
Materials frontier: Composites reforming the way we build
Sustainable designer Dick Clarke explains some of the new developments reshaping the way we build in Australia and around the world, including composite materials that reduce carbon, interrupt waste streams and even re-assemble themselves.
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Upcycled glasshouses
Are we in a new golden age of conservatories? Secondhand glazing is being given a new life as greenhouses – but far from being plant-only spaces, we visit five conservatories which double as cosy extra rooms for relaxation.
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Thin skin: getting cladding right
Cladding has become controversial, but every building needs a skin. What should you consider when choosing cladding material?
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Fair dinkum wood: Locally sourced ecologically sustainable timber
CERES Fair Wood has established itself as an honest broker, linking people seeking environmentally and socially responsible timber with small local farm foresters and salvage sawmillers who can struggle to find a market for their resource. While still small in scale, could this social enterprise’s local ‘chain of custody’ approach become a new model for sustainably sourced timber?
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Hemp, hemp masonry and hempcrete
Why hemp is gaining recognition as a high-performance, low-impact and contemporary building product. Dick Clarke explains why.
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Changing phase: Are PCMs living up to their promise?
Richard Keech considers why you might choose to use phase change materials (PCMs)
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Composite benefits: When are SIPs the right choice?
Many households now factor construction time and expected energy bills into their project bottom line. Could structural insulated panels be an answer to lowering them both?
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Windows: In the frame
Lance Turner and Dick Clarke introduce you to the delicate art of window selection, and explain the key terms and concepts to get you started.
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Material benefit: Specifying eco building products
Vetting the green credentials of building products is difficult for everyone. We find out how the experts go about this tricky task.
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Pushing the boundaries: fence materials and design
Mara Ripani explains how to push the boundaries of sustainable design to the very edge of the property with the new abundance of fencing options.
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Construction waste: Low hanging fruit
Stripping buildings of their reuse components before they are demolished can reduce demand for new materials.
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