It is possible for residents to rebuild in bushfire affected zones, the Dean of UNSW Built Environment, Professor Helen Lochhead says. But the designs need to be well located and designed, in line with the Australian Standard, AS3959 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas, and using best practice planning principles. “In the majority of cases, we can design…

With the devastating results of recent bushfires top-of-mind for many Australians, thoughts turn to designing and building to minimise the potential risk of damage to homes in areas that may be affected in the future. While it may seem logical that building a bushfire resistant structure would preclude the use…

Melbourne Design Week, Australia’s leading annual international design event, today revealed the full program for its largest festival to date. Presented by Creative Victoria and the National Gallery of Victoria, the festival returns for its fourth consecutive year with more than 300 events across 11 days exploring the theme ‘How…

Multi-award-winning design firm Phillip Withers with the support of presenting partner, Yarra Valley Water will showcase Victoria’s iconic coastline and the importance of water conservation in their 2020 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show landscape, “It’s Our Time”. The zero-waste garden will see over 3000 native plants from across Victoria’s…

MPavilion, Australia’s leading annual architecture commission and cultural laboratory, releases its packed to capacity March 2020 program inspired by ‘Knowledge: Shared Learning, Shared Power’ promising to draw the 2019/2020 season to a spectacular conclusion. Ending on March 22, the last weeks will feature engaging and uplifting talks, workshops, performances, installations and…

Architects Declare Australia (ADA) is the local branch of a global movement of architects declaring a climate and biodiversity emergency. All 849 signatories (at the time of writing) are committing to a number of practices that fall within the purview of creating “architecture and urbanism that has a more positive…

The annual Melbourne Art Book Fair will return for its sixth instalment with over 40 events featuring more than one hundred guests including leading thinkers from Moscow’s Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design and Amsterdam-based art and design collective Metahaven. Over three action-packed days, the NGV’s Great Hall will…

The Biennale of Sydney has today revealed details of the program for its 22nd edition, titled NIRIN. Under the artistic direction of acclaimed Indigenous Australian artist, Brook Andrew, NIRIN, is an artist- and First Nations-led endeavour, presenting an expansive exhibition of contemporary art and events that connect local communities and global…

Lavazza, leader in Italian coffee, has announced a new partnership with Melbourne-based recycling company Reground – launching a sustainability initiative that will see the coffee served at the Australian Open (AO) 2020 (20 Jan – 2 Feb) turned into a valuable resource to help grow local community gardens. With over 200 000 coffees anticipated…

As concerns about climate change and the environment achieve top billing as the greatest issue of concern for Australians, The Cape sustainable housing estate in Victoria’s Bass Coast has been working to demonstrate how Australian housing estates can build better energy efficient housing and achieve a zero emissions, low cost…