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Sarah Lebner | Cooee Architecture®

@cooee_architecture

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👋 Helping regional homeowners build low-carbon, energy-efficient homes
🏡 Livable • Healthy • Sustainable
📍NSW Snowy Mountains & VIC High Country

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👋 I’m Sarah — Director of Cooee Architecture.

I live on my family farm near the Snowy Mountains with my small kids, and we design homes across North East Victoria and Southern NSW.

Before starting Cooee, I worked at a multidisciplinary architecture and science practice in Canberra where we simulated, tested, costed, and measured buildings for years after completion.

We learned something important:
No sustainability tool is meaningful on its own.
And perfection is rarely the goal.

Most clients don’t need a “perfect” sustainable home.

They need a home that is optimised… for budget, values, site, buildability, durability, comfort and long-term life.

That’s why we measure every project against 18 holistic intentions rather than chasing one siloed standard.

Because real life isn’t one-dimensional.

If you’re new here — welcome.
If you’ve been here for a while — thank you.

And if you’re planning a build or renovation…

Let’s design something aligned, not performative.

- Sarah

#SustainableArchitecture #EnergyEfficientHomes #PassiveDesign #ClimateResponsiveDesign #HighPerformanceHomes #ResidentialArchitecture #ArchitectDesigned #DesignWithPurpose #ThoughtfulDesign #BuildBetter #FutureProofHomes #SustainableLiving #RegionalArchitecture #RegionalNSW #NSWArchitecture #VictoriaArchitecture #SnowyMountains by @cooee_architecture

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8 months ago

There’s an infuriating message in sections of the renovation space that if you can’t afford to do everything perfectly… you shouldn’t start.

🥴 I think that’s doing more harm than good.

Because right now, most Australians are navigating rising costs, mortgages, and real life.
“All or nothing” isn’t empowering — it’s paralysing.

So people delay.
They do nothing.
And stay stuck in cold, uncomfortable homes.

The reality is:
retrofits are NEVER perfect.

They’re about prioritising what matters most AND doing it in the right order.

You can improve comfort, reduce bills, and make your home healthier, without a massive budget.

Sometimes it starts with a weekend and a few hundred dollars.

And from there, you build a plan.

Not perfect.
Not all at once.
Just… chipping away at better.

If you want a clear, practical order to approach your renovation in order to prioritise best BANG-FOR-BUCK…
👉 comment RENO and I’ll send it through.

The links will also lead you to a case study of our own first home where we spent $9k significantly impacting our comfort and power bills. (Probably $18k in today’s terms)

And from there, you can preview the Cooee Retrofit Method if you’re looking for detailed guidance 🤓 💚

Photo credits: @benkingphotography (homes) @taken.by.mitch (people)

#RenovationTips
#SustainableHomes
#EnergyEfficientHomes
#AustralianHomes
#HomeComfort by @cooee_architecture

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7 months ago

This needs to be on your bucket list. 🙌

What an insane honour it was to bring to life Amber and Nick’s vision of sharing their farm and rural life with the world by turning a grain silo into a luxury eco farm stay.
@thesilosaccommodation

Teamwork makes the dream work and this project was and is a dream. Built by @jarradhigginson , engineering by @cresco_engineers_ . EER consultant @light_house_archi_science and Landscape design by @meld.landscape.design.studio Joinery by @interiorconstructions . Tiles and fixtures by @tilecloud and windows by @ultimatewindowsaus . Worm farm septic by @aa_worm_farm_waste_systems

#regionalarchitecture #ruralarchitecture #ruralarchitect #regionalarchitect #australianarchitecture #australianarchitect #remotearchitecture #remotearchitect #sustainablearchitecture #sustainablearchitect #sustainabledesign #lowcarbondesign #energyefficienthomes #energyefficienthome #sustainablehomes #sustainableliving #farmhousestyle #regionalnsw #junee #visitnsw taken in The Silos Accommodation by @cooee_architecture

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2 years ago

Have you ever thought “my toddler could have painted that” or “what a lot of money on bricks that do the job no matter how they look”?

That’s fine. But acknowledge that maybe it’s just not for you. Maybe it means a lot to other people.

