Award-winning landscape architect Jamie Durie is making headlines once again, this time for his ambitious move from a $33 million mega-mansion in Sydney's Northern Beaches to a dairy farm in Bangalow, northern New South Wales. The celebrity designer is embarking on a groundbreaking homebuilding project that will create Australia's second 3D-printed concrete home, located just 16 kilometers from Byron Bay.
Durie plans to embrace an off-grid lifestyle with his fiancé, singer-songwriter Ameka Jane, and their two young children, Beau (4) and Nash (2), before the kids start school. The innovative building project is being documented as part of his new reality TV series, "Jamie Durie's Future Houses," where he and Ameka are among three couples challenged to construct sustainable homes within just three months.
"We threw a hat into the ring to really experiment with new and modern methods of construction," Durie explained. "With the housing crisis in full swing in Australia, and the pressure to build 1.2 million houses in the next five years, we're probably 300,000 trades short of achieving that target, so it made sense to step up and find a solution." He emphasized that creating something quickly while maintaining economic viability is both challenging and exciting, especially when trying to address Australia's housing shortage.
The 3D printing process has proven to be a fascinating but complex endeavor. Durie described the unique experience, noting that "it's not every day you get to 3D print your own home." However, the project has encountered some obstacles, particularly with logistics. "Transporting a concrete 3D printing machine from Sydney to the Hinterlands was interesting; it's about making sure that it fits in between the slabs and that the equipment isn't getting in the way of the workers and everything else," he said. The 3D printer operates by extruding cement in a continuous stream, similar to toothpaste but on a massive scale, allowing for rapid home construction.
Durie's connection to Byron Bay runs deep, dating back to his childhood. He first visited the area at age eight and began surfing there when he was 12 years old. The region holds sentimental value, as he recalls bringing his eldest daughter Taylor to Byron Bay for family holidays when she was born. In 2023, he purchased the dairy farm for $3 million to reconnect with the NSW Hinterland region. "I love the beach, being able to grow my own vegetables without chemicals and seeing the look on our kids' faces when they run through the fields here without a worry," he shared.
The construction project involves a collaborative effort between Durie and his fiancé, with clearly defined roles. While Durie focuses on the structural elements and built form, Ameka handles interior design and furniture selection. "She's done a great job with the interiors of our Avalon place, and she'll do a great job here as well," Durie said. "At the moment I'm bouncing back between Sydney and here, just getting as much of the structure in place as I can quickly." The couple demolished the existing caretaker's cottage on the property to make way for their new 3D-printed home.
Sustainability is a cornerstone of the new construction. The home features 10-star energy-efficient appliances, double-glazed windows, and notably, Australia's first double-glazed louver windows. The building materials reflect a strong environmental commitment, with 70% reduced-carbon concrete, slabs incorporating recycled plastic, and 100% recycled scrap metal for all steel components. Glass tiles from Beaumont are made from recycled television and computer screens, while all countertops are both carbon and silica-free.
The family has already begun enjoying farm life during their weekend escapes to the Hinterlands. Their property houses ducks, geese, and hens that produce approximately 20 eggs daily, much to the children's delight. This agricultural lifestyle represents a significant shift from their previous urban environment in Sydney's Avalon.
Meanwhile, Durie's Avalon mansion, which hit the market in October, continues to attract interest from potential buyers, though no sale has been finalized. "We've got a lovely house and had a lot of interest in it because of its sustainability footprint," Durie noted. He highlighted the property's geothermal technology as particularly impressive, stating, "To build a house of that size and still have it off-grid was a huge accomplishment for me."
The contrast between building approvals in Sydney versus Byron Bay has been striking for Durie. While he faced 60 objections during the planning process for his Avalon home, his Byron Bay project has received zero objections so far. "I love the community support that we find up here in this part of NSW," he said. "It's a breath of fresh air and a sense that everyone is getting on with what they're doing. They have been supportive of our environmental building practices too, and that's made the experience for me all the more enjoyable."
The family has also discovered local favorites in their new community. They frequent The Eltham Pub in Eltham, NSW, which Durie describes as serving "the best parmigianas in town" in a "beautiful old Australian pub" atmosphere with local live music. For dining out, they enjoy Doma in Federal, NSW, their preferred Japanese restaurant that began as a stall at the Mullumbimby farmers market. When furnishing their new home, they shop at Two Ravens Vintage Furniture in Lismore, where Durie appreciates the philosophy of giving furniture a second life, describing it as "cradle-to-cradle philosophy and circular economy thinking."
