<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

<h3 data-end="3697" data-section-id="q3n5ak" data-start="3672">&nbsp;</h3>
</main>

Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

Sustainability

<html><body>
Embarking on a new decade welcomes <a href="/expert-insights/buying/reimagining-the-norm-of-apartment-design">the next era of design trends</a>, building innovation and technology. Architects, urban planners, builders and developers will collectively relook at how our built environment responds to social, cultural and environmental shifts — as well as buyer demand. 

Based off industry dialogue and the exploration of new technology in 2019, we’ve compiled a list of building design predictions we’re expecting to see become more prevalent over the next few years.

1. Buyers are becoming more aware of what their home is built of and are driving a market shift for quality over quantity

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/5environmentaldesigns.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="327" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/5environmentaldesigns.jpg?itok=6FTt-4uf" width="580"></a></figure>Urban has noticed a shift in buyer demand for a more <a href="/news/5-of-melbourne-s-environmentally-conscious-new-development-highlights">sustainable approach to building design and construction</a>. Buyers are keen to play a more active role in ensuring their home is built to a high standard, using quality, safe and eco-conscious building materials. As home seekers move towards a more environmentally friendly lifestyle (including everything from food choices to beauty products), the conversation around harmful toxins and pollutants extends to the construction of their home too. With this sentiment in mind developers are actively marketing the health benefits of their properties, from “low VOC and formaldehyde-free” building materials to above minimum standard insulation for excellent thermal performance. These building choices both boost resident health and wellbeing, as well as lift the value of the home, <a href="/news/kelvin-rachel-taing-of-excelon-projects-discuss-buyer-demand-for-sustainable-developments">providing developers with a strong incentive</a> to uplift the quality of their developments in 2020. 

2. Solar technology is being developed for more seamlessly integrated uses

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/the-general-in-northcote-melbourne-c111218-p12_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/the-general-in-northcote-melbourne-c111218-p12_0.jpg?itok=XVFNNruR" width="580"></a></figure>What was once an arbitrary placement of photovoltaic panels on residential roofing – solar technology has been developed to deliver more seamless integration within our built environment. Northcote’s The General impressed us with cutting edge <a href="/news/spotlight-on-sustainable-the-general-melbourne">photovoltaic balustrades</a>, giving the glass a dual purpose, and more aesthetic consideration. In 2020, we’re likely to see greater use of the exciting new paper-thin solar technology used within developments. Scientists have been making thin films out of <a href="http://www.buffalo.edu/ubnow/stories/2020/01/zeng-thin-films%C2%A0">barium zirconium </a><a href="http://www.buffalo.edu/ubnow/stories/2020/01/zeng-thin-films%C2%A0">sulfide</a><a href="http://www.buffalo.edu/ubnow/stories/2020/01/zeng-thin-films%C2%A0"> (BaZrS3)</a>, a material which has exceptional electronic and optical properties. With the ability to absorb light effectively and its light-weight quality, makes the material an ideal option for photovoltaic conduction.

<blockquote>
“For many decades, there have been only a handful of semiconductor materials that have been used, with silicon being the dominant material... Our thin films open the door to a new direction in semiconductor research. There’s a chance to explore the potential of a whole new class of materials.”
</blockquote>

Hao Zeng, Lead researcher, Professor of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences

3. Communal offerings within apartments are becoming more creative and future-focused

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2019-11-13_at_3.14.20_pm_0.png" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="190" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2019-11-13_at_3.14.20_pm_0.png?itok=llI9krHe" width="580"></a></figure>Apartment-living has seen an increased buyer interest across the board from a varied range of property seekers, from first home buyer and investors to families and downsizers. The demand for apartment living has pushed developers to think of creative ways to accommodate the varying requirements of buyers from each demographic. In recent years, apartment amenities have extended beyond a pool, gym and communal rooftop, to state-of-the-art wellness facilities, on-site cinemas, golf simulation rooms and fully integrated master-planned precincts. A trend we’ve noticed which is likely to continue this year is the emphasis on grass-roots facility offerings - mimicking that of a detached dwelling. This includes communal vegetable patches, living areas, tools sheds, maker spaces, and composting/recycling facilities.

4. Climate change will see a greater emphasis placed on the circular economy and supply chain of building materials and furniture

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/123.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Photo credit: Nicholas Failla"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="327" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/123.jpg?itok=CtEkZsZl" title="Photo credit: Nicholas Failla" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Photo credit: Nicholas Failla</figcaption></figure>Having a green approach to business operation is becoming increasingly important to Australian companies’ strategies – and this approach encompasses the entire lifecycle of a product. Transparency within the supply chain means that the end-user (developer, builder, apartment owner) knows exactly where the materials have been sourced, who manufactured them and how it was transported to the final destination. Current conversation suggests that in the next few years, digital passports will be assigned to products so that buyers can confirm that the materials have been sourced ethically and environmentally consciously – as well as providing more accountability in the manufacturing line. 

<blockquote>
"Customers want clarity. It is expected that traceability will continue to become more prevalent and could reach the point where customers will be able to scan a product’s barcode at the point of sale and access data about its entire journey through the supply chain."
</blockquote>

Sean Galea-Pace, <a href="https://www.supplychaindigital.com/supply-chain-management/three-key-ways-tackle-supply-chain-2020%C2%A0">Supply Chain Digital</a>

Extending further than the supply chain is the circular economy, which looks at the recyclability of the product upon its end of use. This can mean opting for more natural, biodegradable products, or materials that can be repurposed after a building has been demolished.

