Sustainability | Architecture Now

The technology of the trees

Projects | Chris Barton finds at Scion’s Innovation Hub, Te Whare Nui o Tuteata, in Rotorua – by RTA Studio, in collaboration with Irving Smith Architects – a showcase of radically new methods in multilevel timber construction and a benchmark for achieving net-zero embodied carbon.

Can we afford healthy homes?

Practice | Respond Architects’ Joe Lyth takes his own house as a case study on creating warm, dry homes on a budget and explores the reasons why the health of a home isn’t always a priority.

Former Council building set to be country’s largest reuse project

News | The heritage building at 35 Graham Street is planned to be refurbished into a 6 Green Star office building – becoming the country’s largest-ever sustainable reuse project.

Jasmax pledges to net zero carbon by 2030

News | One of the largest firms in the country plans to deliver carbon-neutral buildings by 2030, beating New Zealand’s plans to be at net zero emissions by 2050.

Does green housing equate to healthy housing?

Practice | Rochelle Ade has just completed a social housing case study in Auckland and now asks if “green” rating systems actually live up to their claims.

A call to action

Practice | “This is not the time for a pep-talk – we have had 30 years of those…” Abigail Hurst explores what it takes for architects to get real about the climate crisis.

Beauty in bulk

Practice | How much is the anti-plastic revolution changing the supermarket? Explore what package-free stores are doing well and what they can teach the food industry.

NZ Concrete industry on track to meet emissions targets

News | An independent review says the industry is well placed to meet its goal of 30 per cent less emissions by 2030, Concrete New Zealand reports.

Beyond declarations: Siân Taylor

Practice | One of the founders behind the New Zealand Architects Declare movement tells us how to move beyond declaration into action.

New Zealand's first green, climate-resistant communities named

NZ’s first green, climate-resistant communities named

News | Two Panuku neighbourhoods have achieved a Green Star – Communities rating for exceptional masterplanning, a first in New Zealand.

The Living House – Summer 2020 edition

Review | Rochelle Payne reports on the progress of her Passive House in Auckland – an ambitious undertaking to create one of the country’s most sustainable homes.

The designers at the table: Palatable negotiation

Review | Isthmus’ Brennan Baxley responds to an installation that explores the negotiation of humans and nature by Austrian designer Klaus Loenhart.

Event review: Christchurch Conversations

Review | Abigail hurst attended a recent talk from Bill Reed, founding director of the US Green Building Council and co-founder of the LEED green building rating system.

In Focus: Building smarter (part two)

Practice | Explore two more alternative methods of construction that may help us on the path to building homes for a brighter future.

In Focus: Building smarter (part one)

Practice | We look at what building smarter means for New Zealand and two efficient construction methods as better ways to build in the future.

New ecolabel specification announced for NZ

News | A new ecolabel specification announced for New Zealand will encourage companies to reduce construction waste.

Greening Dubai: Ibrahim Al-Zu’bi

People | Federico Monsalve caught up with the chief sustainability officer at Majid Al Futtaim, one of the largest developers of shopping malls in the UAE.