A building enterprise run by Prince Charles has designed its first project in Australia and it looks likely the Adelaide terraces will set a new green benchmark in the residential sector.

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has awarded a 6 Star Green Star ‘Design Review’ rating to the Prince’s Australian Terraces, a collaboration between the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community and Defence Housing Australia (DHA).

It’s the first residential development in Australia to achieve a 6 Star Green Star.

“The impact of this achievement on the building industry cannot be understated,” said GBCA Chief Executive Officer, Romilly Madew.

“While around a quarter of Australia’s office stock is Green Star-rated, the multi residential building sector has been slower to embrace sustainability. The Prince’s Australia Terraces demonstrate that world-leadership sustainable design and construction outcomes in the residential sector are attainable now.”

The Prince’s Foundation for Building Community was created by the Prince of Wales to raise the level of sustainability of homes, workplaces and communities.

Executive Director Victoria Chester says the Adelaide project 'brings alive' many of the Foundation’s key principles.

“The project “evokes the local heritage and uses local materials to create a harmonious and enduring community that focuses on environmental sustainability,” she said.

“Being the very first development in Australia to be awarded a 6 Star Green Star rating is a wonderful recognition of both ours and DHA’s focus on meeting the urgent challenges of urbanisation and climate change,” she says.

Key features of the townhouses:

Emphasis on local, low-carbon materials, including locally-made concrete with a recycled fly ash content, local granite, and bricks re-used from old Bowden industrial buildings
Orientation to minimise summer solar gain and maximise natural cross ventilation
Façade designed to maximise daylight access and views while managing glare
The facade system includes high performance double glazing and extensive external shading, to reduce air conditioning use and improve occupant comfort
Ceiling fans control the indoor climate, complemented with small but high efficiency air conditioning systems for peak Adelaide temperatures
LED lighting and photovoltaic solar panels generating renewable energy reduce the building's peak power demand
High efficiency water fittings, with toilets and laundry fittings supplied with 100 per cent recycled water.

The townhouses are predicted to use 50 per cent less energy and 50 per cent less potable water than a typical urban town house, with a carbon footprint also reduced by more than 40 per cent.

The Prince’s Australian Terraces will be located in the Adelaide suburb of Bowden, which requires all developments to attain 5 Star Green Star ratings. Construction of the terraces will commence in late 2015.

Bowden is registered to achieve a Green Star – Communities rating.

David Wheeldon

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