<blockquote>
“We’re transforming the way we think about waste and resource recovery – developing a circular economy will deliver better environmental, social and economic results for Victoria.”
</blockquote>

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio

Good Environmental Choice Australia CEO, Kate Harris, recently had a chat with Apartments.com.au about the importance of implementing the circular economy concept here in Australia as a means to mitigate construction waste. Harris suggested that some key drivers towards growth in recycling and upcycling in the construction environment could be incentivising, as well as a shift in dialogue about how upcycling can be beneficial rather than a hindrance to your project. 

<blockquote>
“It is reframing it as ‘resource recovery’. If we start to see it differently, we’ll use it differently.”
</blockquote>

Kate Harris, Good Environmental Choice Australia CEO (Listen to the podcast here)

5. Passivhaus design is becoming more popular among Australian homeowners

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/thefern1-1.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="327" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/thefern1-1.jpg?itok=RGDv7mgv" width="580"></a></figure>The year 2019 saw the launch of Australia’s first Passivhaus apartment building, <a href="/news/no-dust-no-noise-no-bills-australias-first-passivhaus-apartments-are-almost-here">The Fern</a>, delivered by Steele Associates. Passivhaus design has proven to be a viable option for all parties – from its attractive financial savings for buyers (they can expect practically zero utility bills), to its environmentally-conscious energy-saving techniques and <a href="/news/oliver-steele-of-steele-associates-discusses-australian-building-codes-apartment-design">health benefits</a> (including exceptional ventilation, insulation and thermal bridging).

<blockquote>
“Passivhaus takes sustainable development to the next level, using proven building physics to create healthy living spaces that stay cool in summer and warm in winter with ultra-low energy use.”
</blockquote>

Oliver Steele, Steele Associates Director

With benefits that attract buyer demand and support developer’s commitments to environmental sustainability, it is likely we could see a rise in Passivhaus designed apartments in the pipeline for 2020.

6. Biophilic design is just as integral in commercial development as it is in residential

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/68clarkestsouthmelbourne_exterior_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="682" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/68clarkestsouthmelbourne_exterior_0.jpg?itok=BytWRjsS" width="580"></a></figure>Similar to Passivhaus design, Biophilic design is the human-centric approach to building design, by creating spaces which support the health and wellbeing of its residents. This can include promoting natural light and airflow, integrating urban greening through blurred indoor-outdoor distinction, adaptable floor-plans, and more. Last year, <a href="/news/elenberg-frasers-vicki-karavasil-discusses-market-lanes-biophilic-design-approach">Elenberg Fraser designed</a> an exciting new ‘non-office, office’ called Market Lane.

<blockquote>
“In Market Lane, biophilic design has been applied in ways where there is a direct relationship to nature in space. Landscape is the obvious one, however here we go far beyond a few scattered pots, this is seriously dense planting, undulating in height and form to create usable spaces of varying levels of intimacy.”
</blockquote>

Vicki Karavasil, Elenberg Fraser

In addition to landscaping, Market Lane features a central void which allows air to circulate freely, tracked air quality and lighting sensitive to the circadian rhythm. 

<blockquote>
“What needs to be understood, is that some of these strategies may cost more upfront, however in the long-run if they have huge benefits which can retain the major tenants who value wellness high in their company identity, and can in effect have economic benefits through the ability to adapt and control of building services based on occupant needs and patterns.”
</blockquote>

Vicki Karavasil, Elenberg Fraser

7. Retrofitting and repurposing of older buildings remains a viable option 

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/old-new_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="327" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/old-new_1.jpg?itok=w-4CMFWA" width="580"></a></figure>Australia’s cities are enriched with a unique tapestry of architecture and history, so where buildings can be preserved, it is often a desirable option to do so. With a future focus on climate change and environmental sustainability, the 'take, make and dispose' ideology is a concept that needs to change immediately if we want to see our planet regenerate any time soon.

By <a href="/news/upcycling-australia-why-demolish-when-you-can-re-polish">upcycling building materials</a> such as bricks, or historic facades, we can extend a material’s lifecycle, as well as reducing carbon emissions that would be used in the production of the brand new equivalent material. 

While entire building retrofits are costly and challenging, salvaging perfectly sound materials and preserving the unique quality of Australia’s historic architecture remains popular among architects, due to the unique quality of the finished result, and the ability to eliminate significant wastage.

<blockquote>
“Upcycling adds value by transforming or reinventing an otherwise-disposable item into something of higher quality.”
</blockquote>

William McDonough, Founding Principal of William McDonough + Partners

8. Carparking and car-use is likely to be reconsidered within both residential development and urban design

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/park2.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="327" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/park2.jpg?itok=h5BCykQK" width="580"></a></figure>With the rising popularity of car-sharing, taxi service apps and public transport upgrades, car use in Australia is changing drastically. This is encouraging designers and urban planners to <a href="/news/university-of-western-australia-students-discuss-disrupting-the-car-parking-status-quo-in-perth">relook at how car parking is integrated within our cities</a> and apartment buildings. <a href="/developers/nightingale-housing">Nightingale Housing</a> made a bold decision to avoid creating car parking spaces, and instead provide residents with a carsharing membership, which was approved by Moreland City Council as an appropriate solution. In the City of Melbourne, despite having more than 215,000 parking spaces available, approximately one-third are <a href="https://profile.id.com.au/perth/car-ownership">not used every day</a>. 

