Mindful Builder

Bridging the construction and Real Estate gap

“Architecture is not just drawings and pretty renders.” In this episode, we sit down with Roger from Borland Architecture to unpack the overlap between architecture, construction, and real estate, and why those worlds are far more connected than most people realise. This is a practical conversation about problem-solving, designing for real life, and making decisions that affect how people live every day. Roger shares his journey from Northwest Ireland to training in England, and how that hands-on background shaped his people-first approach to design. He describes his process as method acting, getting inside a client’s routines and priorities so the end result is not just an impressive plan, but a home that actually works. The kind of house that feels effortless to live in. We also talk about the gap between architectural education and real-world building outcomes, and why sustainability and practical thinking cannot be treated as optional extras. If we want energy-efficient homes, better building standards, and high performance design at scale, the industry needs training that reflects what actually happens on site. Finally, we dig into prefabricated high-performance homes and affordability through projects like StllHaus with Carbonlite, plus Roger’s take on real estate as a lever for better outcomes. We wrap with a Mindful Moment on AI in architecture, and why the human part of design is still the point. Listening, interpreting, and translating real needs into spaces that work. 👇 CHAPTER MARKERS 👇 00:00 Welcome 01:26 Meet Roger Borland 01:42 Farm Roots to Architecture 04:15 Architecture Training Path 05:08 Design as Method Acting 07:15 Is Architecture School Broken 10:03 Passive Solar Basics 16:44 Reading the Site Deeply 20:16 Sustainability Origins 31:47 StllHaus Prefab Vision 33:16 Build Timeline Iteration 34:12 Orientation Passive House Standards 34:46 Certification Optional Baseline 35:31 Volume Builder Partnership 37:24 Pricing Market Position 40:48 Designing Smaller Better Homes 41:47 Real Estate Design Concepts 54:03 Pre Purchase Site Analysis 58:30 Mindful Moment AI Future 01:02:06 Where To Find Roger LINKS: Borland Architecture: https://www.borlandarch.com.au/ [https://www.borlandarch.com.au/] Our Sponsors: Proclima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima [https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima] MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod [https://www.instagram.com/themindfulbuilderpod/] Connect with Hamish: Instagram: @sanctumhomes [https://www.instagram.com/sanctumhomes/] Website: https://www.yoursanctum.com.au/www.yoursanctum.com.au/ [http://www.yoursanctum.com.au/] Connect with Matt: Instagram: @carlandconstructions [https://www.instagram.com/carlandconstructions/] Website: https://www.carlandconstructions.com/www.carlandconstructions.com/ [http://www.carlandconstructions.com/] Mentioned in this episode: Proclima Sponsor [https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima]

Learning from previous developments and designing sustainably

“Success looks great on social media. The reality is usually messier.” In this episode, we sit down with Liam Wallis, Founder and Managing Director of HIP V. HYPE, to talk about what sustainable development really looks like behind the highlight reel. Not just pretty renders and big announcements, but pressure, responsibility, and the constant work of improving systems so each project is better than the last. Liam shares why sustainable success is built through iteration, not perfection. Using ParkLife 2 as an example, we unpack how strategic planning, process improvement, and a long-term mindset help create high performance apartments that can scale without losing the values that matter. This is sustainable building that is practical, repeatable, and designed for real people. We also explore how lived experience shapes better design. From simple moves like bike storage on apartment levels to bigger performance goals like an eight and a half star NatHERS rating, Liam explains how energy efficiency, comfort, and lower running costs become tangible outcomes when you design for the long game. Better thermal performance. Smarter energy decisions. Homes that support people to live well. Finally, we talk about why experience is belief through the HV Hotel, and why community does not happen by accident. Liam breaks down the importance of community-centric design, feedback loops, and building places where residents feel connected and invested. We also touch on construction mental health, and why building better buildings means building better support systems for the people doing the work. 👇 CHAPTER MARKERS 👇 00:00 Introduction 01:38 Park Life Two Intro 10:13 Building In House Engineering 12:11 What Park Life Two Is 13:39 Lived Experience Design 16:44 Solar And Regulations 18:21 Electrification And Hot Water 23:03 NatHERS And Passive House 27:22 Design Versus Performance 29:18 HV Hotel Experience 33:59 Park Life Two Sales 36:43 Owner Occupiers Vs Investors 39:29 Collaborating With Builders 42:23 Tendering And Capability 44:08 Scaling Industry Capacity 44:56 Open Sites And Trade Schools 48:15 Parkside Project Vision 49:19 Mindful Moment Mental Health 52:51 Closing Reflections LINKS: Stay in HV Hotel: https://hipvhype.com/hotel [https://hipvhype.com/hotel] ParkLife 2 Project: https://hipvhype.com/projects/parklife-2 Our Sponsors: Proclima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima [https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima] MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod [https://www.instagram.com/themindfulbuilderpod/] Connect with Hamish: Instagram: @sanctumhomes [https://www.instagram.com/sanctumhomes/] Website: https://www.yoursanctum.com.au/www.yoursanctum.com.au/ [http://www.yoursanctum.com.au/] Connect with Matt: Instagram: @carlandconstructions [https://www.instagram.com/carlandconstructions/] Website: https://www.carlandconstructions.com/www.carlandconstructions.com/ [http://www.carlandconstructions.com/] Mentioned in this episode: Proclima Sponsor [https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima]

