How was sustainability understood in Australian architecture about 30 years ago?

In the 1990s sustainability was emerging as a relatively new consideration in architectural design and client service. Enthusiastic proponents were actively spreading the message to both the architectural profession and the wider community. Knowledge and understanding were rapidly expanding, and it was widely recognised as an educational matter for generally receptive architectural colleagues.

This contrasts sharply with today’s situation where the subject is well understood and any resistance stems from vested interests rather than a lack of awareness of its importance.

What did “sustainable design” usually focus on at that time, if the term was used at all?

“Sustainable design” became a widely used and eventually default term, encompassing earlier descriptors such as ecological design, environmental design, eco-design, and green architecture, although all these terms were interchangeable.

In practice, architects often concentrated on one or more key strategies—thermal performance, passive heating and cooling, cross-ventilation, and rainwater harvesting among them. This focus encouraged a more thoughtful response to climate and site: careful consideration of sun and shade, improved building orientation, generous eaves, high thermal-mass internal walls, and integrated water collection systems.

Some projects explored more experimental approaches as well, such as treating blackwater through reed-bed systems or incorporating internal water features to assist with cooling.

There was also a strong emphasis on the use of sustainable materials, including timber, rammed earth, straw bale construction, and mud brick. At the same time, science-based assessment tools were being developed to evaluate and compare the environmental performance of materials, offering architects clearer guidance in making responsible choices.

Inevitably, tensions sometimes arose between aesthetic or functional ambitions and sustainability objectives. Yet many architects accepted this as a productive challenge, striving to reconcile environmental responsibility with the enduring complexities of design—seeking balanced solutions that honoured both creative expression and the imperative to preserve the natural world.

How did clients, governments, or award juries generally view sustainability back then?

Sustainability was an emerging and rapidly evolving field of knowledge, one that many clients were increasingly eager to recognise and support. Although it had not yet entered the mainstream, it was widely regarded by a growing sector of the construction industry as the responsible and forward-looking approach.

Professional organisations responded to this shift. The Institute of Architects, Engineers Australia, and other industry bodies established dedicated committees that met regularly to explore, develop, and share sustainability principles and practices with their members.

These forums became important platforms for discussion, research, and the dissemination of new ideas.

The rising significance of sustainability was formally acknowledged when it was introduced as a distinct category within the Architecture Annual Awards. This recognition was soon mirrored by Engineers Australia and other professional institutions, signalling that sustainable practice was no longer peripheral but an increasingly integral part of the profession’s future direction

How many entries did you get and what did they mainly focus on?

In the year I served on the architecture jury, there were around half a dozen entries in the sustainability category. The jury comprised several well-known architects and creative professionals, along with me in the role of sustainability specialist.

Submissions were divided into categories according to building size and type. The process involved reviewing all entries, selecting a shortlist, and then visiting those projects in person.

All jury members participated in assessing every entry. As a result, decisions within the sustainability category reflected a balance between environmental performance and architectural quality. Some of the most environmentally ambitious projects were considered by the architects to lack sufficient architectural merit and therefore did not receive awards.

At the same time, sustainability was also considered across the other categories. One of the overall winning projects stood out for its strong focus on recycling elements of the existing building into the new design, thoughtfully and creatively incorporating them as visible features.

Looking back, what approaches from that period do you think were overlooked or undervalued?

We now understand far more about the urgency of reaching net zero, and there is a wide range of professional tools — such as BASIX, NABERS, LEED, BREEAM and Green Star — that can rigorously inform building design. Sustainability is firmly in the mainstream conversation.

Thirty years ago, however, there was a kind of enthusiastic optimism: a belief that through our efforts we were helping to make the world a better place. At the time, we assumed that within a few years a separate architectural award category for green buildings would become unnecessary — that sustainable design would simply be embedded in all projects, and that every building would naturally address the relevant environmental considerations.

That has not proved to be the case. The most recent Australian Institute of Architects NSW Architecture Awards still include a distinct sustainability category — and even a separate jury — suggesting that the division remains.

With hindsight, there are undoubtedly things we might have approached differently. Yet our intentions were sincere. We were genuinely striving for a cleaner, more responsible, and more wholesome approach to designing buildings. I am sure that same motivation continues to inspire many practitioners today.

Image: Supplied.

About the Sustainability Awards

Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026, the Sustainability Awards is Australia’s longest running and most prestigious program recognising excellence in sustainable design and architecture. Entries are evaluated by an expert judging panel, with winners across multiple categories announced at the annual Sustainability Awards Gala on 12 November 2026 in Sydney. For updates on entry openings or to enquire about remaining sponsorship opportunities, please click here.

Branko Miletic

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