Over the course of 2020, we are expecting to see further developments in the introduction of electric car charging facilities, integration of car-sharing and <a href="/news/high-yield-produce-gardens-with-next-to-no-maintenance-are-set-to-transform-australias-apartment-gardens">innovative repurposing of disused parking spaces</a>. 
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Olivia Round

Urban’s 8 building design predictions for 2020

Environmental stewardship deserves commendation as advocates push eco-accreditation 

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GUEST OBSERVATION 
Despite 28 years of uninterrupted economic growth, future generations of Australians face being worse off due to increasing household debt, cost-of-living pressures, rising wealth inequality, climate change impacts and environmental degradation.
But our <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-019-0409-9" target="_blank">new research</a> finds a fairer, greener and more prosperous Australia is possible – so long as political leaders don’t focus just on economic growth.
Evaluating Australia’s progress by 2030
We modelled four development scenarios for Australia through to 2030:
<ul>
<li>“Growth at all Costs”, emphasising economic growth</li>
<li>“Green Economy”, emphasising environmental outcomes</li>
<li>“Inclusive Growth”, emphasising social equality</li>
<li>“Sustainability Transition”, balancing economic, social and environmental outcomes.</li>
</ul>
Each scenario involved different policy and investment settings, particularly around tax and subsidies, government expenditure and private investment.
We then evaluated each scenario against the <a href="https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/" target="_blank">Sustainable Development Goals</a>, an internationally recognised set of targets and indicators that measure national progress in 17 major areas. These include economic growth, poverty, inequality, education, health, clean water and clean energy.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/302095/original/file-20191118-66971-1ur4w7y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
<a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY-NC-SA</a>
Goals, targets and indicators
Each goal involves multiple targets and indicators. Goal 8, for example, is “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”. This involves 10 targets including per capita economic growth, decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, and protecting labour rights. Each target comes with at least one indicator (for example, the growth rate of real GDP per capita, material consumption per GDP, and the rate of occupational injuries).
In all, the 17 goals cover 169 targets. Because Australia has not adopted SDG targets, we chose 52 of those (with about 100 indicators) then modelled Australia’s progress in 2030 using our four scenarios.
The graph below shows each scenario’s score (with 0% meaning no progress, 100% target achieved) on each of the 17 goals. We also calculated an average score for each scenario across all goals to aid comparison.
Growth alone is not the answer
Our model projects a business-as-usual approach will achieve progress of about 40% across all goals and targets. The “Growth at all Costs’ scenario scored only slightly better: 42%.
Economic growth – defined as an increase in a nation’s production of goods and services – is generally measured by the annual change in real gross domestic product (GDP).
Our "Growth at all Costs” scenario involves accelerating economic growth through higher population growth and lower taxes. Net migration is modelled as being 350,000 a year by 2030, with the population reaching just over 30 million. The government’s tax revenue as a proportion of GDP is 10% less than now as a result of lower tax rates.
Government spending is about 15% less (as a percentage of GDP), with cuts particularly to health, education and social security, but more spending on transport infrastructure. There are no new measures to tackle greenhouse gas emissions, land degradation or other environmental concerns.
In our modelling this scenario increases GDP growth to about 2.6% a year, with low unemployment and declining government debt. But it comes at the expense of income inequality and the environment.
Even on the one goal it might be expected to do relatively well – Goal 8 – this scenario performs quite poorly. That’s because the goal measures per capita GDP growth, not just the total GDP growth most politicians talk about, along with a range of social and environmental indicators.
The following graphs show how the four scenarios compare on real GDP (i.e. adjusted for inflation), per capita GDP, income inequality and greenhouse gas emissions.
Sustainability transition
With an overall score of 70%, the “Sustainability Transition” scenario is the clear winner.
This scenario modelled slower population growth and higher taxes on consumption, income and profits and trade. With net migration of 100,000 a year by 2030, the population reaches about 28 million. Tax revenue as a percentage of GDP is about 8.5% higher than now. This funds more spending on health, education and social security, as well as the equivalent to 1% of GDP on the sustainability of transport, water, energy, agriculture and energy systems.
The overall result is economic growth of about 2.1% a year, with government debt 10% higher than our business-as-usual projection.
But per capita GDP is higher. Unemployment and income inequality are lower. Fewer people live in relative poverty, and life expectancy is higher. Energy, water and resource consumption is down. So are greenhouse gas emissions. There is more forested land. This delivers a more prosperous, fairer and greener nation in 2030.
Possible futures
These results run contrary to the “growth and jobs” narrative that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/heres-how-many-times-scott-morrisons-budget-speech-used-the-catchphrase-jobs-and-growth-2016-5" target="_blank">dominates political debate in Australia</a>. Both sides of politics emphasise economic growth as the key to prosperity. But this narrative is clearly flawed when we look at a broader set of issues.
The Sustainable Development Goals seek to capture all of these issues in a coherent way. Our study explores four plausible futures, and there are many other possible combinations that could be explored with worse or better results.
What is clear is that business as usual certainly won’t ensure Australia has a more prosperous, fairer and environmentally sustainable society.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/126823/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Cameron Allen, Researcher, UNSW.
Graciela Metternicht, Professor of Environmental Geography, School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW.
Thomas Wiedmann, Associate Professor, UNSW.
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-modelled-4-scenarios-for-australias-future-economic-growth-alone-cant-deliver-the-goods-126823" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

We modelled four scenarios for Australia’s future. Economic growth alone can’t deliver the goods

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The City of Sydney has brokered a $60 million green energy deal with Flow Power – which is said to be the biggest standalone renewables deal made by any Australian council.

The new initiative will aim to meet the city’s electricity needs using only wind and solar to power all city-owned properties by mid-2020. These properties include pools, libraries, playing fields, depots, council buildings, and even the Sydney Town Hall.

<blockquote>
“It’s exciting to see the City of Sydney take on renewables as the cornerstone of a holistic energy strategy. This deal will empower the City to tap into the wholesale energy market and support the system. This is the forward-thinking approach to energy that will drive us toward the new energy future... We need organisations to lead by example when it comes to their energy strategy. If just 20 per cent of the market followed the City’s lead, it would drive investment in 11 gigawatt of new renewable generation – that’s double the current pipeline of renewable projects.”
</blockquote>

Matthew van der Linden, Flow Power CEO

By converting to renewable energy – specifically three-quarters of energy has been dedicated to wind power and one-quarter solar – the city will save up to half a million dollars over the next 10 years.

