Design Matters National INTERSECT November 2020

ED32 NOV 2020



Issue 32

Welcome to our November issue of INTERSECT Our People Ingrid Hornung President Peter Lombo Vice President Greg Blanch Treasurer Dominique Hunter Immediate Past President John Armsby Committee Member Timothy Ellis Committee Member Jeremy Spencer Committee Member Peta Anderson Chief Executive Officer Emily Schiavello Sustainability Advocacy & Thermal Performance Assessment Elaine Centeno Communications and Events Danielle Johnston Senior Communications Advisor Alex Hunt Administrator

Congratulations to all the winners and entrants in last month’s Annual Building Design Awards, in particular Sven Maxa from Maxa Design for winning the BDOTY with Earth House (see Project Matters).

There was one more, public accolade to be awarded, and you may have guessed from the cover image what I’m about to say…

The votes are in! The 29th and final Award in the 2020 Design Matters National Building Design Awards – the People’s Choice Award – has gone to Somerville Residence by Mark Bennett, Senior Design Specialist with Joluca Design.

Congratulations, Mark!

The winning entry, a modern take on a warehouse-themed façade, in a residential setting, attracted an incredible 402 Likes on the Design Matters National Facebook page. The winner was hundreds of votes ahead of its nearest competitor after the two-week voting period, which opened on 15 October.

Voters praised Mark’s “immense attention to detail”, saying “every element of this build has been taken into consideration”, “stunning” design, and “absolute class”.

Mark was elated to hear his design, located in Somerville on the Mornington Peninsula, 55kms southeast of Melbourne, had won a second Award…

“We are absolutely thrilled by the number of responses and the overwhelming support of our design and we think it won because it’s a beautiful home that has some subtle details that make you look twice, like the flemish bond in the brickwork, the exposed steel, and the custom balustrade.” Mark said.

GET THE WHOLE PICTURE Design Matters National SketchBook: page 22

Somerville Residence also won the 2020 Residential Design Award for a New House Up to $500K Construction Cost.

The Judges of the Building Design Awards described the project as, “Warm, inviting and liveable with views and access to open spaces, with an open, light and spacious interior, excellent use of recycled bricks with interesting, semi- 'saw-tooth' façade”.

Enjoy the magazine.

Ingrid Hornung President

Contents Sponsors Matter 01.

Project Matters 02.

The First Words 03. InterVIEW 04.

Member Matters 05.

Planning Matters

4 8 12 20 28

06.

Industry Matters

30

07.

Business Matters

42

Design Matters National appreciates the support of our sponsors.

Here for members during COVID-19

Our team at Design Matters National is set up to work remotely to ensure there is no interruption to services provided to our members. We are here to help, so email us at info@designmatters.org.au or call on 03 9416 0227 Ph: 03 9370 9599 www.clause1.com.au

DISCLAIMER

Publication of an article or inclusion of an advertisement in this edition does not imply that Building Designers Association of Victoria Inc trading as Design Matters National agrees with the views expressed, or message conveyed, nor does it imply endorsement of products. In addition, Design Matters National does not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. No content may be reproduced without the written permission of Design Matters National. Requests should be lodged to The Editor, at editor@designmatters.org.au 3

Issue 32

01. Project Matters

Taking Building Design to the Next Level

Design Matters National’s Building Designers and Architects stood shoulder to shoulder (virtually) in Melbourne last month at the Design Matters National 2020 Building Design Awards.

“Our Awards provide a rare opportunity for Architects and Building Designers to compete against each other on a completely level playing field and the results this year, with Building Designer Sven Maxa winning the major award, are truly remarkable,” Design Matters National’s CEO, Ms Peta Anderson, said.

“Our Architect and Building Designer Members respect each other’s incredible work and therefore happily ‘step into the ring’ against each other and, by looking at the entries, it’s clear the healthy competition is raising the bar for Australian building design,” Ms Anderson said.

4

P R OJ E C T M AT T E R S

The prestigious Building Design of the Year Award this year went to Sven Maxa of Maxa Design for Earth House, a stunning residential property in Donvale. The winning entry exhibited great environmentally sustainable Passive House design, as well as being a house ‘you’d love to live in’.

Stunning, simple and sustainable, Earth House is an example of the growing demand in the Victorian market for more energy-efficient homes.

The project also won awards for Residential Design – New Houses: $1M-$3M construction cost; and Best Environmentally Sustainable Design.

Maxa Design, based in Blackburn, has been operating for more than 16 years, designing high-level eco and energy efficient homes.

5

Issue 32

01. Project Matters

6

P R OJ E C T M AT T E R S

01. Project Matters

Congratulations to all the entrants and winners of the 25th Awards.

We are proud to promote and recognise your talents. It is your hard work that proves to new clients and the greater industry that we will remain a building design community to be acknowledged and respected.

Twenty-eight other Building Design Awards, one Commendation, and seven Emerging Designer Student Awards were also announced.

Voting in the 29th and final Award – the People’s Choice Award – opened on Awards night and two weeks later, a clear winner had emerged: Somerville Residence by Mark Bennett of Joluca Design.

To see all the winners and entrants in the 2020 Awards, please visit the website https://www.designmatters.org.au/ Web/Awards/2020-Awards/Web/ Awards/2020-Awards/2020%20 Design%20Matters%20National%20 25th%20Annual%20Building%20 Design%20Awards aspx?hkey=54f43c50-5d67-4340-bd3b9b9f572d400f or to read "AWARDED" magazine, click here: https://issuu.com/bdav6/docs/ desmat006_awarded_magazine_issuu

P R OJ E C T M AT T E R S

7

Issue 32

02. The First Words

By Ingrid Hornung, President, Design Matters National, 2020-2022

THE FIRST WORDS

ADVOCACY RECOGNITION EDUCATION MENTORING GROWTH This is a slightly edited version of the speech given by Ingrid Hornung at the Design Matters National Annual General Meeting on Monday 19 October, 2020.

