Remarkable Regional Businesses – Episode 27
Guest: Anthony Jenkin Business Name: Outlier Studio Website: https://outlierstudio.com.au/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-jenkin-6b553785/
Topics Covered
/ From Carpentry to Climate-Conscious Design: The Birth of Outlier Studio Anthony shares his unconventional journey from carpentry and skatepark construction to founding Outlier Studio — a design firm committed to creating energy-efficient, durable homes. His early trade experiences and later education in building design and entrepreneurship shaped a mission-driven business.
/ Verifying What’s Built Matches What’s Designed Outlier Studio specialises in “as-built verification,” using onsite testing to ensure homes are constructed exactly to energy efficiency specs. Anthony highlights how common it is for features like insulation to be compromised during construction — often unnoticed by builders or regulators.
/ Blower Door Tests and Energy Modelling: Tools of the Trade The episode dives into the specifics of energy audits, including blower door tests and thermal imaging. These tools expose air leaks and insulation failures and guide low-cost upgrades that significantly boost energy efficiency and comfort.
/ Australia’s ‘Glorified Tents’: A Housing Wake-Up Call Anthony critiques the poor thermal performance of many Australian homes, especially compared to global standards. He cites alarming World Health Organisation data showing that many rental properties fall below minimum safe temperatures — especially harming vulnerable populations.
/ Designing for Health and Comfort, Not Just Aesthetics Inspired by passive house principles, Outlier Studio designs homes that prioritise air quality, thermal stability and occupant wellbeing. Anthony explains how airtight construction, controlled ventilation and even plant placement can create healthier living environments.
/ A Full-Service, Performance-Driven Studio Outlier handles everything from client briefs and regulatory research to energy modelling, concept design and construction phase testing. Their integrated approach avoids budget blowouts by involving builders early and managing cost throughout the design process.
/ Architect vs Building Designer: What’s the Difference? Anthony unpacks the legal, educational and practical distinctions between architects and building designers — and why the title isn’t always a proxy for quality. His advice? Interview the designer, assess values alignment and focus on relationships over labels.
/ The Courage to Niche: Committing to Sustainable Builds A pivotal decision to only accept sustainable projects redefined the business. Anthony speaks candidly about the fear of losing work — and the unexpected rewards of finding a community that shares his passion and supports open knowledge-sharing.
/ Modular Construction and European Prefab Panels Outlier Studio has expanded to offer prefabricated, high-performance wall systems imported from Europe. These panels reduce waste, speed up builds, and ensure long-term insulation and durability — a game changer for remote or hard-to-build areas.
/ Vertical Integration: From Design to Turnkey Delivery The studio now builds complete modular homes off-site and delivers them ready-to-live. Anthony reveals how this leap was powered by smart systems, tech stacks, and a lean team — allowing them to grow without rapidly expanding headcount.
/ Leading a Business That Builds You Back Anthony and the host reflect on how building a values-driven business catalyses personal growth. From mental resilience to sales and leadership, Anthony shares how the business journey shaped him — and why constant learning is key to staying relevant and impactful.
/ Scaling Sustainably with Purpose Whether it’s future government partnerships, prefab innovation, or creating more energy-literate builders, Anthony’s vision is national. His mission is simple: better homes for Australians, built with performance, dignity, and health in mind.
References
- Passive House Standard – https://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/passive-house
- Blower Door Testing – https://outlierstudio.com.au/research/thermal-performance-check/
- World Health Organization Housing Standards – WHO Housing Guidelines
- Outlier Studio – https://outlierstudio.com.au/
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