Regenerating Sustainability

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Sustainable or Green Buildings are centred on creating more efficient buildings rather than aiming for zero or even positive contributions. This subject explores and critiques this efficiency based approach to sustainability and proposes a regenerative, positive and biophilic design framework.

The ideas are tested using existing building stock – looking at the question of how to retrofit, rebuild and revitalise them effectively.

The ideas are tested using existing building stock – looking at the question of how to retrofit, rebuild and revitalise them effectively.
This subject will provide advanced skills in sustainably re-imagining and designing innovative, architecturally significant buildings from existing structures. Based on a series of seminars and site visits, student will apply their learning to existing buildings within Melbourne.

• To understand the limitation around the current approach to sustainability
• To understand the concepts of regenerative, biophilic and positive design and development
• Assess the opportunities of a retrofit project
• Use rating tools effectively
• Work in multi-disciplinary teams

1. A 2000-3000 word essay (30%), critiquing and adapting the concepts of regenerative and positive development to own practice.
2. Four A3 presentation boards(40%) illustrating the concepts and designs for the case study building. The case study will involve the regeneration of an inner city building, design and options for uptake of the City of Melbourne.
3. PowerPoint presentation (30%) to client, involving a retrofit of the OEP offices concept design - max 10 slides, 10 minutes.

Lyle, J.T. Regenerative Design for Sustainable Development. New York: Wiley, 1994.

Du Plessis, C., 'Thinking about the day after tomorrow: New perspective on sustainable building', Rethinking Sustainable Construction 2006 Conference Sarasota, Florida, USA 19–22 September 2006. Available online at: http://hdl.handle.net/10204/956.

Kellert, S.R., Heerwagen, J.H., Mador, M. Biophilic Design: Theory, Science, and Practice. New York: Wiley, 2008.

Kellert, S. Building for Life: Designing and Understanding the Human-Nature Connection. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2005.

Birkeland, J. Positive Development: From Vicious Circles to Virtuous Cycles through Built Environment Design. London: Earthscan, 2008.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On successful completion, students should be able to:

• Use of rating tools
• Use of the charrette process
• Ability to assess existing stock for retrofit opportunities