Maxa Design

What Maxa Design does

Maxa Design is a privately held boutique architecture and design studio headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, founded in 2004 by Sven Maxa. The firm specialises in Passivhaus (Passive House) certified residential architecture, sustainable eco-home design, and energy-efficient building consulting, with active Passivhaus project work since 2015. Its core technology stack centres on the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) and DesignPH software for thermal performance modelling, applied through the five Passivhaus principles — continuous insulation, airtight construction, thermal bridge-free design, high-performance glazing, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR). Construction methodologies include Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), triple-glazed windows, geopolymer concrete, rammed earth, and green/living roofs.

The studio's service portfolio comprises three primary revenue streams: full-service sustainable/eco home architectural design for residential projects (new homes, renovations, rural retreats); a separate Passivhaus Consulting service providing PHPP assessments, compliance evaluations, and certification pathway guidance to other architects, designers, and builders; and a free Passive House Video Series used as a lead generation tool. The firm also holds a Design Review Committee role at the Mullum Creek Estate eco residential community in Donvale. Revenue is generated through professional services fees on a project-by-project basis with milestone-based billing; no public pricing exists.

Maxa Design serves a primarily Australian market spanning Victoria (Melbourne metro and regional), Queensland, and Tasmania, working with affluent residential homeowners seeking sustainability, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality. The go-to-market motion is consultative and relationship-driven, leveraging a content-led marketing engine (educational blog, video series, workshops, Passive House tours) and earned media across industry publications. The firm has secured multiple state and national industry awards since 2016, including Design Excellence Award - Building Design of the Year (2023) and Building Design of the Year (2020). As a ~9-employee founder-led boutique studio with no external institutional investment, Maxa Design operates as a niche specialist within the broader Australian architecture market.

Name

Maxa Design

Legal name

Maxa Design Pty Ltd

Website

https://maxadesign.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Maxa Design is a Melbourne-based boutique architecture studio founded in 2004, specialising in Passivhaus-certified sustainable residential design, eco-home architecture, and PHPP consulting services for affluent Australian homeowners and other design professionals across Victoria, Queensland, and Tasmania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Architecture Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (541410)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Luxury Whole-Home Renovation (High-End Finishes & Custom Build) (HSAPAEAI)

Keywords

• Sustainable architecture services
• Passive house design
• Eco home design
• Energy efficient homes
• Architectural consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Architectural & Sustainable Home Design Services: Maxa Design provides full-service architectural design for residential projects, including new homes, renovations, and Passive House-certified builds. Revenue is generated through professional design service fees, likely on a project-by-project basis with milestone-based billing.
2. Passivhaus Consulting Services: Separate consulting arm offering thermal performance assessments using PHPP, compliance evaluations for Passivhaus certification, and certification pathway guidance. Provides Preliminary Passivhaus Reports and Full Technical Reports to other architects, designers, builders, and developers.
3. Passive House Video Series (Lead Magnet): Free video series distributed via email signup used as a top-of-funnel lead generation tool to attract potential clients at various stages of the Passive House journey.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Maxa Design is a Melbourne-based boutique architecture studio delivering Passivhaus-certified sustainable residential design services, including new builds, renovations, and extensions for private homeowners. The firm also operates a separate Passivhaus consulting arm that advises architects, designers, and builders on high-performance design methodology, alongside an industry-facing Design Review Committee service.

Product overview

Maxa Design is a Melbourne-based Passivhaus and eco home design studio offering a portfolio of services centered on sustainable residential architecture. The core offerings include Passivhaus Consulting Services (thermal performance assessment, compliance evaluation, and certification guidance), a free Passive House Video Series for education, and comprehensive Sustainable/Eco Home Design Services covering new homes and renovations. The studio also provides Design Review Committee Services for eco residential communities. All services are unified by a commitment to Passive House principles and energy-efficient building design.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sustainable Residential Architectural Design
• Passivhaus Consulting Service
• Design Review Committee

