Reusing site soil and working with slope

Hello, this is Episode 391, and in this episode, I’m welcoming back HOME Method member, Michael, to share an update on his new build journey. Now the home is complete, and they’ve been enjoying it for a few months, he has lots to share about the build experience, completion and landscaping, and enjoying the finished home.

[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/391]

This is the third instalment we’ve had from Michael about his project. You can catch previous updates in Episodes 323 and 324, discussing earlier parts of the project. And then Episode 347 and 348, where Michael discussed documentation, approvals, pricing, contracts and commencing construction. Check out those episodes to hear loads of helpful insights and information.

When Michael last joined me on the podcast, his roof was on, the home was about to be clad, and his separate workshop hadn’t yet begun.

Fast forward to now, and the home reached handover in August 2025. He and his wife have been settling in, shaping the landscaping themselves, refining the details, and actually living in the spaces they spent more than five years planning and building.

Michael’s project is a beautifully considered pavilion style home in regional Western Australia. It’s oriented to maximise northern sun, carefully detailed for performance in its climate zone, and designed as a long term transition home as he and his wife step towards retirement from farming.

In this conversation, we talk about what unfolded between lock up and handover. The logistics of trades. The unexpected delay with tiling. The coordination of finishes. What surprised him once they moved in. And those small decisions, particularly around lighting and services, that only truly reveal themselves once you’re living in the home.

We also dive into landscaping on a sloping site, reusing soil during construction, working with topography rather than fighting it, and how collaboration with a builder and trades can shape not just the outcome, but the experience of the build itself.

Remember, if you’d like to grab a full transcript of this episode, you can find it plus other helpful links by to www.undercoverarchitect.com/391.

Now, let’s dive in!

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