This note was reviewed and approved for currency in October 2018. Built environments are an incarnation of our mental landscapes.  In Western culture we have an unhealthy and unsustainable approach to our inner paradoxes (e.g. our need to move and ...

Alternative low energy air-conditioning solutions are now being commonly used in preference to more traditional air-conditioning solutions for commercial applications. In recent years we have seen an emergence of the application of chilled ceiling ...

This note was reviewed and approved for currency in October 2018. There has been increasing reliance on mechanical heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems to achieve thermal comfort in office buildings. The use of universal ...

This note outlines a framework to appraise the extent and quality of native vegetation, and identify significant habitats at strategic regional and local levels, namely a Vegetation and Habitat Strategic Framework. The cornerstone of the framework ...

This note, originally published in November 1998, was reviewed by Nigel Bell in September 2004. This summary page includes recent updates to the topic since publication. Lead is a health hazard. A useful material for thousands of years is now ...

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 ...

Regular data collection of a building's energy and water use provides building owners/operators with a real understanding and insight into the actual operation of their buildings. Building owners can then use this knowledge to achieve a range of ...

Innovation in ventilation systems is becoming an increasingly popular and targeted topic of architectural discourse. Architects, consultants and contractors are introducing new products and proposing new systems, subject to client requests for an ...

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 ...

This note was reviewed in September 2018 and has been retained for legacy. This article describes the upgrade of an existing government building, 55 St Andrews Place in Melbourne’s Treasury Reserve, utilising an unconventional design process and ...