Designed by C

Culturally curious, lateral thinker

Thanks to a nomadic European childhood, I grew up speaking German, French, Danish, and finally English. I got good at figuring out what made different people and places tick and developed the knack for adapting to anywhere.

Twenty-two years ago, I landed in Western Australia. Now I’m a contented southwest local, settled in Busselton with my family, two dogs and a business and lifestyle I love.

Construction industry veteran

I’ve always drawn and designed sustainable spaces. I’ve also estimated, scheduled, problem solved, and project managed hundreds of successful home and commercial builds. I’ve worked for and with some of the southwest’s most renowned and established builders. I’ve also supported niche builders doing things differently.

Championing best practice in passive solar design

My work draws on sustainable building principles underpinned by over 30 years of research and development by The Passive House Institute (PHI).

This three-minute video (left or above) shows why PHI is a global powerhouse of quality-controlled sustainable design innovation.

My mission is to adapt the best evidence-based elements of established European passive solar design to fit our temperate climate.

Hands-on advocate for cleaner, greener construction

I’m keen to spread eco-friendly building practices however and wherever I can.

As project manager on the award-winning St John Ambulance Emergency and Training Centre in Busselton, I developed an eco-wash bay to help protect the environment from the harmful residues in paint, plaster and other building materials that get washed away on site.

Before Designed by C consumed every minute of my working life, I did my bit to develop the passive solar design skills of the next generation of design drafters and builders. I taught Certificate IV and Diploma students at TAFE and delivered sustainability units for the Builders Diploma at the HIA in Perth.

‘We highly recommend working with Ciaran. He understood our style and contributed many creative and practical ideas of his own. Ciaran was very easy to work; he was very quick to get back to us with any updates to the design and very accommodating in fitting meeting times into his schedule. We are very pleased with our completed designs. Ciaran did a great job and we would certainly recommend him.’

Clients from Dunsborough