Hannah Hammoud
The Living Future Institute of Australia (LFIA) has cast its eyes on Sunshine North, launching a design competition to transform a local heritage site into a mixed-use development.
In partnership with Development Victoria, this year’s competition will centre around the heritage-listed building situated at 247 St Albans Road, Sunshine North.
The site was constructed in the 1970’s for the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW)
The building is integrated within Development Victoria’s broader plan to facilitate a sustainable mixed-use development of the site with residential, retail and community uses.
The competition calls on architects, designers and students to create the most sustainable, and restorative, heritage-listed building in Australia, which must live up to precise environmental, self-sustaining standards, including generating its own energy and capturing and treating its own water.
The competition aims to break the misconception that only new buildings can be regenerative and bridge the gap in skills that exist within the current industry.
LFIA chief executive Laura Hamilton-O’Hara said the project aims to maximise the positive.
“Usually the focus for the industry is on doing less bad, but actually it’s about doing better, for both society and the planet,” she said.
“A Living Building generates its own energy using renewables, acts as part of the hydrological cycle of the site, and takes into account embodied energy in materials and tools used.
“Regenerative Buildings are our theory of change and what they do is create people who can see the world differently. They can see what’s possible, pushing the boundaries of design and architecture to become truly regenerative.
“The Living Building Challenge is the Everest of green building rating tools. We can’t wait to see the entries for this year’s challenge.”
LFIA invites architects, designers, students and industry professionals to try their hand and explore the untapped potential of revitalising our built environment.
Details: living-future.org.au/living-building-challenge-design-competition-2023/
