“I believe everyone deserves to live in a home that supports their health and well-being, adapts to the environment, and minimizes its carbon footprint. Our own journey reinforced that mission. At Conscious, our work is grounded in the belief that good design can and should make life better—for people and for the planet. By combining innovative architectural solutions with practical energy-efficiency strategies, we’re creating homes that stand the test of time while being kind to the environment and the families who live in them.” - Brent (Founder)
Meet Brent: Founder and Director of Conscious Design Studio
Founder + Director - Conscious Design Studio
BAppSc (Arch), Accredited Energy Assessor
Brent’s roots are in Wagga Wagga, regional NSW, where his passion for architecture was shaped by a deep appreciation for thoughtful design and practical solutions. Over the years, he has built a diverse career, spanning architectural design, project management, and technical leadership across residential and commercial projects. Growing up with his father, a carpenter, Brent enjoyed working out how things were built and made - this quickly grew into a life long passion. His hands-on expertise and broad experience give him a well-rounded understanding of how great design comes to life.
Whilst at Light House Architecture & Science, Brent focused on creating high-performance, energy-efficient homes that are both low-carbon and people focussed. His role included leading design and documentation on project, working carefully with clients to create their forever homes, and helping guide construction on-site—all with an emphasis on sustainable design and problem solving.
Beyond this, Brent has a strong foundation in modular residential, multi-residential, and mixed-use design. He has worked across a range of architectural and construction projects, balancing cost-effective strategies with a commitment to quality and safety. From managing large-scale townhouse developments to refining systems for seamless project delivery, Brent’s background reflects his adaptability and dedication to creating thoughtful, well-resolved designs.
As the founder and director of Conscious, Brent brings this experience to every project, crafting homes that are energy-efficient, people-centric, and resilient to the challenges of the future. His belief is simple: great design should enhance lives while being responsible to the environment.
Every project at Conscious is personally coordinated by Brent, ensuring a consistent, informed, and collaborative approach from start to finish. To discuss your project, you can contact Brent directly at 0439 502 853 or email hello@conscious-studio.com.au.
Our Conscious Story: From a smoky log cabin, to a warm energy efficient modern home
In late 2019, my wife Beth and I made the move to Bungendore, NSW, just outside Canberra. We’d found a modest 160m², three-bedroom, one-bathroom log cabin—a “doer-upper” on a big block, exactly what we’d always dreamed of. It wasn’t perfect, but it was ours. We envisioned a place where our future kids could grow up, surrounded by space and opportunity, and were excited to bring our vision to life.
But our excitement was soon met with reality. On New Year’s Eve 2019, during what should have been a celebratory housewarming with family and friends, we were hit by the Black Summer bushfires. Smoke billowed through the village from the nearby Tallaganda National Park. Our log cabin, with its air-leaky construction, couldn’t keep the smoke out, no matter what we tried. The summer’s intense heat waves only made things worse. While we were grateful that our home wasn’t directly threatened by fire, the experience left us questioning what it really meant for a home to be safe, comfortable, and resilient.
As we considered starting a family, these questions took on even greater importance. Would our home protect us from smoke in the winter, when woodfires would be burning in every nearby house? How would we manage the extreme heat of summer and the freezing winters Bungendore is known for? We quickly realized that our cabin wasn’t built for the climate of today, let alone the challenges the future might bring. You can read more about our own retrofit journey here.
This experience wasn’t just personal—it reshaped my whole purpose. I’ve spent over 14 years in architecture, working with leading firms like Light House Architecture + Science, Walsh Architects, and Turco and Associates. I’ve been involved in a wide range of projects, from government buildings and high-end luxury homes to budget-friendly, energy-efficient residences. Through it all, my passion has always been designing homes that are not only beautiful and functional but also energy-efficient, healthy, and built to last.
Through careful and well considered re-design, as well as integrated thermal modelling using our energy efficiency software - we’ve since started an extensive rennovation to not only modernise the cabin, but make it significantly more functional and energy efficient. We’ll be sharing this journey soon, what we found worked, what we found difficult - and everything in between.