Power will now be sourced from the following renewable farms:

<h2>Sapphire Wind Farm</h2>

Farm output: 270 megawatts

Where: Near Glenn Innes, northern NSW

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/sapphire_wind_farm.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Sapphire Wind Farm. Credit: City of Sydney/Sapphire Wind Farm"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="411" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/sapphire_wind_farm.jpg?itok=UMEKTxyl" title="Sapphire Wind Farm. Credit: City of Sydney/Sapphire Wind Farm" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Sapphire Wind Farm. Credit: City of Sydney/Sapphire Wind Farm</figcaption></figure><h2>Bomen Solar Farm</h2>

Farm output: 120 megawatts

Where: Near Wagga Wagga, south west NSW

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/bomen_solar_farm.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Bomen Solar Farm. Credit: City of Sydney/Bomen Solar Farm"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/bomen_solar_farm.jpg?itok=jYPz0cZH" title="Bomen Solar Farm. Credit: City of Sydney/Bomen Solar Farm" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Bomen Solar Farm. Credit: City of Sydney/Bomen Solar Farm</figcaption></figure>The deal will aim to support the state’s drought-stricken areas, create more work opportunities for the community and further reduce harmful emissions – an important step towards Sydney’s transition to a low carbon future.

<blockquote>
“The science is clear, without urgent, co-ordinated and global action to reduce emissions in the next decade, we face a very high risk of triggering runaway climate change. “This new commitment will see the City’s operations cut emissions by around 20,000 tonnes a year – equivalent to the power consumption of 8,000 local households."
</blockquote>

Lord Mayor Clover Moore

Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore also explained that this initiative provides a great opportunity to strive towards the <a href="/news/a-greener-future-green-building-council-australia-discuss-climate-change">Paris climate change agreement</a>. 

<blockquote>
“Successive Australian Governments have shamefully presided over a climate disaster, and now we are at a critical juncture. We can act here in Sydney, but we desperately need the Australian Government to reintroduce a price on carbon to meet our Paris emissions reduction targets, and to establish a Just Transition Authority to ensure Australians employed in fossil fuel industries find appropriate alternate employment.”
</blockquote>

The budget will also allow $5 million to see the creation of a community solar farm project come to life, which will be developed by Repower Shoalhaven. The project will aim to provide local employment, and the ability to generate enough energy to power around 1,000 NSW homes. Anticipated completion of the project has been slated for 2020.

<blockquote>
“We are proud to be a part of this significant commitment from the City to advance a sustainable decarbonized future. This will enable a regional community to participate through the purchase of power from our not for profit scheme and support local jobs. Thank you, City of Sydney.”
</blockquote>

Robert Hayward, Repower Shoalhaven spokesperson

NSW government is also <a href="https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/nsw-free-solar-panels-save-300-234117410">planning</a> to have 7,800 solar panels installed on buildings across the city by mid-2021.

<h2>A SUSTAINABLE PAST</h2>

Ever since 2006, Sydney has been leading the way in terms of sustainability, starting with a 26% electricity usage decrease, and preceding to become certified carbon neutral by 2011. Over the years the NSW government has facilitated a stream of energy efficiency investments and initiatives to come to fruition. 

These investments include:

<ul>
<li>Replacing 6,500 streetlights with LED bulbs, saving $800,000 and reducing 2,400 tonnes of carbon emission annually</li>
	<li>1,600 solar panels have been installed at Alexandra Canal Depot and have the state’s first utility-installed Tesla batteries. Each battery can store &lt;500 kilowatt-hours of electricity, which is equivalent to the daily needs of 50 city homes or 50,000 mobile phone batteries</li>
	<li>The City of Sydney has partnered with Ausgrid to upgrade the 9,500 Ausgrid-owned street lights to LED, saving 3,500 tonnes of carbon and $1 million in annual maintenance and energy costs</li>
	<li>Solar panels have been installed on over 30 office buildings, pools, libraries and community centres</li>
	<li>40 buildings have been upgraded within the City’s building portfolio to be more energy-efficient, saving 6500 tonnes of carbon emissions and $2.3 million per year</li>
	<li>Energy-efficient technology installed at several swimming pools, saving nearly 1,000 tonnes of emissions per year</li>
</ul>
<h2>FREE SOLAR PANELS FOR NSW HOMEOWNERS</h2>

Another secondary green initiative will also see a series of solar panels distributed to 3,000 low socioeconomic households across the state. NSW government has recently launched an <a href="https://energysaver.nsw.gov.au/households/solar-and-battery-power/solar-low-income-households">online eligibility checker</a> for interested homeowners to find out if they qualify for the trial.

The <a href="https://energysaver.nsw.gov.au/households/solar-and-battery-power/solar-low-income-households">criteria</a> list requires entrants to be currently receiving the Low Income Household Rebate, a valid Pensioner Concession Card or Department of Veteran’s Affairs Gold Card, no pre-existing solar PV system, own your own home (which is not in a retirement village or strata building) and agree not to get the Low Income Household Rebate for ten years.

Applicants must also live in:

<ul>
<li>Central Coast</li>
	<li>North Coast</li>
	<li>Sydney – South</li>
	<li>Illawarra – Shoalhaven</li>
	<li>South Coast</li>
</ul>
Lead image: Matthew van der Linden, Lord Mayor Clover Moore and Robert Haywood. 
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Sydney says goodbye to coal electricity powering city-owned buildings with $60 million green energy deal

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Imagine growing 100-400 organic lettuces per lineal metre (a space of approximately 1.5m x 1.5m x 2.2m) in your apartment’s underused basement with almost no maintenance. Thanks to clever engineering, smart technology and horticulture experimentation, the future of modern farming is here – and it could be set to revolutionise apartment gardens in the near future. 