8

FIRST WORDS

02. The First Words

Firstly, I would like to thank (my predecessor) Dominique Hunter for her stellar contribution, especially over the last two years; but also, for the many years she has been on the CoM! We are all glad that she will continue to be involved (maybe after a short rest?!); and I look forward to her guidance and input during the next two years, in her role as Immediate Past President. Thanks Dom! I also want to thank everyone who has put up their hand to become a Committee of Management (CoM) Member. I think it is a great reflection of our culture, when we have so many Members wanting to contribute to (devote their time, energy and expertise to) our organisation.

Congratulations to Darron Lyons for winning the vote and being elected to the CoM. Secondly, a bit about me, and ‘where I’m coming from’… My passion is connecting with people; and one of the characteristics of our organisation that I am proudest of, is the way we support each other and contribute to each other’s success.

This collegiate attitude is one of the unique strengths of Design Matters National, which I’d like to illustrate with two diverse examples: When I first joined, after the seminars, during the informal part of the evening, I’d ask questions; and the Members, many with years of experience under their belt, would be so generous with their advice and guidance to a young, enthusiastic (but green!) building designer/ business owner.

More recently, we launched our Members-only Facebook page, which has grown tenfold over the last few months. It is a fantastic reflection of that same culture, with Members posting their questions, and others sharing their knowledge and experience to help each other.

One of the things I am looking to do over the next two years is to build on this strength; to find and nurture more opportunities for our Members to support each other.

An important reason that we (the organisation, AND the CoM) have managed as well as we have, is that we have been backed by an incredible team in the office. Here’s a small sample of what they have achieved this year: • Our CEO Peta Anderson set up the free COVID-19 Small Business Survival Workshops (1 & 2), within weeks of being appointed!

• We launched our Members-only Facebook page.

• Danielle Johnston came on board as our Senior Communications Advisor, and (among her MANY other roles!) has braved the Business Victoria phone line, to keep members up to date with the constantly shifting restrictions placed on our businesses.

• Alex Hunt also joined the small team and has diligently provided assistance for members.

• All our education and networking has moved online, capably managed by our Events and Comms Officer Elaine Centeno.

• And Emily Schiavello ensured many of our TPAs achieved accreditation, by implementing a two-week intensive of CPD courses.

So, what is next for Design Matters National?

I know I am on the edge of my seat, metaphorically, to see what environment we will be operating in! Whatever comes our way, our vision continues to be to broaden, build and embed the appreciation of good design into contemporary Australian culture.

In the pursuit of that, we will focus on five areas over the next two years: advocacy, recognition, education, mentoring and growth. In this, we will be building on the great foundations laid over the last two years under Dominique Hunter. They are big shoes to fill!

Next, I would like to acknowledge how hard this year has been. It’s been unpre….. I promised myself I would not use that word! Challenging, to say the least! And while everyone is living through the same pandemic, we have all had our own version of those challenges to overcome…

FIRST WORDS

9

Issue 32

02. The First Words

I’d like to call on you all to join us. There is plenty of room for participation! Whatever area you are passionate about, get in touch, and help us build value for our profession through enthusiastic advocacy and cohesive action.

I would like to sincerely thank you for your support for our wonderful organisation. I am proud to be leading a fantastic team, both on the CoM and in the office, as the 18th President, and I’m very much looking forward to meeting you (or seeing you again!) in real life, sometime in the next two years!

Thank you.

1. Advocacy.

We will continue to advocate for policies which support the building design profession.

This will be a big part of our work, not only in Victoria, but also nationally as we represent members in every state and territory.

2. Recognition.

We will continue to focus on improving recognition and raising the reputation of building design as a profession, through lobbying to state and federal governments.

3. Education.

We will continue to provide our Members with ongoing professional development in the areas that really matter. I’ve been so proud of what we have been able to deliver this year and I look forward to building on our education program, focussing on the areas of sustainability, design, new technologies and industry/government changes – all of which are central to the health of our Members’ businesses.

10

 FIRST WORD

4. Mentoring.

As an organisation, we can make a big difference to the next generation of designers.

We will continue to work closely with the TAFEs and universities to support and mentor design students and graduates. And next year, Design Matters National will actively attend Open Days and onboard students to our young professionals’ program, to provide them with a platform from which they can launch their career.

5. Growth.

From our inception in 1983 as the Building Designers Association of Victoria, we have grown to become the largest industry association for building designers in Australia, something we are immensely proud of.

Over time, we have expanded to represent other professions that contribute to the built environment, such as thermal performance assessors, interior designers, architects, town planners and surveyors. And we now represent Members in every state and territory in Australia. Never in the history of Design Matters National, has our membership been so diverse – accurately reflecting our name, Design Matters National.

PREFERRRED INSURANCE PROVIDER OF

To arrange a quote call

YO U K N OW B U I L D I N G . . .

W E K N OW INSURANCE. Talk to a broker who specialises in insurance for the building industry including Building Designers

Energy Raters

Construction

Engineers

Architects

W E B B E R I N S U R A N C E . C O M . A U / D E S I G N M AT T E R S 

11

Webber Insurance Services Pty Ltd | ABN: 88 648 036 929 | CAR: 413233 As Authorised Representative of Webber Insurance Group | ABN: 70 612 339 894 | AFSL: 488465

Issue 32

02. InterVIEW 03.

INGRID HORNUNG Owner, Designs For You & President, Design Matters National

Ingrid has been working as a building designer in Melbourne since 1996. She is passionate about creating homes that combine pleasure, practicality, and sustainability for (and with) her clients. She is a firm believer that every project is an opportunity to make a difference, to both people and the environment, and she is committed to giving back to an organisation that has always focused on supporting and promoting its Members.

What are you working on now?

This year has been quite volatile, in terms of the kind of work I am doing.

I have started working on several ‘tiny’ projects, where we are making economical changes to adapt to the new demands that working and learning from home have placed on families. I hope, like any designer, that what I bring to each project is a perspective that provides new possibilities for the families I am working with.

Your favourite project?