Carpenters and being proud about being a tradie

“I’m not just a carpenter.” That’s the energy Sam Aitken brings to this episode, and it is exactly what the construction industry needs more of. Carpentry is not a fallback job. It is craft, problem-solving, and leadership on-site. Sam is also using social media to show what pride in the trade actually looks like, without turning it into a glossy performance. We sit down with Sam to talk about his journey from Carisbrook to completing his apprenticeship in Ballarat, and why he stayed working with the same boss who trained him. We also unpack what that kind of loyalty says about standards, mentorship, and doing things properly, especially in an industry where good guidance can make or break a career. Sam pushes back hard on the idea of being “just a carpenter”. Whether he is framing, finishing, or solving the tricky problems nobody else wants, he treats the work like it matters, because it does. We talk about how good carpenters understand sequencing, tolerances, and how their decisions affect every other trade on site, and why attention to detail lifts the standard of the whole build. We also get into the future of carpentry, including specialisation, better pathways, and what it takes to develop mastery instead of just speed. Sam shares why teaching apprentices the “why” matters, and his message to new tradies is simple. Take pride in the job, keep learning, challenge the norm, and do not shrink your ambition just because someone told you it is “just carpentry”. 👇 CHAPTER MARKERS 👇 00:00 Introduction 03:13 Who Is Sam? Instagram, Confidence & Showing Up Uncurated 05:03 Volume-Build Reality: Pride, Budgets & Doing Quality Work Anyway 07:51 Sam’s Path: Apprenticeship, Small-Town Roots & Staying With One Boss 11:06 Rethinking Carpentry: Specialisation, Trade Shortages & Micro-Certs 17:15 Teaching Apprentices: The ‘Why’, Leadership Mistakes & Better Communication 23:36 Firm vs Abusive: Feedback Culture, Praise, and Raising Standards 28:18 Why Carpentry Matters: Craft Pride & ‘I’m Just a Carpenter’ Mindset 32:25 Becoming a ‘Professional’ Carpenter: Why Mastery Takes a Decade+ 33:38 Staying Loyal vs Going Solo: Security, Mentors, and Motivation 34:25 The Apprenticeship Problem: Competency Gaps, Licensing, and the Housing Shortage 39:33 Social Media as a Side Hustle (Without Losing the Craft) 41:35 Building Better: Sustainable Builds, Wraps, and Site Quality Control 44:40 Should Carpenters Be Licensed? Respect, Standards, and Advocacy 47:29 Calling Out ‘Get Rich’ Courses Targeting Apprentices (Appointment Setting & High-Ticket Sales) 53:27 Mindful Moment: Must-Have Tools + Advice for New Apprentices 59:09 Final Wrap: Consistency, Rite-of-Passage Stories, and Where to Follow Sam LINKS: Connect with Sam: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammy_aitken/ Our Sponsors: Proclima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima [https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima] MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod [https://www.instagram.com/themindfulbuilderpod/] Connect with Hamish: Instagram: @sanctumhomes [https://www.instagram.com/sanctumhomes/] Website: https://www.yoursanctum.com.au/www.yoursanctum.com.au/ [http://www.yoursanctum.com.au/] Connect with Matt: Instagram: @carlandconstructions [https://www.instagram.com/carlandconstructions/] Website: https://www.carlandconstructions.com/www.carlandconstructions.com/ [http://www.carlandconstructions.com/] Mentioned in this episode: Proclima Sponsor [https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima]