Installing edible community gardens in apartment buildings help developers attain higher sustainability credentials as well as create a sense of community within the complex. However, often the produce-yield is meagre due to residents not having the time to tend to the communal garden. Sydney-based company Invertigro has designed two modular vertical planting units to be integrated within an indoor space with very low ongoing costs and minimal effort ­– making it the perfect solution for shared apartment gardens.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/inverticube_close_up_crops_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Inverticube lettuce crops"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="744" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/inverticube_close_up_crops_2.jpg?itok=MInKSGmb" title="Inverticube lettuce crops" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Inverticube lettuce crops</figcaption></figure>­­

<h2>HOW IT WORKS</h2>

The system has been designed and engineered to be highly productive and easy to use, giving communities the autonomy to grow their own produce.

<blockquote>
“[Inverticubes and Invertiwalls] are designed to enable communities and businesses alike to become successful modern farmers with little or no prior expertise and minimal intervention from planting to harvest.”
</blockquote>

Ben Lee, CEO, Invertigro

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/crops_in_lights_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Inverticubes can be installed in basements and disused car parking spaces while Invertiwalls are best suited for foyers and other communal indoor areas."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="868" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/crops_in_lights_1.jpg?itok=nLSZFQZr" title="Inverticubes can be installed in basements and disused car parking spaces while Invertiwalls are best suited for foyers and other communal indoor areas." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Inverticubes can be installed in basements and disused car parking spaces while Invertiwalls are best suited for foyers and other communal indoor areas.</figcaption></figure>Inverticubes can be installed in basements and disused car parking spaces while Invertiwalls are best suited for foyers and other communal indoor areas.

<blockquote>
“We have also had significant interest from property developers to incorporate our farms in their mixed use (residential and commercial) developments - to supply residents and local businesses with fresh produce, meet sustainability goals, and help build a sense of community.”
</blockquote>

Ben Lee, CEO, Invertigro

To accommodate the demand for residential products, the team have developed a smaller-scale green wall product which is both aesthetically pleasing and edible. This product can be integrated within all residential developments, commercial premises and food courts.

<h2>BETTER FOR YOU</h2>

Convenience

The automated and programmed control and monitoring systems deliver precise light, water and nutrient requirements for each set of crops to produce the perfect yield every time. All that is required of gardeners is to germinate and transfer the seedlings and harvest the crops when ready.

High yield

The system has the ability to grow food at commercial farming scale and modular units can be installed to increase crop production. 

Health benefits

All crops are organic and free from herbicides and pesticides, providing a healthier alternative to the majority of store-bought produce. The ability to produce fruit and vegetables at scale will effectively reduce the cost to consumers, meaning more people will have access to affordable, healthy food options.

<h2>BETTER FOR THE PLANET</h2>

This innovative method of food production addresses some of the most pressing issues in agriculture and food production today. Some of the many environmental benefits include:

<ul>
<li>Fewer transport emissions</li>
	<li>No runoff waste</li>
	<li>Less land acquisition, water and runoffs</li>
	<li>No herbicides or pesticides</li>
	<li>Less food wastage due to less “food miles” (time in transit to stores)</li>
</ul>
<h2>BETTER FOR THE COMMUNITY</h2>

In order to assess how edible community gardens can be integrated within the broader community, it’s important to consider placement and access. RMIT Associate Professor and urban planning specialist Wendy Steele suggested that many apartment gardens are “closed, premium spaces of exclusion and privilege” – meaning that only a small portion of the population benefit from the rewards of urban gardening.  

<blockquote>
“We urgently need innovative eco-city form and design such as vertical greening, but future visions of the green city must not just serve technological and/or economic ambitions but have eco-social fairness and equity principles at the core.”
</blockquote>

Wendy Steele, RMIT Associate Professor and Urban Planner

This concept poses a unique opportunity for developers to give back to the community by installing community garden systems to be enjoyed by all.

A study by the Faculty of Built Environment at UNSW Sydney found that in-situ community gardens can also play a significant role in enhancing the health and wellbeing of residents. The study projected a rise in community gardens over the next few years,

<blockquote>
“The importance of community gardens to Australian city dwellers is likely to grow as the trend for consolidated and densely populated urban areas increases... It is essential that urban planners and policy makers respond to the changing trends in residential living and open up the public sphere for community gardening.”
</blockquote>

The Role of Community Gardens in Sustaining Healthy Communities <a href="http://-%09http://soac.fbe.unsw.edu.au/2007/SOAC/theroleofcommunitygardens.pdf">article</a>

Other findings from the study found that urban oases foster neighbourhood cohesion, and promote “physical, social, and mental wellbeing”.

The use of modern technology such as Invertigro is not only set to revolutionise agricultural practices, but also provides the chance to engage the wider community in food production, and deliver more affordable, fresh produce en masse.

<blockquote>
“At InvertiGro our focus is on enabling rather than disrupting - we have been inspired and driven by the pursuit of ‘feeding the world the smarter way’.”
</blockquote>

Paul Millett, COO, Invertigro
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High-yield produce gardens with next-to-no maintenance are set to enhance apartment living in Australia

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Australia is setting a world precedent with ground-breaking sustainable building designs coming to fruition year after year. Today we’re taking a look at Australia’s first apartment complex to integrate solar balustrades into its design – taking out an impressive 7.5-star NatHERS energy rating.

