The Sound of Architecture
Acoustic design plays a vital role in creating functional and comfortable spaces. In environments such as classrooms, restaurants, offices, and apartments, how a space sounds is just as important as how it looks. Architectural acoustics focuses on how sound behaves in a space, how people perceive it, and how design choices can influence those experiences. […]
As demand for sustainable materials accelerates, few products are as sought-after or as scrutinised as timber. Valued for its natural beauty and carbon-sequestering properties, wood has long been considered a go-to material for environmentally conscious design. But as we face growing climate targets, supply chain pressures and an end to native logging in parts of […]
As the built environment pivots toward net-zero targets, circular economy principles and ethically responsible sourcing, the role of material specification has evolved beyond performance alone. Today, acoustic solutions must satisfy far more than sound control. From NCC 2025’s new embodied carbon disclosure requirements to the industry’s growing focus on material circularity, transparency and Indigenous engagement, […]
Just as it has elsewhere, connectivity has arrived and transformed commercial environments. As a result, the modern workplace is a space where employee well-being is paramount, efficiency is optimised, and technology is employed seamlessly to improve business outcomes. In this context, the introduction of things like Smart Lockers makes perfect sense. Beyond ensuring the security […]
This session will delve into how James Hardie’s Modern Homes Forecast 2025 has identified influential lifestyle themes—such as building efficiency, wellbeing, flexibility and resilience—and how these themes are being translated into innovative, future-ready home styles. We’ll explore how shifts in global and local drivers are prompting new approaches in material selection, spatial planning and sustainable […]
Australia’s bushfire-prone environment presents unique challenges for building design, particularly when it comes to windows and doors. These elements play a critical role in protecting structures from ember attack, radiant heat, and direct flame exposure. Compliance with bushfire construction standards is not just a regulatory requirement—it is essential for enhancing resilience and safeguarding lives and […]
Solar energy is fast becoming a defining element of contemporary architecture, offering opportunities to improve building performance, reduce operational costs and contribute to Australia’s transition toward a low-carbon future. However, integrating solar technology into the built environment often raises challenges around aesthetics, structural compatibility, and design intent. Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPVs) present an innovative solution—allowing […]
The curtain wall, with its high transparency and refined aesthetic, is a common façade system for office projects and increasingly also for high rise residential. There are many good reasons architects choose to specify these lightweight, non-structural façade systems. They provide protection from the elements; help moderate the effects of wind and minimise building sway; […]
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) – the overall quality of a building’s indoor environment from the perspective of the health and wellbeing of its occupants – is a fundamental aspect of building science. A complex notion, it relates to – and is affected by – a range of factors, including thermal comfort, acoustic comfort, indoor air […]
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, as of 2022, 5.5 million Australians (21.4% of the total population) were living with disabilities. Many of these people face ambulatory challenges. For various reasons, they find it difficult to navigate uneven surfaces, to climb stairs, and so on. Add to this the effects of ageing, and the […]