This case study considers two striking design responses to comparable briefs in contrasting climate zones. In both cases energy efficiency, passive systems, low maintenance and low up-front costs were key priorities. These projects promise to become Australian benchmarks in demonstrating that passive systems and ESD informed developments can be delivered at comparable up-front costs to conventional projects, with substantial recurrent cost and resource savings, and without significantly compromising user comfort and productivity. The discussion below outlines key processes, lessons learned, and the outstanding relevance of these projects to practitioners and clients alike.