If you've explored Northcote's High Street recently, then you may be familiar with the illustrious building, <a href="/buildings/the-general-421-high-street-northcote">The General</a>, which occupies the corner north-facing section at High and Bent streets.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/the-general-in-northcote-melbourne-c111218-p2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The General exterior view from Bent Street. Credit: Peter Clarke"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/the-general-in-northcote-melbourne-c111218-p2.jpg?itok=SXTRYPuc" title="The General exterior view from Bent Street. Credit: Peter Clarke" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The General exterior view from Bent Street. Credit: Peter Clarke</figcaption></figure>Designed by award-winning <a href="/architects/ckairouz-architects">C.Kairouz Architects</a>, The General's leading sustainability credentials were a definitive goal from the outset – with the photovoltaic glass panels being one of many design features to be included in the final design.   

<blockquote>
“Although it took a leap of faith to adopt untried initiatives, the architecture of The General is a resounding success both aesthetically and practically, ensuring the sustainable viability for many years to come.”
</blockquote>

Cedar Group Developments

The glass panels were provided by Environmental Technology Solutions (ETS) and cover an area of 130 square metres, meaning the building is able to generate 2,075 kWh per year and eliminates the release of 1.95 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

<blockquote>
“Pioneering the photovoltaic glass product encourages future development and refinement of the product to make it more commercial and increase the public awareness and philosophy for it to be adopted by others in the future. We feel that industry recognition and support of our initiative is important in spreading the message.”
</blockquote>

Chahid Kairouz, C.Kairouz Architects

Other sustainability measures include adding 25,000-litre rainwater tank capacity which is used to flush 50 toilets and 137 bicycle parks for resident use.

The General features a modern, convex glass feature piece which adorns two street-facing facades. The glass can be illuminated at night, and one side even features a striking pattern which depicts a Victorian general on a horse – which pays homage to architect Kairouz’ father, who was affectionately nicknamed ‘The General’ and owned the site’s former butcher’s shop.

<blockquote>
“It was extremely important to reflect my father’s values in the design of the general; not only for sentimental value but to stand the test of time in its design and its use of cutting-edge sustainable technology on the facade; a combination makes the building and the apartments be relevant for longer." 
</blockquote>

Chahid Kairouz, C.Kairouz Architects

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/the-general-in-northcote-melbourne-c111218-p12.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Glass pattern featuring a Victorian general on a horse. Credit: Peter Clarke"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/the-general-in-northcote-melbourne-c111218-p12.jpg?itok=uz188PLX" title="Glass pattern featuring a Victorian general on a horse. Credit: Peter Clarke" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Glass facade featuring a Victorian general on a horse. Credit: Peter Clarke</figcaption></figure>The design also features three hollowed-out voids which aim to distribute natural light and encourage airflow throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

READ MORE: <a href="/news/5-of-melbourne-s-environmentally-conscious-new-development-highlights">5 of Melbourne’s environmentally conscious new-development highlights</a>

<h2>THE GENERAL AT A GLANCE</h2>

<ul>
<li>Approximately 2087 square metres of land across 6 titles</li>
	<li>87 apartments across eight storeys</li>
	<li>Three underground basement levels</li>
	<li>Communal gym</li>
	<li>Views to the CBD</li>
	<li>137 bicycle parks</li>
	<li>25,000-litre rainwater tank</li>
	<li>130 square metres of solar balustrades</li>
</ul>
<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/the-general-in-northcote-melbourne-c111218-p9.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The General's on-site gym. Credit: Peter Clarke"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="317" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/the-general-in-northcote-melbourne-c111218-p9.jpg?itok=wHmiB9zo" title="The General's on-site gym. Credit: Peter Clarke" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The General's on-site gym. Credit: Peter Clarke</figcaption></figure><figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/a325_valeo_highstnthcote_mwilliams_023_2048px_72dpi.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Apartment balcony. Credit: Valeo Construction"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="381" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/a325_valeo_highstnthcote_mwilliams_023_2048px_72dpi.jpg?itok=UtY3tVLB" title="Apartment balcony. Credit: Valeo Construction" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Apartment balcony. Credit: Valeo Construction</figcaption></figure><figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/a325_valeo_highstnthcote_mwilliams_009_2048px_72dpi.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="One of The General's apartment kitchens. Credit: Valeo Construction"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="381" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/a325_valeo_highstnthcote_mwilliams_009_2048px_72dpi.jpg?itok=Uuxzv3Fw" title="One of The General's apartment kitchens. Credit: Valeo Construction" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>One of The General's apartment kitchens. Credit: Valeo Construction</figcaption></figure><figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/a325_valeo_highstnthcote_mwilliams_008_2048px_72dpi.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Interior fireplace and storage. Credit: Valeo Construction"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="381" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/a325_valeo_highstnthcote_mwilliams_008_2048px_72dpi.jpg?itok=pe2X_XpY" title="Interior fireplace and storage. Credit: Valeo Construction" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Interior fireplace and storage. Credit: Valeo Construction</figcaption></figure>Lead image: The General, High Street facade. Credit: Peter Clarke.
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Spotlight on sustainable: The General, Melbourne

