“Our mission is advancing sustainable architecture. Every project we're looking for opportunities to create a case study or a best practice moment to move the industry forward.”

These are the words of Alex Symes, who’s practice was victorious in a number of categories at the previous Sustainability Awards, speaking with our Editor Branko Miletic for Talking Architecture & Design. The celebrated architect and his practice are constantly looking to assess and innovate their operations, which leads to critical acclaim, much like the acclaim it received at the 2022 Sustainability Awards.

“Recognition is not white noise. It is important because it validates our work internally and externally. We are trying to shift to a more balanced and sustainable world. These awards are not meaningless. They are the result of a lot of hard work and effort.”

The Sustainability Awards' Best of the Best category stands as a tribute to the pinnacle of excellence within the realm of sustainability, encompassing the most remarkable projects conceived and executed in this country over a twelve-month span.

The category's nominees, chosen from the winners of the other categories, embody sustainability as their fundamental ethos. Often, the Best of the Best winner will subsequently prompt the wider industry to reevaluate its processes and utilise the methods and lessons learnt from category winners.

Symes, who’s Pepper Tree Passive House was the winner of the Best of the Best award last year, believes that as a built environment professional you have to react quickly to new trends.

“Our approach has shifted over time. When I first started, it was about making every project have as low an environmental impact as possible. In the last five years, we've shifted to a balance of making sure our designs are robust enough and future-proofed for future climate scenarios, while also being as low-impact as possible,” he says.

“Unfortunately, when you're designing for robustness, you can't do it with the absolute minimum environmental impact. This is because you need to use materials that have embodied energy to make it as robust as possible for future climate scenarios.

pepper tree

“There's a tension between trying to do best practice in terms of material selection and making sure the design is future-proofed. Hopefully, when you look at it from an overall life cycle assessment, this is the best outcome.”

Once again, Autex Acoustics assumes the mantle of official partner of the Awards and sponsor of the Best of the Best category, lending their unwavering support to the program. This distinguished manufacturer of acoustic panels exhibits a profound dedication to operating sustainably, aligning their sustainability strategy with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Autex strives relentlessly to achieve net-zero operations. By harnessing renewable energy sources, offsetting emissions, and pioneering circular economy methodologies and policies, they manifest their commitment to environmental harmony. Additionally, they have purged their supply chain of unethical practices, while fostering optimal health and safety measures within spaces through their product offerings.

Not only an exemplar within Australia, but Autex Acoustics also stands tall as a global leader in sustainable operations, rendering them the perfect partner for this esteemed occasion. Their unwavering dedication to conducting business in an environmentally and socially responsible manner has indubitably engendered a positive impact on the world at large.

The unveiling of the Best of the Best award category for the 2023 Sustainability Awards in Sydney will come later this year. Should you possess a project that epitomises sustainable enterprise, irrespective of category, we would love for you to submit it for consideration here.

Architecture & Design Team

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