What STUDIO ORIGAMI does

Studio Origami is a Perth-based boutique architecture and design practice founded in 2014 by certified Passive House designer Izabela Katafoni. The studio specialises in residential Passive House, healthy home, and high-performance building design for affluent homeowners across Perth, Western Australia, and selectively South Australia. Its core technical offering is full-scope residential design — concept design, design development, construction documentation, and Passive House certification — grounded in the five Passive House principles (continuous insulation, airtight construction, thermal bridge-free detailing, high-performance glazing, and mechanical heat-recovery ventilation), supplemented by a proprietary 'healthy home biohacking' methodology spanning circadian lighting, zero-VOC materials, EMF-conscious planning, and biophilic interiors.

The business operates on a professional-services revenue model combining quote-based full design engagements with a productised $250 AUD Passive Home Strategy Session that serves as a low-friction entry point. Go-to-market is sales-led and consultation-based, relying on the founder's direct engagement, content marketing (blog, Instagram, Healthy Homes Podcast), and selective intake of projects. Distribution is direct-to-consumer across Perth metro and broader Western Australia, with select projects interstate.

The studio is privately held and founder-owned, with no external investment, parent company, or disclosed subsidiaries. Between 2020 and 2023 it operated as 'Studio Origami Architects' in partnership with registered architect Javier Ayora before reverting to its original boutique brand in 2023. The practice holds multiple industry awards including HIA State and National wins (2018) and Green Smart Project Home of the Year, and positions itself as the only designer in Perth combining certified Passive House performance with intentional healthy home design.

Name

STUDIO ORIGAMI

Legal name

Studio Origami

Website

https://studioorigami.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Studio Origami is a Perth-based boutique design practice founded in 2014 by certified Passive House designer Izabela Katafoni, designing high-performance, Passive House, and healthy-home residences for affluent homeowners across Western Australia and selectively South Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Darlington Point

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Passive Home Strategy Session: Entry-level 90-minute consultation at $250 AUD providing expert guidance and a personalised Project Clarity Document. Serves as the first step toward full design services.
2. Residential Design Services: Full concept design, design development, and construction documentation for Passive House and high-performance residential projects across Perth and Western Australia. Includes Passive House certification process, thermal modelling, and builder oversight during construction.
3. Healthy Home Interior Design: Specialist healthy home interior design services including circadian lighting design, material specification, EMF-conscious planning, and biophilic design integration — Perth's only complete healthy home interior service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Studio Origami is a Perth-based boutique design practice that delivers certified Passive House design and healthy home biohacking design for new builds, renovations, and select commercial projects across Western Australia. Services span concept design, design development, construction documentation, Passive House certification, and specialist healthy home interior design (circadian lighting, non-toxic materials, EMF-conscious and biophilic interiors), anchored by a paid entry-level Passive Home Strategy Session.

