 | NATIONAL AWARD FOR SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
UTAS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
SBE AND SIX DEGREES ARCHITECTS – ARCHITECTS IN COLLABORATION |
|
JURY CITATION
The Tasmanian jury citation for this project observes that “the key to a truly sustainable architecture will depend on the creation of bridges that unite conservation technology with an earth-centric philosophy.” The UTAS School of Architecture exemplifies this approach, reusing an existing 1950s industrial shed and occupying it with a series of smaller buildings that address the functional and spatial requirements of the school programme.
Two strategic moves cement this project as an instructive and effective advocate for the minimization of environmental impacts. Firstly, the reuse of the existing building addresses the cultural sustainability and connectedness of this place while minimizing the use of new materials. This awareness of the embodied energy of an existing structure is important in an environment where sustainability often perverts to a strategy of consuming more materials and more systems.
Secondly, the minimization of energy requirements through the creation of smaller teaching spaces heated independently is an excellent lateral approach. The penalty for this is the variable temperature in the larger studio space, which the jury suspects will be addressed over time via programmatic adjustments – but to the benefit of the project and in accordance with the design strategy. The new work is constructed from low-emission materials and finishes with a high recycled content.
Perhaps the most important strategy is the inclusion of educational material throughout the spaces, which reminds our future architects on a daily basis of the decisions through which their school came into being and the mechanisms through which environmental impacts are addressed.
|
|
UTAS School of Architecture
Architect
SBE and Six Degrees Architects – architects in collaboration—project architect Chris Barnett (SBE); design architects Peter Malatt, Simon O’Brien (Six Degrees); brief refinement David Oppenheim (SBE); documentation Giles Lawson, Glenn Irwin (Six Degrees); materials advice Erika Bartak (SBE); environmental computer modelling Luke Smeaton (SBE).
Cost consultant
Simon Wragg and Associates.
Structural consultant
George E Apted and Associates.
Services
Engineering Solutions Tasmania.
Building surveyor
Protek Consulting.
Landscape
TNLA.
Acoustics
Watson Moss Growcott.
Fire engineer
Pitt and Sherry.
Soil engineer
BFP Consultants.
Land surveyor
GJ Walkem and Co.
Builder
Vos Construction.
3D services modelling
Construction Modelling Australia.
Client
University of Tasmania – Asset Management.
Photographer
Roger Fay (top) Patrick Rodriguez (the rest).
For further coverage see Architecture Australia vol 96 no 4, July/August 2007.
|
COUNCIL HOUSE 2 (CH2)
CITY OF MELBOURNE AND DESIGNINC MELBOURNE |
|
JURY CITATION
This project extends the educational potential of sustainable building practices to an entire city, and for this decision alone both the client and the architects should be commended.
The project is the result of a “first principles” approach to the problems of sustainable design. The architectural expression of the building relies on these strategies and the support mechanisms required to maximize their potential. At times these elements have a certain whimsy – the shower towers on the east elevation, for example, and the brightly coloured rotating turbines on the roof.
Ongoing monitoring of the success of the measures taken here will form a valuable databank for other architects and should assist in the process of advocating such measures in other projects. The generosity of the City of Melbourne in funding such an extraordinary research and development device will be of value to the profession well into the future.
|
|
Council House 2 (CH2)
Architect
City of Melbourne + DesignInc Melbourne—City of Melbourne: project director Rob Adams; design director Mick Pearce; project manager Robert Lewis, Shane Power, Matt Plumbridge, Kate Gorman, Kate Senko, Ione McKenzie. DesignInc: design architects Stephen Webb, Chris Thorne; project architects Chris Thorne, Jean-Claude Bertoni; project team Vi Vuong.
Acoustics
Marshall Day Acoustics.
Civil and structural consultant
Bonacci Group.
Environmental
Advanced Environmental Concepts.
Interior design
DesignInc Melbourne, City of Melbourne (Aldona Pajdak, Juliet Moore).
Services
Lincolne Scott.
Quantity surveyor
Donald Cant Watts Corke.
Landscape
City of Melbourne.
