Aktivhaus, or B10 for short, is a ‘triple zero’ home that generates twice as much electric power from sustainable energy sources as it consumes making it the first functional ‘Active House’ in the world. In addition to generating enough power to run its own building services, it also uses the recouped energy to power two…

Award winning artisan food manufacturer Brookfarm has installed 288 solar panels on the bake-house roof in Byron Bay, naturally powering the production factory, offices and cool rooms. The installation is the largest of its kind in the Northern Rivers, and is part of the company’s goal of dramatically cutting its…

The City of Melbourne has established a group of large energy users that have signalled their interest in testing a new approach to drive investment in renewable energy. Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the City of Melbourne must lead the way to meet our goal of zero net emissions by…

The winning projects of the Holcim Awards 2014 Asia Pacific show how building with sustainable construction in mind can enhance the region’s human, natural and economic performance. A bird sanctuary in Thailand, a locally-adapted orphanage in Nepal, and a community library in Sri Lanka received the top prizes. An independent…

14 Australian and New Zealand creative talents have bravely reinterpreted the work of Hans J. Wegner’s CH33 chair for Carl Hansen & Søn. The Chairity Project brings together charity, creativity and iconic Danish Design. The 14 completed chairs will be auctioned off online at http://stores.ebay.com.au/bidsforgood/chairity The bidding will open at…

A state-of-the art business school and hi-tech learning hub is the latest milestone in the University of Technology, Sydney’s billion-dollar City Campus Master Plan – for Australia, it’s our very own one-of-a-kind Frank Gehry architectural marvel. Construction work has now finished on site as scheduled, with the building’s architect set…

Bush Heritage Australia and the Tasmanian Land Conservancy have won a prestigious Banksia Award for their work with farmers in helping to conserve the Tasmanian Midlands. The Midlands Conservation Fund has scooped the prize in the Natural Capital section of the 2014 Banksia Foundation Sustainability Awards, recognising demonstrated leadership and…

Australia’s top construction, engineering, architecture and design people and projects have been celebrated at the recent Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors Infinite Value Awards in Brisbane. In their third year, the national Infinite Value Awards have established themselves as one of the most coveted accolades in the construction industry with…

JamFactory and Stylecraft are pleased to announce the establishment of an exciting new biennial award for Australian furniture design. The award is anticipated as one of Australia’s richest and most prestigious design awards and aims to raise the profile of Australian designers and encourage innovation in furniture design. The winner…

Community-oriented projects have dominated the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2014 National Architecture Awards, announced Thursday 6 November at a ceremony hosted by Myf Warhurst at the Darwin Convention Centre. Projects honoured include a housing project with an emphasis on communal spaces, a mental health facility with a welcoming domestic feel,…