Regenerating Sustainability

Subject ABPL90272 (2013)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2013.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2013.

Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 3 hour studio and 1 hour lecture
Total Time Commitment:

10 hours a week, 120 hours total.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Contact

Environments and Design Student Centre
Ground Floor, Baldwin Spencer (building 113)

Enquiries
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352)
Website: http://www.msd.unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

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.

This subject will provide a series of lectures exploring the ideas of biophilia, positive development, regeneration, cradle to cradle, the living building challenge and contributive design. Based on a series of seminars and site visits, documented in student lead weekly reflections, student will apply their learning to an existing project in Melbourne.

.

Objectives:
  • To understand the limitation around the current approach to sustainability
  • To understand the concepts of regenerative, biophilic and positive design and development
  • To contrast the certifications tools Green Star, NABERS and the Living Building Challenge
  • To be able to propose contributive solutions to discipline specific problems whether architectural, landscape, planning, social science, engineering, etc.

Assessment:

10 reflective cards - 1 A4, due weekly, 50%.

Major project applying learning to a project, last week of semester, 50%.

Prescribed Texts:

Living Building Challenge - http://plone.ilbi.org/lbc/LBC%20Documents/lbc-2.1
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.
7group and Reed, B. (2009) The integrative Design Guide to Green Building. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
McDonough W. & Braungart M. (2002) Cradle To Cradle. North Point Press.


Recommended Texts:

Passive systems

Brundtland report.

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

Skills in critiquing sustainability
Conceptual understanding of biophilic design, positive development, regenerative design, living building challenge and cradle to cradle
Use of mind mapping, charrettes and backcasting

Related Course(s): Master of Architecture
Master of Architecture
Master of Design (Urban Design)
Master of Urban Design
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Melbourne School of Design multidisciplinary elective subjects (without prerequisites)
Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Regions

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