A group of architects in Canberra have created a competition to showcase exemplary homes that demonstrate significant reductions in their carbon footprints.
The ACT is projected to build around 100,000 new homes in the next 25 years, and combined with the territory’s interim C02 emissions targets, it presents an opportunity to lower the emissions of each new house constructed.
Architect and former ACT and national president of the Australian Institute of Architects Melinda Dodson initiated the Canberra Low Carbon Housing Challenge “to showcase the many exemplars already happening in the ACT and surrounding region and affirm the liveability and attainability of low carbon homes.”
“Housing currently remains on a trajectory well outside of our committed decarbonization targets and reducing our housing carbon footprint is a key element of our overall low carbon transformation.”
The competition is open to registered Canberra architects undertaking low- to medium-density housing of up to three storeys.
Little Loft House by Light House Architecture and Science has energy savings of up to 80% of that of the typical Canberra home.
Image:
Ben Wrigley
Architects can enter as many projects as they wish – either in progress or constructed. The projects will be assessed using the RapidLCA tool against the standard Canberra base case house.
The categories will be divided into detached or new house, alterations and additions and attached multi-unit houses, with 33 percent improvement on the Canberra base case house being “good”, 50 percent improvement “excellent” and 100 percent improvement or net-zero carbon “outstanding.”
Competition registrar David Clarke said, “By exploring C02 emissions reductions by housing architects, through the competition we anticipate a diversity of approaches, such as solar passive and energy-efficient design, use of recycled materials and renewables, and compact space use.”
Little Loft House by Light House Architecture and Science has a modest addition of a lofted multi-purpose room.
The aim of the competition is to generate public interest in low-carbon housing. An exhibition of the winners and qualifying entries will be a part of the next Design Canberra Festival, which attracts 80,000 visitors annually.
“This year’s Design Canberra theme is ‘transformation’ and is an apt description for the benefits derived from low-carbon housing,” said the competition’s curatorial advisor Rob Henry. “Beyond the public exhibition, we are planning ‘after work’ low-carbon house tours so that people can experience the houses for themselves.”
The competition will be launched by the Institute’s national president, Tony Giannone, on 27 July and entries will open on 28 July. It will be judged by an expert jury as well as the public through a People’s Choice vote.
Entries is free; however, a $60 fee applies for each entry for the RapidLCA app.
For more information head to the competition website.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