Product overview

Studio Origami is a Perth-based residential and commercial design studio led by certified Passive House designer Izabela Katafoni, offering a comprehensive suite of high-performance building design services. The core offering combines Passive House design (delivering certified energy efficiency to world-leading standards), Healthy Home & Biohacking Design (circadian lighting, non-toxic materials, EMF-conscious and biophilic interiors), and High-Performance Home Design (exceeding 7-star NatHERS ratings). These are supported by Strategy Sessions, Concept Design & Feasibility, Design Development & Documentation, and specialist services for Passive House certification and healthy home interiors. The studio's product portfolio spans certified Passive Houses, award-winning SIP panel homes, healthy home interiors, passive solar designs, and commercial/educational projects — all grounded in Passive House building science principles adapted for Perth's warm temperate climate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Passive House Design Services Certified Passive House design for new builds across Perth and Western Australia, delivering up to 90% lower energy use, year-round thermal comfort without air conditioning, and HRV-filtered fresh air through the five Passive House principles: superior insulation, airtight construction, thermal bridge-free design, high-performance glazing, and mechanical ventilation.
• Healthy Home & Biohacking Design Perth's only designer combining circadian lighting, zero-VOC materials, EMF-conscious planning, and biophilic interiors into a unified healthy home system addressing air quality, lighting biology, material toxicity, EMF exposure, and psychological wellbeing through five pillars: circadian lighting design, natural & non-toxic materials, HRV ventilation, EMF-conscious design, and biophilic design.
• High-Performance Home Design Residential design services for homes that exceed 7-star NatHERS energy ratings, eliminate thermal bridges, and deliver genuine year-round comfort in Perth's warm temperate climate.
• Passive Home Strategy Session A structured 90-minute consultation with founder Izabela Katafoni at $250 AUD, providing expert guidance and a personalised Project Clarity Document covering vision, lifestyle, budget, site insights, passive design strategy, and build pathway options. Entry point to full design services.
• Concept Design & Feasibility Early-stage design service grounded in passive solar principles and Passive House performance targets, beginning with a deep listening process that understands site, lifestyle, and goals before design work begins.
• Design Development & Documentation Full design development and construction documentation for building permits and construction across Perth and Western Australia, working with trusted local builders and consultants.
• Passive House Certification Documentation Certified Passive House design package including thermal modelling, airtightness specification, HRV system selection, and full Passive House documentation for certification.
• Healthy Home Interior Design Specialist interior design service covering circadian lighting design, material specification, EMF-conscious furniture placement, and biophilic design integration — Perth's only complete healthy home interior service grounded in building biology and wellness science.
• Commercial & Educational Design Select commercial and educational projects including school administration buildings and heritage renovations such as wine bars, applying the same Passive House and healthy home design rigour as residential work.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 90% lower heating and cooling energy use compared to standard Perth homes
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Registered Architects and Structural EngineerscoreOthersStudio Origami works with registered architects, structural engineers, and specialist consultants to deliver complete project documentation for building permits and construction. For projects requiring registered architect involvement, the appropriate approach is discussed based on project and council requirements. Between 2020 and 2023, Studio Origami operated as Studio Origami Architects alongside registered architect Javier Ayora.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Delos: US-based wellness real estate advisory and standard-setter (WELL Building Standard) operating at the intersection of health and built environment. Comparable thematically because Studio Origami's healthy home biohacking pillars (air, light, materials, EMF, biophilia) map directly to Delos's wellness building framework, though Delos is a standard-setter rather than a design practice.
• Arup: Global engineering and sustainability consultancy with a substantial Passive House, building physics, and net-zero advisory practice. Comparable as an enabling ecosystem player whose building physics, MEP, and façade engineering work supports many certified Passive House projects in Australia and globally.
• Atelier Ten: Global environmental design consultancy working on Passive House, net-zero, and high-performance building projects. Comparable as an enabler of Passive House delivery — their building physics and sustainability consulting intersects with Studio Origami's PHPP modelling and building science methodology.

Broad incumbents

• HASSELL: Large international architecture and design practice with significant Australian operations across workplace, health, education, and residential sectors. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose health and education design work intersects with Studio Origami's wellness-led interior design themes, though without the specialist Passive House focus.
• BVN: Large Australian architecture practice covering civic, education, residential, and health projects with stated sustainability commitments. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the Australian architecture market whose health and education work overlaps with the wellness, circadian, and biophilic themes Studio Origami specialises in.
• Cox Architecture: Major Australian architecture firm with a sustainability practice spanning residential, commercial, education, and interiors. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating in the same Australian design market, with sustainability capability but without Studio Origami's specialist Passive House + healthy home niche focus.
• Architectus: Major Australian architecture firm with a national practice covering residential, commercial, health, and education projects. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the Australian architecture market with sustainability capability, but lacking Studio Origami's specialist Passive House + biohacking positioning.

Direct peers

• Envirotecture: Sydney-based sustainable architecture and consulting practice specialising in passive design, Passive House, and ecologically responsive residential projects across Australia. Highly comparable as an Australian specialist in high-performance, sustainability-led residential design with a similar boutique, mission-driven positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/studioorigamidesign

Compliance1 record

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 STUDIO ORIGAMI