I can’t pick a favourite; however, I can say my new ‘gold standard’ for a successful project will be the feedback I received from an old client, who got in touch earlier this year: “We’re marvelling at this nice space to be locked down in; and grateful for your thoughtful work”. That is why I love doing what I do.

What has been your biggest business challenge and how did you overcome it?

When I started my own business, I knew absolutely nothing about running one, and over the last (nearly) 20 years, I have overcome many challenges associated with growing and maintaining a business. I did my fair share of learning through voracious reading, and through trial and error, but I also avoided a lot of pitfalls by picking the brains of generous Members, who would share their experience and advice.

Any words of wisdom for a student wanting to work in your profession?

If you love doing this, it will be worth everything you put into it (in other words, it’s up to you!). It’s not an easy road, but nothing worthwhile ever is…

It’s a bit of a cliché, but (like most clichés!) it’s true.

12

 INTERVIEW

Why did you join Design Matters National?

As a sole trader embarking on my own business, I was looking for a professional organisation of designers to network with (and learn from!).

I immediately felt like I had found ‘my’ people – that this was an organisation with a culture of mutual respect and support, that I felt proud to be a part of.

What is your favourite building overseas?

During my student years, I fell in love with Pierre Chareau’s Maison de Verre.

It’s still hard to beat, for me; the thought and consideration that went into every element of the building is inspiring, and the result is beautiful.

On running her own business…

Running my own business is not nearly as scary as I thought it would be 20 years ago, and I believe I am now ‘unemployable’. I can’t imagine ever working for someone else again.

On being successful…

One thing I have learnt to do that has helped me to be successful is to build a trusting relationship with a client, so I can learn, not only what they ask for in the brief, but why they ask for it.

This allows me to work on what will really make a difference.

I knew I wanted to be a building designer when…

I was living in a share house with a graphic design student and an architecture student (I was a meteorologist at the time). I couldn’t wait until they brought a project home, so I could work on it with them.

After a few months, the penny dropped, and it dawned on me that I could do this myself!

Outside of work, I am passionate about…

Family, friends, coffee and reading…

Imagine listening to one album forever...

If I had to, it would probably be “Hejira” by Joni Mitchell; or “Aja”

by Steely Dan; or one of the great storytellers of country music, Townes van Zandt; or John Prine.

03. InterVIEW

Above: Maison de Verre (House of Glass),

by Pierre Chareau + Bernard Bijvoet, is a milestone in early modern architectural design, built in 1932 in Paris, France.

I immediately felt like I had found ‘my’ people – that this was an organisation with a culture of mutual respect and support, that I felt proud to be a part of.

I N T E R V I E W

13

Issue 32

02. InterVIEW 03.

DARRON LYONS Darron Lyons, Owner/Building Designer, The Red Shed, The Northern Territory (NT), and newly-appointed Member of the Design Matters National Committee of Management.

Darron has been an active Member of Design Matters National since 2016, a building designer for almost 20 years, and owner of The Red Shed since 2007. The Red Shed is a team of professional Building Designers specialising in new residential, residential extensions, new commercial and commercial extensions.

Darron's passion is working closely with his clients to build custom-designed homes that meet his client’s brief, are functional and sustainable.

Being Northern Territory-based, Darron designs spaces to suit the tropical Darwin climate, relying less on air-conditioning by featuring high ceilings, plenty of windows and louvres for crossflow, seamless connection between indoor and undercover outdoor living spaces – and of course a pool!

Darron brings unique skills and experience to the Committee of Management and wants to explore cross-learning opportunities with his fellow Members about the climatic differences between Victorian and NT building design.

He instigated representation and lobbying for building designers in the NT and looks forward to seeing you on the course at DMN’s golf day next year!

What he’s working on now.

I’m working on a range of projects: residential; industrial; and commercial – over-55 village, eco tent retreat, 12 small-lot affordable-house designs.

His favourite type of project.

I like working from a blank canvas with clients who allow us to incorporate our design recommendations.

His biggest challenges.

Looking after two large suburbs at the same time and resolving guideline approval for developers; and working with all builders, owners, designers to ensure they satisfy requirements set out to completion of build.

Words of wisdom for a student of building design.

Love what you do and listen to those with industry experience.

Why he joined Design Matters National.

It’s a professional association with engaged Members and a passionate committee.

What he wants to know more about.

Collaboration with others in the design field on more major projects.

His favourite finish.

Polished concrete and natural timbers.

His favourite architectural style.

Contemporary tropical design.

14

 INTERVIEW

03. InterVIEW

I N T E R V I E W

15

Issue 32

02. InterVIEW 03.

JASON SAUNDERS Jason Saunders, Owner Arc Seven.1, & Member of the Design Matters National Committee of Management

What he’s working on now. ​There are many projects we are working on at the moment, but one that stands out is a new build, ​in Mt Hawthorn, that is close to practical completion. ​The clients, who are an older couple, have allowed me to challenge them in regard to the design ​ response to the block and its surroundings, as well as the material selections. I haven't taken them out of their comfort zone, but they have put their trust in me and allowed me ​to create and suggest solutions they would have never considered. I also love the investment in time that the clients, the builder and ​ourselves put into the project to ​create something that we will all be really happy with.

His favourite project. ​There are several, but I was happy to consider my own renovation to our current home as being ​one of my favourites. It is not easy to design for your own family, knowing that you can create ​many and varied different responses to your own brief, while knowing in the back of your mind ​that another resolution would be the right one as well. You also have those family, friends and work colleagues around

you, keeping an eye on what you ​are doing, adding another level of complexity. I am, however, happy with the end result of what we created. We have now been in the home five ​years and I still don't think I would do things to differently, except for some ​ material finishes that weren't available when we were renovating.

His biggest business challenge. ​Do I, or don’t I, expand the practice.

His words of wisdom for a student wanting to work in his profession. ​Listen to advice from your mentors, managers or colleagues; remember they were in your ​position once; never stop learning; and enjoy what you do.

What he wanted to know more about when he joined BDAWA in 2006. ​General business development.

His favourite finish or feature.

Natural, raw materials; those that can be used in their natural state to enhance or highlight their ​surroundings.