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Australia has made a global commitment to “sustainable agriculture”, an endeavour seen as increasingly crucial to ending world poverty, halting biodiversity loss, and combating climate change.
A recent report from the UN found land use – including food production – is responsible for around <a href="https://theconversation.com/un-climate-change-report-land-clearing-and-farming-contribute-a-third-of-the-worlds-greenhouse-gases-121551" target="_blank">one-third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions</a>.
Unfortunately, Australia has something of a sustainable agriculture policy vacuum, after years of a fragmented, stop-start approach.
To honour our international obligations and respond to growing sustainability markets, Australia urgently needs a contemporary definition of sustainable agriculture, including agreed on-farm metrics.
Good policy abandoned
Australia spent more than a decade developing promising policies that defined sustainable agriculture with broad indicators for measuring progress.
In 1997 Australia passed <a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdb/au/legis/cth/consol_act/nhtoaa1997371/" target="_blank">federal legislation</a> defining “sustainable agriculture” as:
"Agricultural practices and systems that maintain or improve […] the economic viability of agricultural production; the social viability and well-being of rural communities; […] biodiversity; the natural resource base [and] ecosystems that are influenced by agricultural activities."
The following year, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Resource Management published a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/8552310?selectedversion=NBD44018881" target="_blank">broad set indicators</a>.
During the early 2000s a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3572009" target="_blank">national framework</a> of Environmental Management Systems was developed, and <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/5717700" target="_blank">national pilots</a> were conducted across Australia up until 2006.
Between <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4624.0Main+Features12004-05?OpenDocument" target="_blank">2004</a> and <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4620.0" target="_blank">2006</a> the Australian Bureau of Statistics recorded farmers’ investment in natural resource management. However these surveys have not been replicated in more than a decade.
In 2005, the states and territories formed a joint working group to create a national approach to property management systems. This group met with industry representatives and regional land managers throughout 2006, and in 2007 the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry planned a pathway for a national policy. There was much hope and enthusiasm it would soon become a reality.
However, since 2008 there has been no progress and little, if any, explanation for why this important sustainable agriculture policy initiative was shelved.
Current policy vacuum
It is concerning that Australia’s first progress report on implementing the <a href="https://dfat.gov.au/aid/topics/development-issues/2030-agenda/Documents/sdg-voluntary-national-review.pdf" target="_blank">sustainable development goals</a> contains the words “sustainable agriculture” only once in 130 pages, as part of the heading for the goal of ending hunger.
The definition arrived at in 1997 is far too broad and simplistic, and can’t be used at the farm level.
When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture reiterated their commitment to improving sustainable food production, and said:
"Australia is involved in global discussions about how best to measure sustainable agriculture performance […] However a globally agreed methodology has not been set for [agricultural sustainability]."
Australia’s only substantial sustainable agriculture policy mechanism at the moment appears to be grants available through the <a href="http://www.nrm.gov.au/" target="_blank">National Landcare Program</a>. This is reiterated by searching through key Coalition <a href="https://www.liberal.org.au/our-plan" target="_blank">policy documents</a> and the recent budget.
The budget allocation to the overall National Landcare Program is around A$1 billion from 2017 to 2023. New programs announced in the 2019 budget that build on this commitment include:
<ul>
<li>A$100 million over four years for the <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/environment-restoration-fund" target="_blank">environment restoration fund</a>,</li>
<li>A$34 million over four years for a new biodiversity stewardship program,</li>
<li>A$28.3 million for a new communities environment program for 2019-20, and</li>
<li>A$2 billion over 15 years for the <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/government/climate-solutions-fund" target="_blank">climate solutions fund</a>.</li>
</ul>
These programs combined equate to some A$354 million per year. But a coherent sustainable agriculture policy cannot be delivered through grants alone.
And even though these grants are substantial, past ABS surveys found that farmers invest at least A$3 billion a year in natural resource management. The Indigenous on-country contribution is currently unknown, but likely to be substantial.
Caring for country fund
Around 10% of Australia’s population lives in rural or remote areas. These comparatively small communities – largely farmers and Indigenous land managers – currently steward most of the country.
A review released in late July on how <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/information-for/farmers/agriculture-review" target="_blank">conservation laws affect the agriculture sector</a> has recommended the federal government create a A$1 billion fund for farmers who deliver environment benefits from their land.
This mirrors calls from farmers for an <a href="https://mk0australianfa1qtvu.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/NFF_2019-Federal-Election-Platform_2_Growing-Sustainably.pdf" target="_blank">ecosystem services fund</a>.
If our <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/Media-centre/Media-releases/2016-17-Tax-Stats-released/" target="_blank">13.9 million</a> taxpayers contributed some A$60 each per year in a “caring for country” levy, urban and rural Australians could more fairly share the costs – as well as the advantages – of sustainable land management.
We could start with revisiting the good work undertaken more than a decade ago in developing a national framework for property management systems.
Underpinning such a system, we need an independent and trusted source of metrics for farmers, land managers and agricultural industries. To this end, the University of New England is <a href="/news">establishing a research hub</a> to help develop just such a harmonised approach.
There are many good news stories of sustainable agriculture around Australia, however our ongoing biodiversity crisis requires transformative policy change and federal leadership.
One bold first step would be addressing the current paradox of sustainable agriculture in Australia.

<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/120597/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">

Jacqueline Williams, Senior Research Fellow &amp; Lecturer, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England.
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-urgently-needs-real-sustainable-agriculture-policy-120597" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Australia urgently needs real sustainable agriculture policy

Upcycling Australia: Why demolish when you can re-polish?

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Bank Australia is due to assist in delivering the Sustainable Australia Fund, which will expand an original Melbourne-centric finance model to a national scale, to include NSW and South Australia. The fund provides businesses with upfront capital to make environmentally conscious upgrades to their buildings.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/saf.png" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="218" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/saf.png?itok=GyjVbhFd" width="580"></a></figure>The original Sustainable Melbourne Fund was established by Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood 17 years ago with a goal to drive business innovation, reduce emissions and mitigate climate change impacts by the private sector. The City of Melbourne has agreed to divest from the scheme to allow it to grow to a national scale.

<blockquote>
“Our seed funding and support for the fund has unlocked more than $30 million in environmental infrastructure upgrades for Victorian businesses. This has enabled the abatement of more than 300,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions… We could not be prouder of the success of Sustainable Melbourne Fund and the outcomes it has achieved in supporting Victorian businesses create savings and environmental upgrades through access to loans, which are repaid through council rates.”
</blockquote>

- Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood

In 2010, the City of Melbourne created Australia’s first Environmental Upgrade Agreement with support from the Victorian State government. The loans have enabled Victorian businesses to offset of more than 300,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions as well as reduce energy costs due to upgraded operation infrastructure.

