Welcome to the Sustainable House Project

A multidisciplinary initiative at Western Sydney University, the Sustainable House is dedicated to fostering a restorative and healthy coexistence with nature. Through innovative design, renewable energy technologies, smart systems, and native landscaping, the project emphasises positive health, well-being, and sustainability.
About Us
Founded in 2016 by Dr. Ali Hellany and later joined by Dr. Tosin Famakinwa, the Sustainable House is a research, collaboration, and innovation hub. Situated near Building R, Kingswood Campus, it brings undergraduate, MPhil, and PhD students alongside academics from diverse fields, including Engineering, Industrial Design, IT, Built Environment, Architecture, and Media.
Student Team
Each year, a new multidisciplinary student team collaborates to advance the project, focusing on building a Sustainable House with cutting-edge designs and technologies. The Sustainable House Project at Western Sydney University has become a hub for students from diverse disciplines and academic levels, offering a platform for innovation, hands-on experience, and real-world industry exposure. Through their participation, students have enhanced their employability by developing critical skills, engaging in self-directed learning, and excelling in their respective fields while gaining valuable insights into adjacent disciplines. The project has successfully fostered teamwork, leadership, and project management capabilities, preparing students for the job market and enabling them to thrive in real-life industry environments. Its multidisciplinary approach has allowed students to integrate various project elements, navigate compromises, and implement sustainable solutions effectively, showcasing the project's capacity to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of sustainability in practice.
Access and Collaboration
The Sustainable House is open to external research groups and industry partners both in Australia and internationally.
How to Collaborate
Interested groups are invited to contact:
Discuss your research aims and explore how the Sustainable House environment can support your goals. Applications will be reviewed by a research committee comprising members from Western Sydney University's research group and leading experts in the field.
Meet the Team
Key Members
- Dr. Ali Hellany
Founder of the Sustainable House Project - Dr. Tosin Famakinwa
Cluster Technical Manager - Dr. Surendra Shrestha
Research Contributor
Extended Team
The Sustainable House is supported by a diverse group of researchers in various roles and draws on expertise from a broad network of academics.
Research Opportunities
The Sustainable House provides a platform for numerous research opportunities, serving the needs of industry partners and advancing knowledge in sustainability.
Potential Research Areas
- Digital Twin of the Sustainable House
- Robot-Human Interaction
- 3D Printing with Recycled Materials
- Water Management Systems
- Waste Management Systems
- Power Management Systems
- IoT-Based Energy and Environment Monitoring
- Renewable Energy Integration
- Energy-Efficient Design Analysis
- Solar Tiles and Passive Design Optimization
- Health Advisory Systems
- Structural Analysis and Topology Optimization
- Visualization of Energy Usage
- Mobile Home Design with Additive Manufacturing