Bold

Not shying away from opportunity and relish the challenge of innovation that design can unlock.

Ethical

We take our responsibility to improve the built environment seriously and design with honesty, integrity, impartiality and fairness.

Future First

It is no longer enough to simply design energy efficient buildings: our ambition and responsibility is to turn the places and buildings we design into energy producers.

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Bella

Business Development Dog

Bella is an integral part of the Habitance Team, taking her role as Business Development Dog very seriously. She encourages people walking by to stop and pat her, offering an opportunity for them to ask what we do. She also likes to woof at other dogs and make friends with people eating pizza next door. Bella also likes photobombing, sleeping and chewing her feet.

Maggie Buckle

Design Techncian

Dual Diploma in Building Design and Interior Design

A multi skilled individual, Maggie’s creativity and passion for nature, nurture, the arts, and architecture has led her to complete a dual diploma in Building Design and Interior Design.

Formerly working in Real Estate, Maggie observed a growing distance between buildings and the personalities that occupied them. Her aim is to create environments that value personal expression within the individuals’ space. With a growing interest in gardening, self-sufficiency and landscape architecture, Maggie aims to develop her diverse range of talents with the team at Habitance.

To relax, Maggie likes gardening, painting portraits in her home studio, playing the banjo and driving round the sunny coast in her MX5.

Ali Hoffmann

Studio Manager

Bachelor of Business
Diploma of Events
Diploma of Travel & Tourism

 

Ali is a motivated and enthusiastic professional with over 30 years’ experience in business, sales and marketing, and business development. Customer-focused and driven, Ali has the ability to deliver targeted marketing campaigns, and industry relevant events.

A natural problem solver with strong networking capabilities, Ali’s business acumen enables her to ensure the studio runs smoothly, allowing the team to focus on design.

In her spare time Ali enjoys camping, beachcombing, jigsaws, music, jumping on the mower, and organising social events.

Josh Scott

Design Techncian

Diploma of Building Design

Josh combines Gen Z high level computer skills with a positive and hard working attitude.  

A key member of the team, he enjoys investigating design solutions, utilising his innate understanding of complex computer programs.   

 

After completing a Building Design Diploma, Josh worked in construction acquiring manual and practical experience on site to add to his skill set. This combination enabled Josh to understand the whole process from designing the build, following the plans as a tradie during construction, to seeing the completed project and handing the keys over to the client.

Away from work Josh is a keen amateur cook, is a hobby blacksmith and enjoys being a positive role model to his nephew.

Patrick Nispel

Senior Urban Designer

Master of Design (UrbDes)BA (Hons) Architecture

With a passion to shape the built environment and local communities in a healthy and sustainable way, Patrick uses his extensive knowledge, diverse skills and broad project experience in architecture and urban design from across multiple countries.

Patrick believes the opportunity lies in challenging the norm to identify opportunities to create energy positive environments for individuals and communities alike.

Bilingual, logical and an analytical thinker, Patrick is a highly self-motivated individual, with the ability to work effectively with internal and external team members. He has a passion for sustainable design solutions including passive solar design, sub-tropical design, energy efficiency and ‘Passivhaus’ principles. Patrick used to compete internationally in Athletics and having pursued the Olympic Dream as an athlete his aim is to be involved with architectural and urban design projects related to Brisbane 2032.

Away from work Patrick plays sports, enjoys camping with his family and has just finished designing his own energy efficient home on the Sunshine Coast which his family plan to move into in 2022.

Alex Hoffmann

Director

Master of Design (UrbDes)
BA (Hons) Architecture

With over 28 years’ architectural experience, in London and Brisbane, Alex has a passion for energy positive architecture delivered through a discerning eye for design.

With experience across complex user-oriented projects and a particular expertise in transport, residential, education and civic architecture. Alex is recognised as having an ability to work at both a city and building scale leveraging this capability to unlock better places through design.
Using a unique combination of creativity, vision, and an acumen for understanding the bigger picture enables Alex to engage in rigorous design processes leading to high quality outcomes for clients. Habitance is Alex’s vehicle to offer clients a high level of international expertise through a personable and professional approach, creating mutually beneficial interactions.
Alex has lived in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland for 13 years, commuting to Brisbane for 12 of them. Now with a 5 minute journey to work, he is able to enjoy more time with his family, being out in the garden, managing his veggie beds, making furniture, and following sport, particularly rugby union.