<blockquote>
“From the first environmental upgrade agreement signed in 2011 at 460 Collins Street, solar PV projects in a number of municipalities, to a multi-million dollar water treatment plant in regional Victoria, it’s exciting to know we’ve delivered some great results in saving money, reducing environmental impact and driving new business."
</blockquote>

- City of Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood

The new national initiative will provide access to an Environmental Upgrade Finance loan of up to $200 million. Businesses can apply for funding to cover a number of environmental projects, including energy, water or waste performance. The loan will then be paid back via the quarterly council rates. 

<h2>WHAT THEY SAY</h2>

<blockquote>
“We’re proud to support the launch of the Sustainable Australia Fund to enable it to expand its impact across Australia which aligns with our purpose of creating positive impact for people and the planet.”
</blockquote>

Darren Dawson, Head of Impact Finance at Bank Australia

<blockquote>
“It’s truly a testament to the success of the original goals of Sustainable Melbourne Fund that it can now expand its reach beyond the borders of Victoria.”
</blockquote>

City of Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood

<blockquote>
“The City of Melbourne has demonstrated tremendous leadership since 2002 in facilitating environmental infrastructure upgrades for Victorian businesses. It has supported industry and commercial properties, and more recently, agricultural businesses and farmers to upgrade their facilities through accessible loans.”
</blockquote>

Scott Bocskay, CEO of Sustainable Australia Fund

<h2>CASE STUDY</h2>

460 Collins Street

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/front-of-460-collins-street-e1395900264831.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="460 Collins Street. Credit: Sustainable Melbourne Fund"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="327" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/front-of-460-collins-street-e1395900264831.jpg?itok=zEn9QCwT" title="460 Collins Street. Credit: Sustainable Melbourne Fund" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>460 Collins Street. Credit: Sustainable Melbourne Fund</figcaption></figure>460 Collins Street in Melbourne was originally constructed in 1939, so in order to reach a higher level of sustainability, the building was retrofit with a highly efficient PowerPax chiller, as well as a new control system. Controllers were also fitted into the existing VAV boxes and air-handling units. This significantly reduced energy consumption from the air conditioning system resulting in an energy bill saving of $11,000 per annum, and 170 tonnes of CO2-e.

<h2>WHAT WILL BE COVERED BY THE FUND?</h2>

Building Upgrades       

Building fabric insulation upgrade

Cool roof coating

External solar shading

Green roof installation

High-performance windows

Reduce building infiltration/exfiltration

Energy source

Domestic Hot Water sustainability via technology  upgrade

Reduced carbon on-site energy source

Grid-connected renewable energy, with or without battery storage.

Solar thermal hot water

Power factor correction

Lighting

Lighting control upgrades

Lighting technology upgrade

Plant Upgrades

Drive and fan efficiency upgrades

Duct testing and sealing

Ducting and piping insulation

HVAC efficiency via control upgrade

HVAC technology upgrade

Permanent high-efficiency commercial appliances

Permanent refrigeration upgrades

Pool efficiency upgrades

Water

Blackwater system

Greywater system

Rainwater system

Water efficiency measures

<h2>COUNCILS CURRENTLY ACCEPTING EUA* APPLICATIONS</h2>

(*Environmental Upgrade Agreement)

Victoria

Baw Baw Shire Council

Brimbank City Council

Campaspe Shire Council

Cardinia Shire Council

Central Goldfields Shire

City of Greater Bendigo Council

City of Greater Geelong Council

City of Melbourne

City of Kingston

City of Monash Council

Darebin City Council

Greater Dandenong Council

Greater Shepparton Council

Hobsons Bay City Council

Horsham Rural City Council

Knox City Council

Macedon Ranges Shire Council

Maribyrnong City Council

Mildura Rural City Council

Mitchell Shire Council

Moira Shire Council

Moonee Valley Council

Moreland City Council

Mornington Peninsula Shire

Mount Alexander Shire Council

South Gippsland Shire Council

Warrnambool City Council

Wellington Shire Council

Wyndam City Shire Council

Yarra Ranges Council

New South Wales 

Blacktown City Council

Parramatta City Council

City of North Sydney

City of Sydney

South Australia 

City of Adelaide (CoA)

City of Salisbury

City of Marion

City of Onkaparinga
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Bank Australia to support sustainable infrastructure upgrades across three states

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Sustainability expert Davina Rooney will join the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) as the new chief executive officer.
She was formerly the General Manager of Sustainability and Corporate Procurement at Stockland.
Davina brings her experience as an engineer and 'change agent' to Australia’s authority on sustainable buildings and communities.
GBCA Chair Rod Fehring said, “Davina has led Stockland to be a global leader on sustainability in property, achieving  a raft of international accolades from leading organisations DJSI, GRESB and CDP. Davina has also steered industry-leading initiatives at Stockland, including the largest rollout of solar panels in the property industry and the most Green Star Design &amp; As Built rated shopping centres in the country.    
Davina said she would focus on achieving real outcomes for low-energy buildings and communities. 
“The GBCA, and outgoing CEO Romilly Madew AO, have had a transformational impact on the Australian market and this is something I look forward to building on in the years ahead. 
Davina won numerous awards including the NAWIC NSW 2016 Sustainability Award, PCA 2014 Future Leaders Award and Sydney University Engineering Young Alumni Award. 
She has contributed to the GBCA as a member of the Green Star Steering Committee for the last three years, and the Green Star Advisory Committee over the last 12 months and has recently completed her two-year term as the Chair of the Property Council’s National Sustainability Roundtable.
The outgoing chief executive officer Romilly Madew AO acted as CEO for more than thirteen years,
She is departing to take on the role of Infrastructure Australia chief executive officer.
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