As part of deverellsmith’s ‘A New Lease of Life’ sub-series, Head of Build to Rent Nick Hammond speaks to Head of HOME Christian Grahame about his pioneering experience in Build to Rent – and how his company is integrating sustainable practises into its schemes.
Before establishing HOME – an Australian creator operator of apartment communities exclusively for rent – in 2017, Christian was the National Head of Apartments for a major listed Australian developer, working on award-winning residential and mixed-use urban renewal projects in Australia and the UK.
As he sought to grow his professional career in the industry, he became a pioneer in the Australian Build to Rent sector – and is also currently Chair of the Property Council of Australia’s ‘National Build to Rent Roundtable.’
Before Build to Rent established itself as a successful sector in the UK, Christian was actively involved in projects within the Stratford area that soon became significant during the 2012 Olympics.
The Coppermaker Square Build to Rent scheme, which is now a key part of the Westfield Stratford development, was one specific project that left a lasting impression on Christian – on how urban precincts were built and how they evolved even before the rise of Build to Rent.
Sustainability is at the forefront of HOME’s strategy, Christian states.
After taking inspiration from the practices of the UK sector, Christian made significant strides to ensure that his business was meeting the high standard and targets that he set about achieving.
Now, all of HOME’s buildings are 5-star green or equivalent, and Christian and the entire team are setting their sights on achieving net-zero carbon emissions in all aspects of operations, including across management.
HOME also does a lot of work with its residents, creating an education programme which generates opportunities for them to live sustainably wherever they can.