Ask the builders anything - open discussion on our thoughts about the industry

High-performance building is not just about premium products. It is about the system. In this episode, we sit down with Sven Maxa from Maxa Design to unpack what Passive House building really looks like behind the scenes, from airtightness targets to the practical realities of delivering high-performance homes on site. This conversation flips the usual format, with Sven taking the lead and putting us (Hamish and Matt) in the hot seat. We get into the details that actually make or break a Passive House project, including airtightness testing, verification, contract clarity, and what happens when documentation looks great in renders but does not hold up on a building site. A major theme is collaboration between the architect, designer, builder, and trades. Passive House and building science only works when the whole team is aligned early, with transparent cost planning, clear communication, and strong documentation to avoid rework, delays, and budget blowouts. We wrap by looking at what needs to change in the Australian construction industry to lift standards at scale. Better legislation, better education, and a stronger baseline for residential construction. 👇 CHAPTER MARKERS 👇 00:00 Introduction 02:18 Meet the Sponsors - Proclima 03:05 Builder's Perspective on Passive House Contracts 06:39 High Performance Homes: Products vs. Systems 14:48 The Importance of Collaboration in Construction 23:20 Challenges in Project Costing and Documentation 36:51 Feasibility Studies and Square Meter Rates 40:13 Site Inspections and Builder Reactions 41:07 Quality Control on Site Visits 41:57 Site Meeting Schedules and Coordination 43:06 Importance of Passive House Principles 44:50 Challenges in Australian Building Practices 48:54 Air Tightness and Building Performance 56:45 Biggest Mistakes and Lessons Learned 01:03:38 Favourite Projects and Memorable Builds 01:13:43 Future of Residential Construction 01:20:46 Mindful Moments for Apprentices LINKS: Connect with Sven: Maxa Design [https://www.maxadesign.com.au/] Our Sponsors: Proclima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima [https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima] MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod [https://www.instagram.com/themindfulbuilderpod/] Connect with Hamish: Instagram: @sanctumhomes [https://www.instagram.com/sanctumhomes/] Website: https://www.yoursanctum.com.au/www.yoursanctum.com.au/ [http://www.yoursanctum.com.au/] Connect with Matt: Instagram: @carlandconstructions [https://www.instagram.com/carlandconstructions/] Website: https://www.carlandconstructions.com/www.carlandconstructions.com/ [http://www.carlandconstructions.com/] Mentioned in this episode: Proclima Sponsor [https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima]

The leader of my energy efficient electric homes

“Most Aussie homes still don’t meet today’s energy standards.” In this episode, we sit down with Tim Forcey, a former chemical engineer turned home energy advisor who has assessed and advised in 1,000+ homes across Melbourne and Victoria. Tim is also qualified to assess homes using the Victorian Residential Efficiency Scorecard and runs the “My Efficient Electric Home” community with 120,000+ members. This conversation focuses on practical home energy efficiency, comfort upgrades, and how to reduce energy bills in real Australian homes. We break down the high-impact steps that make the biggest difference fast, including roof insulation checks, draft proofing for older homes, and smarter window coverings to improve thermal comfort. Tim explains why these building envelope upgrades matter before you spend money on bigger systems, and how small changes can reduce heat loss in winter and overheating in summer. We also explore electrification and sustainable home upgrades, including switching from gas to efficient electric appliances like heat pump hot water systems and induction cooking. Tim shares simple tools like humidity monitors to support healthy homes and indoor air quality, plus how community knowledge can help homeowners make better decisions. If you’re renovating, retrofitting, or trying to create an efficient electric home, this episode will give you a clear starting point. LINKS: Tim Forcey: https://timforcey.com.au/ [https://timforcey.com.au/] My Efficient Electric Home Handbook: https://timforcey.com.au/my-efficient-electric-home-handbook/ Our Sponsors: Proclima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima [https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima] MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod [https://www.instagram.com/themindfulbuilderpod/] Connect with Hamish: Instagram: @sanctumhomes [https://www.instagram.com/sanctumhomes/] Website: https://www.yoursanctum.com.au/www.yoursanctum.com.au/ [http://www.yoursanctum.com.au/] Connect with Matt: Instagram: @carlandconstructions [https://www.instagram.com/carlandconstructions/] Website: https://www.carlandconstructions.com/www.carlandconstructions.com/ [http://www.carlandconstructions.com/] Mentioned in this episode: Proclima Sponsor [https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima]