Modelling environmental and financial performance of construction. This project will investigate the relationships between environmental and financial parameters associated with decisions made during the building design process. The outcomes of this research will assist the construction industry to transform itself towards ecological sustainability. We will provide a means by which the construction industry can more comprehensively assess the environmental impacts associated with building design ....Modelling environmental and financial performance of construction. This project will investigate the relationships between environmental and financial parameters associated with decisions made during the building design process. The outcomes of this research will assist the construction industry to transform itself towards ecological sustainability. We will provide a means by which the construction industry can more comprehensively assess the environmental impacts associated with building design decisions. In general, this will lead to a more effective construction industry, with solutions being evaluated simultaneously against environmental and financial criteria. The project is thus aligned with the priority area: An Environmentally Sustainable Australia: Transforming existing industries.Read moreRead less
Procuring Innovative Architecture: using recognised exemplars to inform a government-wide model for building a sustainable community of innovative practice. Enabling other Australian cities to understand how to develop and sustain a local innovative architectural culture that helps extend their competitive position in the global competition for creative people. A major benefit is the encouragement for local creative people to remain and contribute to these cities in what can be clearly understoo ....Procuring Innovative Architecture: using recognised exemplars to inform a government-wide model for building a sustainable community of innovative practice. Enabling other Australian cities to understand how to develop and sustain a local innovative architectural culture that helps extend their competitive position in the global competition for creative people. A major benefit is the encouragement for local creative people to remain and contribute to these cities in what can be clearly understood to be a receptive climate. A further possible benefit lies in the enhanced capacity to attract creative talent from cities inside and outside Australia.Read moreRead less
Attitudes and Behaviours in Consumer Spaces: Quantifying the Benefits of a Sustainable Retail Environment. The project provides a new level of understanding of the impact of retail environments that are ecologically responsible. Almost one quarter of the ecological footprint of the built environment in Australia is associated with some form of consumer space. While there are more than 8,000,000m2 of lettable retail environments in major centres alone in Australia, the ecological footprint of thi ....Attitudes and Behaviours in Consumer Spaces: Quantifying the Benefits of a Sustainable Retail Environment. The project provides a new level of understanding of the impact of retail environments that are ecologically responsible. Almost one quarter of the ecological footprint of the built environment in Australia is associated with some form of consumer space. While there are more than 8,000,000m2 of lettable retail environments in major centres alone in Australia, the ecological footprint of this space is far higher. This footprint may be minimised if the right combination of design and behavioural solutions can be enabled. But before this can occur, a detailed understanding of these complex attitudinal and behavioural issues must be developed. Read moreRead less
Technology Transfer through Embedded Research within Architectural Practice: the Creation of an Australian Practice-Based Architectural Research and Development Network. This research will apply Parametric Design to a range of projects within architecture and construction engineering practice to assess the benefits. To what extent does a parametric approach extend opportunities for flexible, stream-lined and intelligent design and construction in practice? This research will test parametric reso ....Technology Transfer through Embedded Research within Architectural Practice: the Creation of an Australian Practice-Based Architectural Research and Development Network. This research will apply Parametric Design to a range of projects within architecture and construction engineering practice to assess the benefits. To what extent does a parametric approach extend opportunities for flexible, stream-lined and intelligent design and construction in practice? This research will test parametric resolution of a range of real design problems that mirror the work of innovative Australian practices. Through embedded postgraduate research within practice, this project will give Australian academy and practice the opportunity to lead in understanding the conditions for successfully applying advanced techniques in design practice.Read moreRead less
Intergenerational park design for active and engaged communities. This project will assess the opportunities and barriers for physical activity for intergenerational park users within South East Queensland. In 2015, approximately 80% of the world’s adolescents and 25% of adults were insufficiently active. Physical inactivity costs the Australian economy $13.8 billion annually, and contributes to the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Local and neighbourhood parks can offer opportunities fo ....Intergenerational park design for active and engaged communities. This project will assess the opportunities and barriers for physical activity for intergenerational park users within South East Queensland. In 2015, approximately 80% of the world’s adolescents and 25% of adults were insufficiently active. Physical inactivity costs the Australian economy $13.8 billion annually, and contributes to the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Local and neighbourhood parks can offer opportunities for all ages to be physically active and engage across generations, yet are often under-designed and under-utilised for physical activity. Evidence-based design guidelines for active intergenerational parks for use across Australia will lead to higher quality parks that more effectively encourage physical activity and improve health and wellbeing.Read moreRead less