A few examples of building design

by Jason Saunders, of arc Seven.1 www.arc-seven1.com.au

16

 INTERVIEW

03. InterVIEW

I N T E R V I E W

17

Issue 32

02. InterVIEW 03.

Above: The Shine Dome in Canberra.

His favourite architectural style. ​I don't necessarily have a favourite style, though I do like to explore blending different vernaculars together, as we do when we look at renovation projects.

I love to retain and enhance a built form (for example, an old, single-storey bungalow) and expand upon and blend into it with a contemporary form; be it a clean-lined modern approach, or a light industrial touch.

His favourite Australian building. ​The Shine Dome in Canberra.

His favourite international building. ​King Power Mahanakhon in Bangkok, Thailand A designer currently inspiring his work. ​Ernesto Bedmar of Ernesto Bedmar Architects, formerly of Bedmar & Shi Architects.

18

 INTERVIEW

AUSTRALIA’S BUILDING DESIGN TRADE SHOW December 2020 A FREE ONLINE EXPO OF PRODUCTS & PEOPLE TO INSPIRE US IN 2021.

InspoExpo is trade a free, show virtual for trade show held InspoExpo is a free, virtual over two weeks for Members and guests.

Members and guests. We’re inviting our trusted We’re inviting our trusted industry partners industry partners to get us excited with what’s to inspire us with what’s in store in 2021. in store in 2021;Half-hour as well as presenters who'll sessions will include 20 minutes about up-and-coming products, followed inspire us with their ground-breaking achievements. by 10minutes Keep an eye on emails and Socials for updates Q&A. To suggestpartners. an industry partner as a presenter, regarding presenting Register now at

email Elaine at e.centeno@designmatters.org.au

https://www.designmatters.org.au/ Keep an eye on emails, and Socials for EventDetail?EventKey=030.

updates regarding presenting partners and how to register.

designmatters.org.au

DESIGN MATTERS NATIONAL Issue 32

UPCOMING CPD EVENTS 10.11.20

18.11.20

Pre-Registration Course via Zoom Tuesday 10 November 2020

10AM – 12PM

Geoff Hoare

Bushfire Series: Low Risk or High Risk Wednesday 18 November 2020

This course is aimed at those building designers who plan to seek registration with the Victorian Building Authority either now or in the near future. It covers a broad range of relevant matters including: The legislative requirements for registration under the Building Act; The role of the VBA, The current registration process, and more. https://www.designmatters.org.au/EventDetail?EventKey=011

13.11.20

11AM – 12PM

Russell Stork What are the basic differences, as a refresher, between property risks BMO against BPA? How vegetation changes that, irrespective of the property boundaries. We look at some basic characteristics to aide in identifying risks to start your design discussion with the client. https://www.designmatters.org.au/EventDetail?EventKey=027

19.11.20

Introduction to Water Damage, Mould and Health

Bushfire Series: Design Choices & Conflicts

Friday 13 November 2020

Thursday 19 November 2020

11AM – 12PM

11AM – 12PM

Lucinda Curran

Russell Stork

Lucinda shares insights from her training and many years in the field assessing buildings so that you can begin to integrate this understanding into your work. She will share her understanding about mould, discuss case studies, and provide you with a deeper awareness of what to consider so that you can do your part in preventing mould issues and avoid being sued or going bankrupt.

As a Designer/Architect there are a lot of choices to be considered and decisions made in the early stage of a project.

Key delays involve lack of research or consultation for suitable design styles, and allotment building locations.

https://www.designmatters.org.au/EventDetail?EventKey=024

20



https://www.designmatters.org.au/EventDetail?EventKey=028

This month’s three-part Bushfire Series is presented by Russell Stork, from J-BAR Service. Russell is one of two key consultants to create educational units for the Adv Dip Building Design Course, and the key expert who created the E/Learning platform supporting the course.

20.11.20

25.11.20

Bushfire Series: Material Choices & the builder Friday 20 November 2020

Meet an Industry Expert: Traffic Engineer 11AM – 12PM

Wednesday 25 November 2020

11AM – 12PM

Russell Stork

Melinda Ryan & Valentine Gnanakone

Selection of materials can be a key consideration especially when Planning is involved. Making sure a builder can purchase/ install/construct those selected. Ensuring the builder understands your designs and has details to satisfy permits.

Meeting regulatory requirements.

Learn from industry expert, Valentine Gnanakone, in this deep dive into the statutory car parking requirements and design criteria. https://www.designmatters.org.au/EventDetail?EventKey=026

https://www.designmatters.org.au/EventDetail?EventKey=029

26.11.20

23.11.20 Photography for Interior Design and Architecture Monday 23 November 2020

11AM – 12PM

Meet an Industry Expert: Fire Risk Consultant Thursday 26 November 2020

11AM – 12PM

Melinda Ryan & Graeme Taylor

Ian Spencer

Bushfire Considerations in Practice

Explore the difference between architectural design and real estate photography; learn how to find a photographer who understands your vision; understand the importance of preparation and planning in photography; and much more.

An opportunity to discuss all things bushfire, in context of Victorian Bushfire Planning considerations as well as the BAL Assessment Criteria of AS-3959-2009.

https://www.designmatters.org.au/EventDetail?EventKey=021

https://www.designmatters.org.au/EventDetail?EventKey=025

To book your next CPD Event visit www.designmatters.org.au/Events 

21

Issue 32

03. Member Matters 04.

Sketch Book Sketch 1: Mt Toolebewong View from the entry looking through the internal breezeway large picture windows capturing the views of the Warramate Hills Nature Conservation Reserve and Mt Toolebewong and infinity-edge pool.

Rammed earth walls absorbing the natural light and Australian timber-lined ceilings above.

- Andrew Slattery, Anabode Design

Sketch 2: Space & Light Spatial perception of the relationships between driveway and transition to house entry. The stair design and rammed earth walls of the dwelling complement each other, providing a clear, recognisable space for visitors without heavily impacting on the landscape and natural light to the home.