Quantifiable outcome

• Heating demand ≤ 15 kWh/m² per annum, cooling demand ≤ 15 kWh/m² per annum (Passivhaus Standard)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CarbonLite (Builder)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCarbonLite is a preferred builder partner for Maxa Design on Passivhaus-certified projects. Collaborated on the Heathmont and Donvale Passivhaus projects, bringing expertise in high-performance construction methodologies required for Passivhaus certification.
• Sanctum Homes (Builder)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSanctum Homes is a regular builder partner featured on multiple Maxa Design projects including Kyneton and Upper Ferntree Gully. Jointly hosted Passive House tours of projects under construction.
• MVH Constructions (Builder)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilder partner for the Surrey Hills Certified Passivhaus project, responsible for construction execution of the high-performance build.
• Massina BuilderscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilder partner for the award-winning Trentham rural self-sufficient project, constructing the passive solar home with eco-friendly finishes.
• Stewart Homes (Builder)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilder partner for the Canal Haus project in Brisbane, delivering the award-winning Design Excellence Award-winning sustainable home.
• Detail Green (NatHERS Modelling & Passivhaus Certifier)coreTechnology or IntegrationDetail Green provides NatHERS thermal modelling and Passivhaus certification services for Maxa Design projects including Surrey Hills and Donvale. They are a key technical partner for compliance verification.
• Grun Consulting (Passivhaus Certifier)coreTechnology or IntegrationGrun Consulting (part of Inhabit Group) serves as Passivhaus Certifier for Maxa Design projects including the Heathmont Passive House, which is listed on the Passive House Institute database.
• Zehnder Group (HRV Systems)coreTechnology or IntegrationZehnder Group supplies the Comfoair Q350 HRV heat recovery ventilation units specified in Maxa Design Passivhaus projects including the Surrey Hills project. They are a key technology partner for indoor air quality.
• Fantech (HRV Systems)coreTechnology or IntegrationFantech supplies HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation) systems for Maxa Design Passivhaus projects including the Kyneton project, providing the mechanical ventilation essential for Passivhaus certification.
• Logikhaus WindowscoreTechnology or IntegrationWindow supplier for the Surrey Hills project, providing triple-glazed high-performance windows. Also a collaborator on the Phillip Island workshop event.
• HeHe Design (Interior Design)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design partner for the Kyneton Passivhaus project, developing the warm and earthy 'Modern Australian' interior colour palette using colours harmonising with the bushland setting.
• Hunter & Richards (Interior Design)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design partner for the Heathmont project, contributing to the sustainable and accessible design approach.
• Integra Quality HomesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilder collaborator on the upcoming Phillip Island Building Airtightness & Thermal Performance Workshop (July 2026), partnering with Maxa Design, Passivetech, and Logikhaus.
• Zanetto BuildersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilder partner for the Tasmania Passive House tour (certified project under construction, 20 minutes south of Hobart), in partnership with Maxa Design.
• Inline Construction GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilder partner for the Forest Hill Passive House project, collaborating on both the in-construction tour (2023) and completed home tour (2024).
• B&Co ProjectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilder partner for the upcoming Kialla (Greater Shepparton) High Performance Home tour, partnering with Maxa Design on a project seeking Passivhaus certification.
• EnerhausminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilder partner for the Trentham Passive House tour (2024), collaborating with Maxa Design to host the completed Passivhaus home tour.
• Mullum Creek Estate (Design Review Committee Role)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaxa Design has been formally appointed as the Design Review Committee (DRC) for the Mullum Creek Estate eco residential community in Melbourne's Donvale, responsible for reviewing and approving designs for adherence to ESD principles.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• COX Architecture: One of Australia's largest architectural practices with a sustainability portfolio across residential, commercial, and institutional projects. Overlaps with Maxa Design on sustainability positioning but operates at vastly larger scale across multiple building types and is not Passivhaus-specialised.

Direct peers

• Green Sheep Collective: Melbourne-based architecture studio specialising in Passivhaus and high-performance sustainable homes. Operates in the same geography and same Passivhaus-certified residential niche as Maxa Design, serving a similar affluent, sustainability-focused homeowner segment.
• Energy Architecture: Australian architecture practice focused on energy-efficient and sustainable home design. Comparable to Maxa Design in residential sustainable architecture positioning, performance-driven design approach, and education-led marketing through content and events.
• Positive Footprints Architecture: Australian sustainable residential architecture practice with a comparable Passivhaus and eco-design focus. Overlaps with Maxa Design in target customer (environmentally conscious homeowners), project types (new builds and sustainable renovations), and high-performance building methodology.
• Architype: UK-based architecture firm recognised as one of the leading Passivhaus design specialists globally. Closely comparable in core specialism (Passivhaus-certified design), technical methodology (PHPP-driven), and target customer profile (sustainability-motivated clients seeking certified high-performance homes).

Emerging players

• ArchiBlox: Melbourne-based sustainable architecture practice specialising in prefabricated and modular residential design. Partial overlap with Maxa Design in sustainable residential philosophy but differentiated by prefabricated delivery model rather than custom Passivhaus design.

Regional players

• WALA Architecture: West Australian sustainable and Passivhaus-oriented architecture practice. Comparable in Passivhaus technical depth and sustainable residential focus, but operates in a different Australian geography (Perth/WA vs. Melbourne/Victoria), reducing direct project competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maxa-design

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maxa Design