Equity and diversity in the Australian architecture profession: women, work, and leadership. This project will develop strategies to maximize women's participation in architecture, improving human resource practices within architectural firms and developing a diversity policy for the national professional association. Together these outcomes will increase women's representation within architecture, and help all architects achieve a greater work life balance with its concomitant effects of improv ....Equity and diversity in the Australian architecture profession: women, work, and leadership. This project will develop strategies to maximize women's participation in architecture, improving human resource practices within architectural firms and developing a diversity policy for the national professional association. Together these outcomes will increase women's representation within architecture, and help all architects achieve a greater work life balance with its concomitant effects of improving individual health, wellbeing and national productivity. Increasing the visibility and recognition of female architects will directly support innovative practice in architecture, which will advantage all attempts to create socially and ecologically sustainable built environments in Australia.Read moreRead less
Assimilation of architectural and services design in early design modelling. How can buildings in a climate as varied as Australia's balance the best environmental comfort standards for their human occupants, cost and at the same time meet the urgent imperative of reduced energy consumption and associated carbon emissions? This practice-based research will develop tools to support more informed decision making in the earliest stage of an integral approach to services in the design of buildings. ....Assimilation of architectural and services design in early design modelling. How can buildings in a climate as varied as Australia's balance the best environmental comfort standards for their human occupants, cost and at the same time meet the urgent imperative of reduced energy consumption and associated carbon emissions? This practice-based research will develop tools to support more informed decision making in the earliest stage of an integral approach to services in the design of buildings. It will provide knowledge about designing architecture that is more environmentally responsive, can provide comfortable air in more optimised ways, that consume less energy and do this through promoting smarter use of information in practice.Read moreRead less
Designing for wellbeing: realizing benefits for patients through best practice hospital design. The environmental design of healthcare facilities has been shown to directly affect the wellbeing of patients and their families. Poorly designed environments exacerbate patient anxiety and stress and diminish their healthcare experience. Environments designed to support a patient’s wellbeing result in improved health outcomes. Building upon Australia’s international leadership in contemporary hospita ....Designing for wellbeing: realizing benefits for patients through best practice hospital design. The environmental design of healthcare facilities has been shown to directly affect the wellbeing of patients and their families. Poorly designed environments exacerbate patient anxiety and stress and diminish their healthcare experience. Environments designed to support a patient’s wellbeing result in improved health outcomes. Building upon Australia’s international leadership in contemporary hospital design, this project aims to evaluate, prioritise and strategise the best means for realising benefits of environmental design factors that contribute most significantly to achieving positive outcomes for patients and families. It aims to achieve this through a comprehensive comparative case study analysis of new Australian paediatric hospitals.Read moreRead less
Exploring synergies with innovative Green Technologies for Advanced Renovation: Redefining a Bioclimatic approach for multi residential and office buildings in warmer climates. Building energy consumption accounts for nearly 27% of all energy related greenhouse gas emissions. By 2010, emissions' from buildings is estimated to increase by 48% above 1990 levels. This projected trend is alarming given that Australia's obligation under the Kyoto Protocol is only 8% above 1990 levels. Renovation of e ....Exploring synergies with innovative Green Technologies for Advanced Renovation: Redefining a Bioclimatic approach for multi residential and office buildings in warmer climates. Building energy consumption accounts for nearly 27% of all energy related greenhouse gas emissions. By 2010, emissions' from buildings is estimated to increase by 48% above 1990 levels. This projected trend is alarming given that Australia's obligation under the Kyoto Protocol is only 8% above 1990 levels. Renovation of existing buildings is necessary to achieve this target. Research will address this problem by providing principles, strategies and solutions demostrating improvement of environmental performance and cost benefits. The application of new principles will assist with transforming the building industry to meet Kyoto targets.Read moreRead less
Towards a Quality of Life Model for Sustainable Housing in South East Queensland. Current reports, on Quality of Life in South East Queensland and the Queensland Governments State of the Environment demonstrate a paradox, - high quality of life but also increasing environmental impact. How to address this paradox is a major research question addressed in this project. Through examining examples of best practice sustainable housing it is possible to address this question. The key factors of quali ....Towards a Quality of Life Model for Sustainable Housing in South East Queensland. Current reports, on Quality of Life in South East Queensland and the Queensland Governments State of the Environment demonstrate a paradox, - high quality of life but also increasing environmental impact. How to address this paradox is a major research question addressed in this project. Through examining examples of best practice sustainable housing it is possible to address this question. The key factors of quality of life will be identified for housing, which will assist policy makers plan for a sustainable future. Read moreRead less