The BDAA is often seen as the poor cousin to the AIA, but there’s a reversal on the matters of housing. The AIA seems to be obsessed with glamour homes (and buildings) in its awards programmes and conference delegates.

In contrast, the BDAA, without regulatory stature or royal ascent, but by dint of continual activism and advocacy, is now seen the prominent spokesbody for housing design

As evidence of this proposition, I cite two conferences that the BDAA organised this year.

The first was a digital ‘Design Summit’ in March this year. The smorgasbord of issues about housing was viewed by 2500 attendees over the two days and a further 2500 views afterwards.

That’s the power of a digital conference. My whinge would be that the AIA refused to even countenance the idea of digital for the annual conference that I was co-convenor for in 2004.

More recently, last weekend, the BDAA held an in-person National Festival of Design Conference on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. There were 160 delegates to hear the 15 talks. There were four standout issues, elaborated here to show why we should turn to the BDAA for leadership on housing design.

Housing All Australians

Rob Pradolin, CEO of HAA, explained the newly conceived idea of meanwhile use. This idea proposes refurbishing existing buildings, which are unused through neglect, age or not meeting current needs.

HAA works with the owner to secure the building, organises volunteer trades to repair and upgrade the building fit for use and organises a fully donated fit-out.

It is then handed to a CHP (Community Housing Provider) to organise occupation by needy residents, often older women in housing stress. The CHPs use their managerial skills to run the building on a not-for-profit basis, immediately addressing much-needed housing for the neediest homeless.

One drawback is the short-term nature of meanwhile use, but many of these buildings have languished for years without occupation and would continue to do so, but now can be available for 2 to 5 years. Maybe prompting a long-term solution.

Faith housing

Amy Marsden, from Therefor Group, presented some case studies of projects in Melbourne where buildings owned by faith organisations of all denominations are repurposed for housing. Parodying the naysayers, she calls it YIFBY (Yes in Faith Back Yards).

The approach is to alter planning zonings to allow housing to be built on the usually plentiful land around the church, including the manse or minister’s house.

In NSW, FHA (Faith Housing Australia), through chair Rob Stokes, has equally sought to overturn impediments to housing, not least of which is restrictive zoning that prevents uses other than churches. Additionally, in NSW, where land areas are smaller, fights over the heritage values are a perennial issue, leading to lengthy delays in the two most recent faith housing developments in Marrickville and South Strathfield.

Nevertheless, the rise of congregations seeking to move from worship to mission sees a potential to unlock land held by the second biggest landowners after governments, for much-needed affordable housing

Materials and methods

Many of the presentations focused on promising developments in materiality and construction methods. All were fully practical, as befits a design conference, blessedly free of the endlessly boring scientific jargon and rhetoric in industry-refereed papers.

The role of carbon in concrete was self-debated by Clare Tubolets from the Smartcrete CRC (Critical Research Centre), presenting greener forms of concrete through research and innovation. Examples abounded when right and, crushingly, when wrong. An example of innovation, 3D concrete printing, was shown by Paige Gercovich of Dune Build.

And Monica Richter from WWF spoke eloquently about “Addressing the key climate and nature challenges through design. Lessons from MECLA’s (Materials and Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance) collaborative approach”

Cathy Inglis from Think Brick presented the greener credentials of masonry – clay and concrete. The many players using the indigenous clay resources are being urged on by Think Brick to do better, even as the Federal Government pays little recognition to the voluntary improvements made to date, insisting that today’s status be the bottom line for percentage improvements they now demand.

Timber was lauded as a resource that sequesters carbon and the possibility of further carbon capture in replanting forests. Innovations were presented in laminated structures, green prefab kits – improved framing and trusses – and included a five-storey apartment building by Rob Pradolin, in stick frame, not CLT (cross-laminated timber) as would be expected.

Even the award trophies on Saturday night got in on the act, being made from super-laminated hardwood by Crafted Hardwoods.

Green Building Council of Australia

The GBCA is mostly known for its rating scheme with green stars, often for expensive, elite buildings. An approach that some, myself included, have criticised for its rather narrow focus at the top end of town. But as Jorge Chapa, GBCA’s Chief Impact Officer (a novel addition to the C-suite) showed in a brilliant closing talk, GBCA is pivoting to a program for all buildings. Boiled down it has a three-pronged approach:

Build less
Build well
Electrify everything

Sounds simple, almost simplistic, but in Jorge’s slides conveyed a level on conviction and confidence that architects need desperately to take forward to their clients. He presented a different direction for the GBCA to motivate changes in design across all buildings.

And in concluding remarks…

In summary, the BDAA conference attacked the triple themes of cost effectiveness, sustainability and social purpose, all of which we can expect to be further interrogated at the Sustainability Summit on 19 November.

I travelled to the BDAA conference as a guest of Think Brick, with whom I am developing schemes for the three-storey walk-up flats (3SWUF), which I presented at the BDAA conference. And on which there will be much more next week.

Cross-Sections are Friday musings from Tone Wheeler, following on from the Tone on Tuesday columns. Remember: Amateurs draw plans, professionals draw sections; never at cross purposes.

Tone Wheeler

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