Masters - High Commission Office Buildings - Design Development

Architectural Masters required that we take a project from our Bachelor studies and develop it for both sustainability outcomes and through full documentation.

The most sensible project and best developed project I had was the South African High Commission design from final year Bachelor as featured in previous posts here & here.

We were required to develop it in according to local legislation, so for the purpose of the assignments, I transplanted the design to Brisbane on an imaginary site.

The first subject assignment required that we research sustainable design technologies and present that research in a report from which we could develop a sustainability strategy for the design.

View the complete Sustainability report here.

The second assignment required the full development of those sustainability initiatives, integrating technologies and design strategies.

View the complete Illustrative Sustainability design here.

In the following subject we took that same design and developed it to be compliant with local, state and federal legislation. We developed it through Development Approval, Building Approval & Construction drawing stages. The Construction set required that we develop detail drawings & full setout. The development of schedules & specifications was deemed unnecessary.

View the complete set of construction drawings here.

Both projects were extensive for a university assignment but were some of the most valuable subjects throughout the entire university course as they required us to implement real world thinking into design. It was actually a rather liberating experience taking a previous design and developing it to a point that it could actually be built. Although still removed from the realities of budget they were still a foremost consideration in the development.

Masters Thesis Research Paper - A Sustainable Design Future

Positioning and Understanding Environmental Assessment Method's in the Future of a Sustainable Australian Building Industry. A Qualitative Study.

View the complete report here.

Abstract
The Australian building and construction industry is strongly considered unsustainable. Many mechanisms and means have been utilised to establish higher standards of building design. Environmental Assessment Mechanisms such as Green Star has been the most significant tool for introducing accountability and higher ‘green’ standards. More recently the Australian building industry has witnessed the introduction of the Living Building Challenge. The LBC brings a further level to the sustainability discussion. However it has become apparent that EAM’s are now not only the central focus for delivering green design, but seemingly relied upon so heavily it comes at the expense of other change mechanisms. In light of other research there was a need to understand the role EAM’s have established within the Australian industry, and whether this role was productive in achieving the necessary change industry professions and institutions calls for. This research has sought the opinion of experienced industry professionals, heavily involved and knowledgeable of the industry and the green building movement in particular. Their views in combination with established research provides an insight to the value, contribution and role of EAM’s. Furthermore the paper discusses mechanisms and means for change that go beyond EAM’s, seeking avenues to return them back to an important, however decentralised role of quality assurance. A series of recommendations are proposed that opens avenues of further discussion and research, providing the Australian building industry with a clearer path forward in the goal of achieving true sustainability.