This note was reviewed and approved for currency in November 2018. The physical destruction accompanying disasters typically creates an urgency to rebuild and help survivors get back on track. There are inspiring examples of how architects and other ...

During the twentieth century the earth warmed by about 0.6°C, primarily due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Consequent to this were changes to the characteristics of climatic patterns all over the earth that can be linked ...

While continual change and evolution has been an enduring characteristic of the Australian city, the magnitude, speed and complexity of the emerging population and environmental pressures are challenging the models and methodologies that have ...

'Sustainable Urbanism' encompasses Australian urban design and transportation practices that seek to create vibrant, liveable communities.  This approach proposes the creation of compact, walkable communities centred around high quality public ...

Concrete is the most widely used building material in the world with many architectural and engineering benefits, but also with a high capacity to improve its environmental performance. The environmental measures that can be taken also improve the ...

This note was reviewed and approved for currency in November 2018. The design of the Prasad house renovation evolved from a fusion of the owners’ commitment to green design, the needs of the occupants, and a staged experimental approach to ...

This note was reviewed in September 2018 and retained for legacy. This note, originally published in November 1996, was reviewed by Harry Partridge in November 2001 and republished in November 2003. Straw bale construction has achieved considerable ...

Biodiversity, the variety of life on earth, is required for the health of the natural environment and the continuation of the human species.  Though Australia has large endowments of biodiversity, human activities over the past 220 years have had ...

Water heating accounts for around a quarter of household energy use in Australia. Low-energy water heating systems can reduce energy used for heating water by 60 to 80 per cent – or more – depending on the system type and location. This paper ...

This note was reviewed and approved for currency in November 2018. To perform well, buildings require not only good design and construction but also good operation – and designers cannot dismiss operation as solely the responsibility of occupants.