- Andrew Slattery, Anabode Design

Email your sketch and inspiration to editor@designmatters.org.au 22

ďťż M E M B E R M AT T E R S

ACOUSTICS

PERFORMANC E TESTED

Hello, we are AWS and we’re here to help.

We specialise in providing commercial and residential window and door solutions for your building project.

How can we help you?

AS2047

TESTED + CERTIFIED

BAL40

TESTED + CERTIFIED

CYCLONE

TESTED + CERTIFIED

SAFE4KIDS

TESTED + CERTIFIED

At AWS, we have a dedicated team of window and door experts poised to solve your glazing specification challenges. We’re all about helping you to maintain your design intent, developing custom window and door specifications to meet the unique objectives of your project. Give us a call, we are AWS and we’re here to help.

Call us 1300 026 189 specifyaws.com.au

Issue 32

04. Member Matters

A truly zero carbon house

By Maryia Perthen, eTool

When I was presenting ‘True Zero including Embodied Energy in the Roadmap’ – the fourth and last webinar in the ‘Roadmap to Carbon Zero Homes series - Operational Carbon Zero’ webinar series with Jeremy Spencer in October – I was asked to explain how to design a truly zero carbon house.

The topic isn’t new to eTool, as this is exactly what their founders Alex and Rich were asking themselves 10 years ago while creating a new carbon calculator which became a powerful eToolLCD design software.

A truly zero carbon house. Is it even possible? If answering this subjectively, it depends on how much you are willing to do for the planet.

24

 M E M B E R M AT T E R S

04. Member Matters If you asked our planet, ‘What is a ‘sustainable’ level of emissions of a single house?’, then she would probably ask us not to have any emissions at all; from the start, during the operation of the house and even after its demolition, 60-100 years later. Design to last for life and design for zero emissions, may be her answer.

1000kgCo2/year. So, if a house should make about 10 per cent of emissions of that, then the limit is 100kgCo2/ occupant/year.

eTool’s director, Alex, wrote this article back in 2013 and surprisingly, not much had changed as we stepped into 2020: all recommendations for a low-carbon design are still relevant and they are the same old With a bit of humour, an absolutely carbon good principles based on passive solar zero house is the one that ‘has never been design principles and functionality. built’. But really, and to put a number for A truly zero carbon house isn’t a hard task. a ‘sustainable’ house, it should aim for The principles are simple and have been 100kgCO2e/occupant/year maximum. known for decades. As anything ‘brilliant’ Just compare this figure to the current average Australian house’s impact, which it is often just simple. is around 3,900kgCO2e/occupant/year.

As a rule of thumb – your total personal carbon footprint should be no more than

M E M B E R M A T T E R S

25 1

Issue 32

04. Member Matters Top five tips for designing a truly zero carbon house

1. Pick a digital tool.

Really, the only way to avoid green wash is to check your results using a carbon assessment tool.

There is no list of ‘must have’ materials or appliances to recommend and apply for all projects. The first place to start is to ask where the carbon impacts are.

You can’t improve what you can’t quantify. You can also use an independent verifier to certify your project and prove how much CO2 it saves.

2. Don’t chase stars, chase outcome or carbon.

Even moving to a 10 NatHERs stars home will only help you to avoid 15 per cent of CO2 and this will not really solve the climate crisis problem.

3. Think holistically and long-term.

Don’t separate embodied from operational carbon (currently, the proportion is about 30/70 but in a few years, it might be 50/50). At the end, the total CO2 figure is what matters to the planet. Embodied carbon (coming from materials) will increase as you use more insulation material, or double-glazed windows, but will help to reduce your operational carbon emissions drastically. Also, the more durable appliances and materials you choose, the less maintenance and repairs will be required further down the track.

Smart decisions will pay off over time.

4. Focus on functionality.

If you design a mansion with three bathrooms, big outdoor terrace, a swimming pool, lots of purely ‘beauty’ elements, then it’s going to be more difficult to get to a carbon zero target. The more material used the more CO2 will be released. Good news is that there are many companies providing eco-friendly and aesthetically pleasing solutions and which have even offset their emissions during the manufacturing.

5. Design really matters.

Using life cycle design as early as possible will help you to get there. It’s better to define a clear benchmark and set a reduction target (even if it’s only 50 per cent carbon reduction) and let designers come up with the most cost-effective solution for each case. Balancing your ecological goals with financial capabilities is only possible if you plan it accordingly and early enough to make better choices.

6. Bonus Tip. It is better to be vaguely right than precisely wrong.

Start somewhere, set some personal targets, and do what you can do. It is better to do something than do nothing. And if everyone learns to get into this state of mind, we will achieve bigger outcomes.

26

 M E M B E R M AT T E R S

M E M B E R M A T T E R S

15

Issue 32

05. Planning Matters

State Planning Policy – housing supply, location, character and infrastructure These tidbits are part of the regular contribution made by Clause 1 Planning to INTERSECT. For more information, visit www.clause1.com.au

Planning Scheme VC169 is a state-wide Planning Scheme Amendment which came into effect on 9 October, 2020.

The Amendment is made to clarify and strengthen Housing policy by: • Changing Neighbourhood Character policy at Clause 15.01-5S, to ensure preferred neighbourhood character and housing growth objectives correspond; • Changing Housing policy at Clause 16.01 to simplify, clarify and consolidate housing policy and create new “housing supply” policy at Clause 16.01-1S; • Making other changes to regional housing policies for clarity and consistency; and • Changing Clause 19.03-2S Infrastructure Design and Provision by relocating policy from Clause 16.01-2S, integrating new housing with infrastructure.

Diving a little deeper: State-level Neighbourhood Character policy at Clause 15.01-S5 is amended to remove reference from ‘Ensure development responds to cultural identity’, to ‘Support development that respects the existing neighbourhood character or contributes to a preferred neighbourhood character’.

It is considered the change in terminology from Ensure to Support may require decision makers to take a more proactive role, rather than reactive, in allowing development which ticks neighbourhoodcharacter boxes.

References to heritage in the Strategies of this policy are replaced with neighbourhood character because heritage policy is addressed in detail elsewhere in the planning scheme and is not the same thing as “neighbourhood character”.

