How HIA's 2025 Australian Home of the Year was built in just 10 Months | Made to Build Podcast

Architect and builder Sarah Waller shares how she built HIA's 2025 Australian Home of the Year in only 10 months. 'Blackwood' is a clean, monochromatic masterpiece set in lush Noosa. Refusing to be beat, she tackled months of rain, slopes, scale, detail, and pressure, crediting her trusted subbies along the way. This ep is a sharp look at full-project control, and how she finished a winner.

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CONTENT GUIDE:
00:00 What she learned from the project & key features of the home
00:35 Introduction
00:58 Sarah's main inspiration for the project
03:10 Architecture and previous homes
03:55 Building homes as an architect/builder
05:12 Working in monsoon conditions
05:41 Design to completion; how architecture plays a role
08:32 A visual walkthrough of the home
12:30 Thermal requirements & creating the right temperature
14:00 Maintaining strong visual structure
15:54 Designing like a Queenslander
16:29 Challenges & indoor/outdoor transitions
19:20 The unique roof design, pool & kitchen
22:23 The Dune and Glass House
23:45 Sticking to the vision & refusing to compromise
24:54 Sliding through rough patches
25:57 Takeaways post-build
26:13 How has it changed the way you design?
26:58 Sarah's favourite element of the whole house
27:58 The colour palette inspiration
29:12 Landscaping design
30:09 How they built in 10 months
30:57 What they would have done differently
32:14 How building your own home changed the way you build
33:07 Bold approach & advice for architects and builders
35:14 How it felt to win HIA Australian Home of the Year
37:09 Pushing through challenges; failure not an option
37:56 Future projects
41:15 Under the hammer
41:46 What she'd do if she didn't do this
43:20 Tools down playlist