Wardle then launched a speaker series inviting industry leaders to visit our studio and tell us about their work. Ross Harding, founding director of Finding Infinity, presented his 10 initiatives for ‘A New Normal’. Together they provide a pathway for Melbourne to become autonomous and self-sustaining.

Ross’ initiatives include electrifying architecture, energy storage, water treatment facilities, and implementing new building codes that mandate net positive buildings for new buildings. Ross cited examples of initiatives being implemented in other countries, raising the question of why we’ve been so slow to adopt like measures. They provide a new standard for design: A New Normal.

Our Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) team devised a series of initiatives to embed principles into our own practice that respond to the need for a “New Normal” – through passive design, building technology, embodied energy and services. These will continue to evolve and develop.

We’ve been privileged to work with many progressive institutions and individuals whose vision for a sustainable future has encouraged us to explore innovative approaches to material use, passive heating and cooling systems and novel methodologies for façade envelopes, glazing and insulation – in turn reducing reliance on mechanical systems for maintaining internal environments. We’ve also worked with some extraordinary multi-disciplinary consultant teams to achieve outcomes that break new ground. This highly collaborative endeavour leads to change.

Yet we all need to do more if we’re to meet Paris Climate Agreement targets to reduce emissions by 28% before 2030. Our new National Construction Code pushes for a 35% reduction in energy consumption in all new commercial buildings.

A Wardle project focused on optimum energy performance is Limestone House, which takes on the dual challenge of Passivhaus certification and the Living Building Challenge. There are synergies in the application of these two green building standards – materials, water, air quality and energy considerations. The house is self-sufficient in managing its water and wastewater and has a photovoltaic cell system with battery storage to meet the house’s total energy needs.

Another project testing the boundaries of current construction technology is the Ballarat GovHub for Development Victoria. Constructed from engineered timber, the building meets ambitious social and environmental sustainability aspirations to regenerate a key civic site in this growing regional centre. Previous projects like the Melbourne School of Design not only achieved a 6 Star GBCA rating but explored the potential of long span timber structures and mixed mode ventilation strategies. The Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) in Hobart is a research facility for study of the Southern Ocean: its main theme is climate change and its impacts. Using seawater drawn from the Derwent River, the building’s heating and cooling system provides active mass cooling for offices and pre-cools ventilation air throughout the building.

Climate Active is a foundational pillar of our design philosophy.