Ph: 03 9370 9599 www.clause1.com.au 28

 P L A N N I N G M AT T E R S

05. Planning Matters

Policy at Clause 15.01-S5 also gains a new Strategy, to: • Ensure the preferred neighbourhood character is consistent with medium- and higher-density housing outcomes in areas identified for increased housing.

This policy seeks to balance neighbourhood character and housing provision objectives. It acknowledges the different preferred neighbourhood character outcomes and likely extent of change achievable in areas with policy support for higher-density development.

Housing policy at Clause 16.01-1S is retitled from “Integrated housing” to “Housing Supply” and the objective of the policy changes from a focus to promote a housing market (that meets community needs) to a focus on facilitating well-located, integrated and diverse housing that meets community needs.

Housing supply policy at Clause 16.01-1S is merged with Location of residential development policy, previously at Clause 16.01-2S with the following new policy included: Facilitate diverse housing that offers choice and meets changing household needs by widening housing diversity through a mix of housing types.

Encourage the development of well-designed housing that: • Provides a high level of internal and external amenity; • Incorporates universal design and adaptable internal dwelling design; • Supports opportunities for a range of income groups to choose housing in well-serviced locations; and • Plans for growth areas to provide for a mix of housing types through a variety of lot sizes, including higher housing densities in and around activity centres.

While the direction of these policies is not new, their inclusion together under Housing supply policy provides a concise set of policies addressing diversity of housing type, affordability, amenity/living quality, accessibility and location.

Housing Supply Strategies for Metropolitan Melbourne At Clause 16.01-1R Housing supply – Metropolitan Melbourne have been supplemented with new strategies that seek to: • Provide certainty about the scale of growth by prescribing appropriate height and site coverage provisions for different areas; • Allow for a range of minimal, incremental and high-change residential areas that balance the need to protect valued areas with the need to ensure choice and growth in housing; and • Create mixed-use neighbourhoods at varying densities that offer more choice in housing.

The rearrangement or changes to State-level housing and neighbourhood character policy are consistent with the structure of much of the local planning policy in Victoria’s Planning Schemes, particularly where areas of municipalities are allocated high, medium or low levels of infill development and/or expectation for change of neighbourhood character.

Although not ground-breaking, the above changes are noteworthy as an attempt to add weight to the fact that changes to neighbourhood character are expected, as a result of need for infill, diversity and affordable housing policies.

P L A N N I N G M A T T E R S

29

Issue 32

06. Industry Matters

Existing Use Rights

Clause 1 Planning has recently had cause to undertake a detailed review of the relevant provisions and caselaw associated with a complex existing use rights issue.

We have leveraged some of that work into the following summary of what permit applicants should know about existing use rights.

Clause 63 of the Victorian Planning Provisions provides the policy bases for existing use rights. Clause 63 is broken into the following sections. For each subclause we have provided a summary of what regular permit applicants should know: VPP 63.01 Extent of Existing Use Rights Clause 63.01 provides that: • If a change to the planning scheme prohibits or triggers a permit for an existing use, that use can generally continue if the use was lawfully carried out prior to the planning scheme amendment; • Any existing use can continue if proof of continuous use for 15 years is established under Cl 63.11; and • An alternate use (even if prohibited) can operate from the site if in accordance with a permit issued under 63.08.

30

 I N D U S T RY M AT T E R S

VPP 63.02 Characterisation of Use

VPP 63.05 Sections 2 and 3 Uses

Unlike a planning permit application, if the use of land is being characterised in order to assess the extent of any existing use right, the use is characterised by the purpose of the ‘actual’ use at the relevant date (subject to any conditions or restrictions applying to the use at that date) and not by the classifications within Clause 73.03 or in Section 1, 2 or 3 of the table of uses contained within the relevant zone.

A use in Section 2 or 3 of a zone for which an existing use right is established may continue provided:

• No building or works are constructed or carried out without a permit. A permit must not be granted unless the building or works complies with any other building or works requirement in this scheme.

• Any condition or restriction to which the use was subject continues to be met. This includes any implied restriction on the extent of the land VPP 63.03 Effect of Definitions subject to the existing use right or the on Existing Use Rights extent of activities within the use.

• The amenity of the area is not Following on from how a use is damaged or further damaged by a characterised (above), the definition of use change in the activities beyond the terms contained in the planning scheme, limited purpose of the use preserved do not increase or restrict the extent of any by the existing use right. existing use right established prior to the inclusion of the definition or amendment.

VPP 63.04 Section 1 Uses A Section 1 use for which an existing use right is established may continue provided any condition or restriction to which the use was subject continues to be met.

06. Industry Matters

Little bits that can make a big difference to your town planning outcomes

VPP 63.06 Expiration of Existing Use Rights An existing use right expires if either: • The use has stopped for a continuous period of two years, or has stopped for two or more periods which together total two years in any period of three years.

• In the case of a use which is seasonal in nature, the use does not take place for two years in succession.

VPP 63.07 Compliance with Codes of Practice Generally, a use for which an existing use right is established must comply with any relevant code of practice incorporated in this scheme.

VPP 63.08 Alternative Use If land is used for a use in Section 3 of a zone for which an existing use right is established, a permit may be granted to use the land for an alternative use (even if prohibited), if the responsible authority is satisfied that the new use will be less detrimental to the amenity of the locality.

VPP 63.09 Shop Conditions

VPP 63.12 Decision Guidelines

Any permit issued for a shop, under the existing use rights provisions (above), will generally restrict the shop to a maximum of 500sqm.

Clause 63.12 provides that before deciding on an application under Clause 63.05, 63.08 or 63.10, in addition to the decision guidelines in Clause 65 and any other requirements of the Act, the responsible authority must consider the extent to which compliance can be achieved with all scheme requirements that can reasonably be met.

VPP 63.10 Damaged or Destroyed Buildings or Works

If 50 per cent of a building used for existing use rights is destroyed, the existing use At the highest level, practitioners rights will cease unless a permit is granted should be aware that: to continue use and reconstruct the building.