Our values and lives are all so different. Design can be valued for anything from function to a certain aesthetic.

Design can also hold stories and remind us who we are. Like this painting, a heritage building can hold a communities collective memory of who they are or used to be.

Next time you see an artwork or design that you don’t like, ask yourself why someone else did like it.

Test your empathy muscle and see if you can give it a wee workout.

#badart #heritagearchitecture #australiandesign #australianvalues by @cooee_architecture

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2 days ago

We have exciting news!

We’ve signed a lease for a new office space in Corryong, in collaboration with Chloe from @taken.by.mitch 🥂

I’ve always loved this local mid-century gem (with a hint of post-war functionalism, for the purists playing along at home). It was a library in its first life, my hairdresser when I was young, a coffee and specialty food shop when I was living in Canberra, and vacant when we returned home.

We can’t wait to bring it back to life with new creative pursuits and entrepreneurial mindsets.

We’re also pretty happy to inherit the poster bombing @fannylumsden 🙌 by @cooee_architecture

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3 days ago

#cooeehouse update
- @ydpc__ completed the second polish and seal which is now protected with paper
- waterproofing has started in the wet areas
- being from @thebrickpit installed by KN Contracting nearly done

What do you want to know about this stage?

Builder: @hughmcgrath_construction

#australianarchitecture #sustainabledesign #energyefficienthomes #farmhouseinspo by @cooee_architecture

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7 days ago

🥹🥹🥹 When worlds (or projects) collide!
Our Red Dirt Homestead clients saw this painting by @dinahlindonarts of our @thesilosaccommodation and bought it for us as the most special thank you gift! I will certainly treasure this one always! ❤️❤️❤️ by @cooee_architecture

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4 days ago

We usually plan for views; immediate surroundings are captured on the site survey and we work out long-distance views using satellite imagery. But sometimes, there’s a lovely surprise view that just happens, like this!

Got a happy view to share in the comments?

#Cooeehouse #farmhouse #australianarchitecture #sustainabledesign #sustainablehomes by @cooee_architecture

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17 days ago

What I would tell you about your home project, if I wasn't worried about your feelings.

This is what we see time and time again. Every one of these is a normal, predictable part of building a home in 2026. The budget squeeze, the decision fatigue, the gap between the Pinterest board and reality. We're ready for it when we meet you.

These blunt remarks speak to a deeper truth about the home-building process. A lot of it is honestly just a 'journey you need to go on'. I've learned that we can't tell you most of these things on day one. But that means we've also fine-tuned a process that walks you through it all with empathy and optimised results.

The good news is slide 10. It really is worth it.

Save this for when you start, or send it to someone who's about to.

#buildingahome #australianarchitecture #regionalarchitecture #newbuild #architectlife by @cooee_architecture

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10 days ago

These are the things that really take very little time or money but the little bit of extra care makes a long-term difference.

Steel is highly thermally conductive, so it’s not only leaking heat through your walls, but also potentially offering a cold spot inside your wall where migrating moisture could condense and cause mould inside the wall cavity (we’re in a very cool climate).

#cooeehouse #australianarchitecture #sustainablehomes #energyefficienthomes #regionalarchitecture by @cooee_architecture

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20 days ago

Is this the epitome of country life?
Our local retired cop regularly buys lollipops for any child who enters @pickledparrot_providore (what stranger danger? 😆) but today George came bearing floral gifts from his home to brighten our days.

“This is living, Barry” 😁

p.s. Pickled Parrot is for sale! (Dream tree change, anyone?)

#countrylife #regionalarchitecture #remoteworking #uppermurray #countryliving @visitkhancoban by @cooee_architecture

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12 days ago

This problem is visually annoying but a wonderful demonstration and reminder that the thermally separated slabs are doing exactly what they are meant to do.

*I should have said articulation joint, not control joint

Builder: @hughmcgrath_construction
Brickie: Kade from KN contracting
Bricks: @thebrickpit
Wrap: @proclimaau

#cooeehousee #australianarchitecture #sustainablehomes #regionalarchitecture #constructiondetails by @cooee_architecture

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22 days ago