Posts Tagged ‘urban design and built form’
Lianyungang, Post Waterfront City – Pop. 30,000,000: Exhibition
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on March 9th, 2010
Image: WAW 2009 Exhibition Panels via issuu
The planning & design of next generation living – WAW2009: World Architecture Workshop
Since 2002 the World Architecture Workshop has undertaken interrogation through design in cities around the world. In 2009 the workshop turned its attention to the urbanism of population bursts in the context of water based city expansion in Lianyungang, China. Seven groups each obtaining students from Australia, China, France, and Japan produced projects which address global warming, complexity in the instant city, diversification of traffic systems and the merging of salt and fresh water systems and urban design strategies for the city. Given China’s current rate of urbanisation the projects go on to propose engagement with primary industries as employment generators for recently re-located populations from rural areas. Massive population increase raises questions of identity for a city. The projects thus treat the histories of the city as building blocks for designing new identities for Lianyungang to guide it through the shifts, growth and iterations of change that its extraordinary ambition will bring.
Participating Universities:
-Miyagi University Japan
-Nanjing Forestry University, China
-RMIT University, Australia
-Sanjiang University, China
-Tohoku Institute of Technology, Japan
-Tohoku University, Japan
-l’Ecole Nationale Superieure d’Architecture de Montpellier, France
Date: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Location: Foyer Gallery, Level 11, RMIT Building 8, 360 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Refreshments provided.
Tags: collaboration, innovation, urban design and built form
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New framework to guide sustainable cities: GBCA
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on February 23rd, 2010
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has released a new national framework for sustainable communities at the opening of the Green Cities 2010 conference.
Launching the new Green Star Communities framework, GBCA Chair Tony Arnel said that the framework would establish an independent, national language to guide the development of sustainability communities and precincts. “The framework – and its guiding principles – provides a dual purpose. It is a national resource for those creating sustainable communities and it establishes the context for the GBCA’s Green Star Communities tool, which will commence development in June.”
The national framework has been developed by the GBCA and its partner VicUrban, in collaboration with industry and government, and outlines five national principles for sustainable communities:
1. Create liveable communities
2. Provide opportunities for economic prosperity
3. Enhance environmental quality
4. Design great places
5. Promote good urban governance.
According to the GBCA’s Chief Executive, Romilly Madew, launching the framework at Green Cities 2010 reflects the evolution in the GBCA’s focus – from individual buildings to communities, precincts and cities themselves. “The GBCA is confident that the construction and property industry now has sufficient momentum and interest to keep driving forward on both an individual building and community basis. While the GBCA expands its influence beyond the building envelope, Green Star continues to advance to ensure we have the right tools – and the right skills – to push the boundaries of best practice sustainability benchmarks,” Ms Madew said.
The new framework complements the Australian Government’s new reforms which will require states and territories to develop capital city strategic plans by 2012 that meet national criteria for transport, housing, urban development and sustainability. “This framework will provide valuable support for, and complement, the federal government’s sustainable cities agenda, and we expect everyone from planners and designers, through to builders and community neighbourhood groups will find the framework useful,” Mr Arnel concluded.
Visit the website to download the draft framework and read more information.
Tags: community, gbca, sustainability, urban design and built form
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Green Cities 2010: People, Places, Performance
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on November 25th, 2009
Source: Green Building Council Australia (GBCA)
Green Cities 2010 – People, Places, Performance – is now taking bookings.
“Join us in Melbourne from the 21-24 February 2010 at the largest and most influential green building conference in the Asia Pacific region. Bringing together green building innovators and leaders from around Australia and internationally we will explore new ideas and share practical knowledge in the expanding sustainable building industry. ”
- Hear from renowned global green building experts including: Malcolm Smith – Director of Integrated Urbanism, Arup UK; Jerry Yudelson – Principal, Yudelson Associates USA
- Learn about the latest industry developments, techniques and strategies
- Network with global and domestic sustainability leaders
- Visit some of Melbourne’s latest Green Star certified buildings including CH2, The Gauge and Goods Shed North
- Brush up on your professional development at a Master Class
Tags: conference, gbca, green cities, urban design and built form
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Houses, Homes & Hope: A Melbourne Conversation
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on November 24th, 2009
Source: Climate Action Calendar
Image: davef3138 via flickr CC
Houses, Homes & Hope: Creating Neighbourhoods That Are Better Places To Live – An event to discuss housing and safe neighbourhoods.
A range of local and international panellists will consider how affordable housing can give hope for low-income individuals and families trying to create safe homes. The panellists will also discuss the challenges of better designed neighbourhoods, health improvement, the future of the young and the changing nature of the “home”. Come along and have your say.
Thu 26 Nov 6pm to 7.30pm. Entry from 5.30pm
Tags: Melbourne Conversation, neighbourhood, urban design and built form
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2009 Sustainable House Tour: Beechworth
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on November 3rd, 2009
Image: Rammed Earth Home by GreenHouse
Visit homes within the Beechworth (North East Victoria) area that illustrate elements of sustainable house design. Be presented with elements of passive solar design including orientation, thermal mass, ventilation, insulation and zoning, and talk with owners and builders. The 2008 houses included rammed earth, poured earth and strawbale examples.