Artists
Cameron Robbins, Janet Laurence, David Wong, Tom Carment.
Builder
Hansen Yuncken.
Developer
City of Melbourne.
Photographer
Dianna Snape.
For further coverage see Architecture Australia vol 96 no 1, January/February 2007.
|
SQIT – BLOCK B
PROJECT SERVICES |
|
JURY CITATION
Much of the debate in sustainable design centres on the relation between architectural expression and specialist elements addressing environmental concerns. In this regard, SQIT Block B is instructive on many levels – it indicates future directions, but with more than a glance to the past.
The extremity of the Toowoomba climate brings its own problems and opportunities, which have been deftly handled here. The building has an abundance of light (but little glare) and reservoirs of coolth in the thermal mass lying at its heart. Self-finishing materials with a proven endurance have been used.
Teaching also takes place. Building occupants are directly engaged with the success of the building’s performance (they are still finalizing their understanding of the ventilation and shading mechanisms). This in turn increases their engagement with and awareness of external conditions.
The seamless incorporation of sustainable measures into the architectural expression greatly impressed the jury, as did the architectural expression itself, which could be enjoyed in isolation of this issue. The project included a nod to Hertzberger and also to the tradition of Public Works projects – a tradition to which Don Watson has made fine contributions over the years. Thus, the building is an exemplar of future practice and a trip down memory lane – reminding us that these issues have been solved before and that a greater awareness of this history would stand the profession in good stead.
|
|
SQIT — Block B
Architect
Project Services—design architects Don Watson, Marie-Anne Ammons; library design architect Stephen Sims (Toowoomba District Office); project manager David Cox; structural Greg O’Brien; civil Robert Christie, Robert Nathan; electrical Darryl Drysdale, Murat Varol; mechanical Mark Moseley; hydraulic Peter Williams; landscape Kerry Gray; communications Gary Green, Craig Pratt, Lawrence McKenna; cost consultants/quantity surveyors Russell Clark, Michael Ryan; fire services Alan Chau, John Lennon; project team Malcolm Telford, John Aitchison, John Coglan, Kevin Scully, Lachlan King, David Langley, Leo Briffa, Keith Starr, Greg Tunn, Judy Bott.
Original builder
Walter Construction Group.
Builder
Barclay Mowlem.
Construction manager
Colin Lewsey.
Site managers
Steven Hickling, Tim Foreman.
Contracts administrator
Jim O’Day.
Client
Department of Education, Training and the Arts.
Photographer
Richard Stringer.
|
STAGE ONE ACE, KANGAN BATMAN TAFE
LYONS |
|
JURY CITATION
Of all projects awarded in this category, Stage One ACE at Kangan Batman TAFE perhaps provides the clearest future direction in the intersection of commercial practice, design agendas and a desire to minimize environmental impact. It is a delicious irony that the building houses education facilities for car painting and bodywork, illustrating the dilemmas faced by the profession as we work to accommodate all aspects of society in a more sustainable manner.
The project emerged from the integrated practice model. A number of technical and performance issues were critical to this project, which involved the full range of consultants at an early stage to vet design decisions as they were being made. Thus, the gap between “architecture” and “sustainable building” is minimized – each element is multifunctional, which has positive effects on budget and procurement.
The jury hopes that the collaborative approach underpinning the design decisions – a collaboration directed and curated by the sure hand of the lead architect – becomes the standard model for future practice. This tendency is already evident in much contemporary architectural practice. Given that, it is to be hoped that the need for a reminder via our awards programme of the importance of minimizing environmental impact is nearly at an end.
|
|
Stage One ACE, Kangan Batman TAFE
Architect
Lyons.
Structural consultant
Robert Bird Partnership.
Mechanical, electrical and fire engineer
ULA.
Acoustics
Watson Moss Growcott.
Hydraulics
Rimmington and Associates.
Fire service engineer
Bassett Kuttner Collins.
Facade engineer
Connell Mott MacDonald.
Quantity surveyor
Wilde and Woollard.
Building surveyor
PLP.
Project manager
Carson Group.
Builder
Hansen Yuncken.
Photographer
John Gollings.
|
|
