Tag: Sustainable design
Australia’s first Passivhaus apartment block a ‘sign of what’s possible’
The architect behind a block of highly airtight apartments in Sydney’s Redfern says the Passivhaus building principles might seem onerous, but are “worth taking seriously.”
Green plaudits for Sydney Opera House
To coincide with the United Nations’ World Environment Day, the Sydney Opera House has announced a number of sustainability achievements.
Glass skyscrapers: an avoidable environmental folly
Henrik Schoenefeldt argues that if architects “had paid more attention to the difficulties of building with glass, the great environmental damage wrought by modern glass skyscrapers could have been avoided.”
Urban ‘skyfarm’ to be built atop Melbourne carpark
The City of Melbourne has approved plans to build a ‘skyfarm’ atop a carpark in Melbourne’s Docklands that will include a working farm, nursery, shop, cafe, event space and education space.
Buildings produce 25% of Australia’s emissions. What will it take to make them ‘green’ – and who’ll pay?
With 25% of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the construction, operation and maintenance of buildings, what must be done to generate a working strategy to improve Australia’s chances of keeping the carbon-neutral promise by 2050?
Plans unveiled for City of Melbourne’s new biophilic offices
The City of Melbourne has unveiled a $232 million plan to redevelop a precinct in Melbourne’s Bourke Street.
Vic gov’t launches zero net carbon home design pilot program
The Victorian Government has named the companies that will develop a series of energy-efficient homes in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.
Australian project wins Europe’s oldest built environment award
A park rehabilitation and storm water re-use project in Sydney by Turf Design Studio and Environmental Partnership has won one of the top awards at the UK Civic Trust Awards.
“World’s most sustainable” shopping centre to feature 2,000-square-metre rooftop farm
Sustainable designer Joost Bakker says an urban farm atop a new shopping centre in suburban Melbourne will “truly support a sustainable world.”
Australian project recognized in Europe’s oldest built environment awards
The Sydney Part Water Re-use project by Turf Design Studio and Environmental Partnership is in the running to receive a Civic Trust Award.
First state-wide green infrastructure policy drafted for NSW
Authored by the Government Architect NSW, a new draft policy for green infrastructure across the state has been released for public comment.
Medical waste to produce durable, sustainable concrete
A Deakin University project could see thousands of tonnes of medical waste transformed into durable concrete that would be more waterproof than standard concrete.
Forward-thinking projects rewarded by World Architecture Festival
The World Architecture Festival’s inaugural WAFX Prize recognizes proposals and projects that “identify key challenges that architects will need to address” in the future.
‘Simplicity and sustainability’: The Commons housing development heads to Hobart
A sequel to The Commons in Melbourne is planned for central Hobart, in what is thought to be Australia’s first carbon-positive multi-residential project.
New technology converts carbon emissions into building materials
An Australian start-up has unveiled a pilot plant that converts the carbon dioxide produced by a nearby mine into useable building material.
Zero-energy, prefab apartment design wins WA medium-density housing competition
David Barr Architects’ modular, prefabricated design has won a WA government agency’s competition to design an affordable, sustainable, medium-density housing project.
Al Gore to headline Melbourne climate change and urbanization conference
Former US vice president Al Gore will be among the speakers at the Ecocity World Summit to be held in Melbourne in July.
New Urban Agenda Conference to champion sustainable development in Australia
The inaugural conference will be held in Melbourne and will look to implement the United Nations’ New Urban Agenda.
Perth housing development aims for One Planet Living recognition
A residential apartment development in Fremantle, Western Australia, has been accepted to apply for Bioregional Australia’s One Planet Living program for sustainable living.
CSIRO to test urban development concepts
The CSIRO has partnered with developer Celestino to establish its first operational Urban Living Lab in Sydney, where it will design and test urban development concepts.