• There are numerous VCAT cases that provide specific detail on how the VPP 63.11 Proof of Continuous Use above provisions have previously been interpreted; When attempting to establish an existing • Municipal Councils will often seek to use right, it is generally sufficient to prove shutdown uses that are non-compliant that the use has been carried out with the existing and future intent of continuously for 15 years. An existing use the zone; right may be established even if it did not • An existing use right can be legally comply with the scheme immediately prior ratified via an application to Council to or during the 15-year period, unless for a Certificate of Compliance; either: • A use that enjoys existing use rights can seek approval for: • At any time before or after • Additional buildings and works; commencement of the 15 year period • An alternative use of the land the use has been held to be unlawful by (even if prohibited). a decision of a court or tribunal; or • The application of ‘existing use rights’ • During the 15-year period, the can be complex. However, they can responsible authority has clearly and also provide a valuable tool for unambiguously given a written direction established land uses. for the use to cease by reason of its non-compliance with the scheme

I N D U S T RY M AT T E R S

31

Issue 32

06. Industry Matters

Do your due diligence, get permits & conduct assessments all in one place

SPECIAL MEMBER OFFER Get 30 per cent off the monthly price* of Landchecker Professional when you pay upfront for one year.

Offer ends November 30, 2020. *Landchecker Professional starts at just $50 per month for a team of five.

Design Matters has partnered with Landchecker - an all-in-one source of property information - to offer 30 per cent off their market-leading application during November.

Landchecker displays property information, high-resolution aerial imagery and document search tools together in an interactive map to help property professionals to work more efficiently.

Complete your due diligence, all in one place Access comprehensive and reliable property information, including planning maps and links to the relevant planning scheme schedules, previous sale prices and sale history, property boundaries and site dimensions.

Understand planning permit details and find precedents View approved, pending and rejected planning permit information across Victoria and New South Wales, updated daily. Use filters to locate similar permits nearby to assess possible precedents.

Conduct site assessments from your desk View up-to-date high-resolution aerial images and browse extensive historic imagery to discover changes over time. Export high-resolution photographs to use in reports.

Queensland and Tasmania coming soon.

Landchecker was founded in 2015 by a group of Melbourne-based property professionals, frustrated by the time-consuming process of gathering and analysing property information.

FREE 7-DAY TRIAL: Contact Landchecker at hello@landchecker.com.au and state your Member number to receive a free 7-day trial.

32

ďťż I N D U S T RY M AT T E R S

Above: Complete your due diligence, all in one place.

Right: Understand planning permit details and find precedents.

Main image: Conduct site assessments from your desk.

I N D U S T R Y M A T T E Rďťż S

33

Issue 32

06. Industry Matters

Ethics Matter

By Michael Dolan, Special Counsel, Ethics, Law Institute of Victoria

34

ďťż I N D U S T RY M AT T E R S

06. Industry Matters

They are not so much learnt as lived.

Ethics are the hallmark of a profession, imposing obligations more exacting than any imposed by law and incapable of The purpose of this article is to share with you some thoughts about ethical behaviour adequate enforcement by legal process.

If ethics were reduced merely to rules, by practitioners in the building design a spiritless compliance would soon be sector and why it is good for business. replaced by skilful evasion." (2) For the past 10 years I have worked as an ethics lawyer assisting members of the I am often asked by lawyers what I mean legal profession in Victoria and other parts by ethics. of Australia to understand their ethical obligations and how to deal with the many To my mind the answer is simple: ethical challenges which they face in daily legal practice.

• Ethics is doing the right thing when no-one is looking.

I have also delivered many highly • I often say in my CPD sessions with interactive CPD ethics sessions for lawyers lawyers that they need to have ethics and have recently delivered two sessions hardwired into their DNA and make sure for members of Design Matters Australia as that everything they do in legal practice part of their annual CPD requirements. is looked at through ethics-tinted glasses. That way they will see the Ethics in the practice of the law ethics train coming down the track at them before it runs over them.

I would like to start by looking very briefly at legal ethics and what they mean for And it’s not just me saying this to the practising lawyers in Australia. lawyers – it’s exactly what Chief Justice Kiefel said to them back in 2010 in the As the Chief Justice of the High Court of speech referred to above.

Australia The Honourable Susan Kiefel AC said in a speech to lawyers in 2010: “All lawyers must have a strong moral and ethical sense to be right thinking.

“Codes of professional conduct or ethics An ethical lawyer is not just one who has are not new. They were first formulated an awareness of a Code of Conduct and by medical practitioners 2,500 years ago what may constitute a breach of that and were later developed by some groups Code. A guide to right conduct is provided of Roman legal advisers. They were by an understanding of the place of the regarded as coming from sacred sources. profession in the legal system and A professional person's sense of their therefore in society; an understanding obligation was strengthened by this not only of the duty to a client but to the knowledge.” (1) court and to the public interest in the maintenance of a working legal system.

Former Chief Justice of the High Court Lawyers may generally be said to be of Australia The Honourable Sir Gerard necessary to the working of the law in Brennan AC KBE QC said in a speech all its respects. But it is only the ethical to barristers almost 30 years ago: lawyer who is essential to a system “The first, and perhaps the most important, of justice.” (1) thing to be said about ethics is that they cannot be reduced to rules. Ethics are not Lawyers in most parts of Australia what the barrister knows he or she should are now bound by the professional do: ethics are what the barrister does. conduct rules which first came into play in 2015 as regulations made under the Legal Profession Uniform Law in NSW and Victoria.

Why ethics matter in the building design sector

I N D U S T R Y M A T T E R S

35

Issue 32

06. Industry Matters

Known as the Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules 2015 (3) they provide in Rule 3.1 that as an officer of the court a solicitor’s paramount duty is to the court and the administration of justice and trumps all other ethical duties.

Rule 4 lists some of lawyers’ other fundamental ethical duties, such as acting in the best interests of their client, being honest and courteous in all dealings in legal practice, delivering legal services competently, diligently and promptly, and remaining independent, and being a person of integrity. All told, there are another 42 professional conduct rules addressing the ethical behaviour of solicitors.