Our aim is to showcase sustainable houses within a 10 kilometer radius of Beechworth that show certain aspects of sustainable house design well. While all the houses will show many aspects of sustainable house design, we have chosen the houses, we think, that best reflect certain aspects of sustainable house design.
Saturday 14th November, 2009, 10am to 3pm.
Tickets cost are $15 for adults, $25 for a couple (2 adults) and children under 16 are free. Cyclists receive a 50% discount. Tickets can be purchased from the Beechworth Neighbourhood Centre, 30Ford Street Beechworth.
Visit the website for more details, including accommodation in the area.
Tags: education, houses, sharing, urban design and built form
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Tackling the Urban Revolution: ABC Podcast
Posted in Opinion by Kate Archdeacon on October 13th, 2009
Source: Going Solar Transport Newsletter
From “Tackling the Urban Revolution” on ABC Radio National
Urban sprawl is a very Australian phenomenon though opinion is divided on whether its a burden or a blessing. Our cities spread ever outwards, turning farmland into suburbs without access to public transport but allowing new generations of Australians to afford a detached house and enjoy the privacy of their own back yard.
In 2002 the Victorian state government attempted to rein in urban sprawl with a plan called Melbourne 2030 – lines were drawn on a map – called urban growth boundaries – intended to contain the city and preserve green wedges. Infill development around transport hubs like railway stations was encouraged at the same time – to get the city grow upwards rather than outwards.
It didn’t work – six years later the plan was amended and the urban growth boundaries revised so the city could keep spreading. It’s a local example of the dilemmas facing urban planners around the world as the great global migration from country to city continues. Half the world’s population already is already urbanised – by 2040 the proportion will be two thirds – allowing for population growth that’s an additional 2 billion city dwellers in just thirty years.
Listen to Peter Mares in conversation with Jeb Brugmann, author of “Welcome to the Urban Revolution – how cities are changing the world”
Tags: behaviour change, sustainable cities, urban design and built form
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Thriving or Just Surviving: Urban Challenges for this century
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on September 10th, 2009
Source: Climate Action Calendar
Image: Eugène Hénard, via Cornell
Another Melbourne Conversation: A series of free public discussions in the city exploring issues and topics that make Melbourne – and Melburnians – tick.
Canadian urban strategist and author Jeb Brugmann writes that our cities are becoming laboratories for solving major challenges of the twenty-first century: poverty, inequality, and environmental sustainability. Discuss how the experiences and future planning of cities could solve pressing environmental and social issues and increase the quality of life for all citizens.
Monday 14 Sept 6pm to 7.30pm Entry from 5.30pm
Tags: Melbourne Conversation, urban design and built form
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Sustainable House Day
Posted in Models by Kate Archdeacon on September 2nd, 2009
Source: Climate Action Calendar
Sustainable House Day is on again!
Sunday 13th September 2009. Houses open between 10am and 4pm
This is the 8th year of the successful Sustainable House Day – where houses across Australia are opened to show you how to live more sustainably.
And this year it’s FREE!
Environmental awareness – or being ‘green’ – is great, but putting it into practice around your own home is the best contribution you can make to living in harmony with our planet.
Find out direct from home owners who’ve put sustainable living into practice, about reducing waste around your home, saving water, natural home heating and cooling and more.
http://www.sustainablehouseday.com/
Tags: education, houses, sharing, urban design and built form
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Transition to Sustainable Housing
Posted in Events by Mark Ogge on August 24th, 2009
Source: Beyond Zero Emissions
Image: “House of Ruins” by NRJA Architects, via inhabitat
Guest speaker: Richard Denby
Monday 7th September 2009
Richard Denby is a Melbourne-based architect and environmental design researcher with extensive experience in sustainable and energy efficient building and infrastructure projects. He has studied and worked professionally in Australia, Malaysia and the the UK.
He is a key contributor to the Zero Carbon Australia 2020 project, where his focus is on the residential building sector, developing sustainable design strategies for retrofitting the existing housing stock and developing higher standards for new dwellings. His combination of practical experience in leading environmental design architectural projects and his broad understanding of of sustainability and planning policy issues make him ideally placed to examine the exciting possibilities for transitioning Australia’s residential housing stock to a sustainable future.
Tags: discussion group, urban design and built form
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Raingarden Essentials
Posted in Events by Clearwater on August 12th, 2009
Image: The Source.Melbourne Water
Raingardens Essentials Training Course
Raingardens are an effective small scale stormwater treatment option. They remove heavy metals, phosphorous and nitrogen from stormwater, reducing pollutant loads to our rivers and bays.
This 3/4 day workshop provides detailed guidance on the design and construction of raingardens and biofilters. The workshop covers site analysis, design, materials selection, contract management of construction and maintenance to ensure project success.
The workshop is appropriate for people who plan and manage the urban built environment (streetscape, carpark and parkland elements) who are looking for ways to utilise stormwater and improve the quality of run off stormwater.
Date: August 20
Tags: education, urban design and built form, water
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