Outlier Studio

23/07/2026

Tad Hendry has been building energy-efficient homes since the 90s. When we asked what the most useful thing he can tell people is, this was it.

"We don't have any fossil fuel bills."

No gas connection. No petrol. The house runs on what the roof collects, and the car will run on it too.

He makes the point that fossil fuels sit underneath most of the problems we're trying to solve, so getting your own home off them is something you can actually do. And he's optimistic about who's coming next. There are young people taking this up and running with it, which is the part that gives him hope.

Full conversation with Tad on Ep 23 of the Outlier + Adapt podcast. Link in bio.

19/07/2026

A home that heats and cools itself isn’t magic. It’s a thoughtful design.

Tad Hendry has spent decades creating homes that work with the climate; using sun, orientation, thermal mass and airflow to stay comfortable through winter and summer.

The goal isn’t a home that never needs heating or cooling. It’s a home that needs far less of it.

When people walk in during winter and ask if the heater can be turned down, you know the design is doing its job.

Could your home work harder for you?

Watch the full conversation with Tad Hendry on the Outlier + Adapt Podcast.

16/07/2026

12/07/2026

In 1995 there was no NatHERS. No energy rating software. No compliance pathway telling you what a good home looked like.

Tad Hendry designed a 10-star home anyway. Sun, common sense, and a cardboard model on a turntable.

Thirty years later, the industry is still catching up to what he worked out by watching shadows move.

Episode 23 of the OUTLIER + ADAPT Podcast is coming soon. Jess Cuman and Anthony Jenkin sit down with Tad Hendry, co-founder of ADAPT Design Group, to unpack how he built high-performance homes before the industry was ready and what today's designers and builders can steal from that playbook.

Dropping soon on YouTube and Spotify.

30/03/2026

The Ridgeline Hybrid:Home project is a "modern shearing shed" vision is realised through a palette of corrugated iron, weathering steel, and 200 x 200 rough-sawn hardwood posts, all chosen for their rustic aesthetic and BAL 29 bushfire resilience.

Long-term durability is baked into the build through a rigorous approach to waterproofing utilising recessed slabs, custom-folded flashings, and a ventilated cavity system that allows the structure to breathe and dry naturally.

Thermal comfort is managed externally via a 1200mm eave and an angled timber pergola, which harvests free winter sun while blocking summer heat before it can enter the home. From the reclaimed messmate timber kitchen joinery to the airtight, insulated roof access design, every detail demonstrates how thoughtful material selection and specialised construction methodology can turn a rural residence into a healthy, high-performance sanctuary.

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23/03/2026

Our Ridgeline Hybrid:Home achieved an airtightness result of 0.55 air changes per hour a result that exceeds many international high-performance standards. This was achieved using a "plasterboard-as-air-barrier" method, where the internal lining is meticulously sealed to the structure alongside specialised airtight electrical boxes and high-spec lift-and-slide doors that utilise rubber gaskets for a mechanical seal.

To ensure a healthy indoor environment, a Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) system acts as the "lungs" of the home, providing fresh, filtered air while stabilising humidity between 40% and 60%. Externally, the home is protected by a vapour-permeable membrane and a ventilated cavity system that allows the structure to "breathe" and dry naturally, protecting the timber frame from moisture.

By combining these advanced airtight technologies with a focus on longevity, including flush-entry showers and reinforced walls for future accessibility, we’ve created a rural sanctuary that is exceptionally quiet, durable, and energy-efficient.

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