Mindful Builder

“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/
Our Sponsors:
Proclima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima
MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt
Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod
Connect with Hamish:
Instagram: @sanctumhomes
Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:
Instagram: @carlandconstructions
Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/
Mentioned in this episode:
Proclima Sponsor

“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
ParkLife 2 Project:
https://hipvhype.com/projects/parklife-2

Our Sponsors:
Proclima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima
MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt
Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod
Connect with Hamish:
Instagram: @sanctumhomes
Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:
Instagram: @carlandconstructions
Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/
Mentioned in this episode:
Proclima Sponsor

“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
MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt
Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod
Connect with Hamish:
Instagram: @sanctumhomes
Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:
Instagram: @carlandconstructions
Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/
Mentioned in this episode:
Proclima Sponsor

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

Our Sponsors:
Proclima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima
MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt
Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod
Connect with Hamish:
Instagram: @sanctumhomes
Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:
Instagram: @carlandconstructions
Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/
Mentioned in this episode:
Proclima Sponsor

“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/
My Efficient Electric Home Handbook:
https://timforcey.com.au/my-efficient-electric-home-handbook/
Our Sponsors:
Proclima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima
MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt
Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod
Connect with Hamish:
Instagram: @sanctumhomes
Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:
Instagram: @carlandconstructions
Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/
Mentioned in this episode:
Proclima Sponsor