Ethics in the building and design sector Who will ever forget the horrifying pictures on our television screens of the Grenfell Tower in London on 14 June, 2017.

In the executive summary of his first report, the Chairman of the Inquiry into the tragedy, The Rt Hon Sir Martin Moore-Bick, commented: “There was compelling evidence that the external walls of the building failed to comply with Requirement B4(1) of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010, in that they did not adequately resist the spread of fire having regard to the height, use and position of the building. On the contrary, they actively promoted it. It will be necessary in Phase 2 to examine why those who were responsible for the design of the refurbishment considered that the tower would meet that essential requirement.” (4)

installed on Grenfell Tower as part of its disastrous refurbishment has accepted that he knew a safer, fire-retardant version of the product was available, the inquiry into 2017’s fire has heard. Geoff Blades, who was a senior sales manager at St Helens-based CEP Architectural Facades at the time of the refurbishment, insisted he had not recommended the use of Reynobond aluminium composite material (ACM) panels for the west London tower block’s ill-fated facelift.”(5) So, let’s turn our ethical eyes on building design and construction – your home turf.

In an article written only three months ago, Professor Martin Loosely of the University of Technology in Sydney wrote about the need for ethics in the Australian building design and construction industry.

“At the heart of ethics are our beliefs about what is right or wrong and a concern about something or someone other than us.

This includes the environment, customers of the construction industry, the community in which we build and those who work in our industry.

These ideas about right and wrong, which develop over many generations in our communities, families, religions, philosophies, cultures and institutions, are continually changing and are socialised through education and our membership of various organisations, community groups and societies.

Writing in the industry magazine “Building Design” on 24 September, 2020, Jim Dutton said:

They all have a role to play in achieving what the NSW Building Commissioner wants and the ethical principles they collectively impart, offer us ethical rules, moral maps and principles that we can then use to find our way through difficult issues we face in running our businesses.”(6)

“CEP sales lead quizzed about knowledge of fire-retardant version of combustible cassettes used in fatal refurbishment.

A key sales contact at the firm that produced the combustible ACM cassettes

It should always be remembered that ethics in business is good for business!

An experienced building design practitioner, Allen Roberts, wrote in the August 2020 issue of Intersect: “Never compromise your ethical standards or be bullied into making wrong choices.” (7)

36

 B U S I N E S S M AT T E R S

06. Industry Matters Design Matters National has included ethics as a benchmark purpose in its reason for being, i.e. (4) To promote honourable practice, to repress malpractice and to decide all questions of professional usage and ethics affecting the members of the Association.

As readers would be aware, Design Matters National has published a Code of Professional Conduct for its members which includes the following:

1 Abiding by the Law At all times comply with or observe all relevant applicable laws.

2 Conflicts of Interest Avoid conflicts of interest.

3 Honesty and Integrity Always act with honesty, propriety and integrity in the pursuit of professional duties.

4 Confidentiality Respect the confidentiality of information acquired in the course of your professional duties, and do not disclose any such information to a third party without specific authority or unless there is a legal duty or professional duty to do so.

7 Competency Always perform professional services with due care, competence and diligence.

8 Good Reputation Always conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the good reputation of building designers, and refrain from any conduct that might bring discredit to, or be prejudicial to, your peers and the design sector.

12 Quality of Services Strive to provide excellence in delivering professional services.

Where the services provided are in need of remedy, such remedy should be conducted with efficiency, diligence and courtesy.

The above ethical obligations are very similar to many other codes of professional conduct in Australia.

B U S I N E S S M A T T E Rďťż S

37

Issue 32

06. Industry Matters

Real life case studies for consideration.

CASE STUDY 1

CASE STUDY 2

Shopping around to “please” the client

Do you roll over?

You are working for a client who is asking for a feature which challenges the fire regulations. You know a young, inexperienced, and therefore lenient surveyor who may give you the answer you are seeking and help your client to get around a fire regulation, so you can tell the client what they want to hear. Do you ‘shop around’ for the most lenient answer you can find even though you know that the feature goes against the code and could put the client at higher fire risk?

You spec out a building design which includes exterior cladding. The builder comes to you with an alternative, cheaper but inferior cladding because they want to win the contract. You know the client wants to avoid using the inferior material, but they won’t be able to tell the difference.

Discussion Q: W hat, if any, ethical issues does this raise for you?

Q: W hat should you do? Is the client’s wish paramount?

You have a contractual and ethical duty to assist your client in achieving their objectives provided that they are lawful.

Assisting a client to ‘get around’ fire regulations would be both unlawful and unethical. In addition, such conduct would be dishonest and not in accordance with your ethical duties of integrity and upholding the good reputation of the building design profession. You would need to explain to your client the importance of these matters and decline to assist them in the manner suggested.

38

 B U S I N E S S M AT T E R S

Discussion Q: To whom do you have ethical duties?

Q: What ethical duties might be enlivened in this situation?

Q: How should you respond to the builder?

Your primary ethical duty is to act in the best interests of your client and assist them in achieving their desired project outcomes. You know that, given the choice, your client would not want you to use the inferior material even though they might not be able to tell the difference once it is installed. You owe an ethical duty of honesty to your client so you should discuss with them the alternative options and costings with the pros and cons of each solution. In doing this you will be giving your client the information which they need in order to make an informed choice. Once that is done, inform the builder of the client’s choice.

06. Industry Matters

CASE STUDY 3

CASE STUDY 4

CASE STUDY 5

Inflating your own abilities might be risky

No-one will ever know, so no harm done…

I have to make a living as well…

A potential client has heard about you from a friend and gives you a call about a highly technical new build on a very challenging site. During the call you realise that the client thinks you are another building designer with a similar name, more skills and better reputation. You know the job will be well-paying, but it will seriously test your professional abilities.

Thermal performance assessment work is becoming harder to find in the current COVID-19 economic climate. You have a regular builder client which urgently needs to cut its costs to stay afloat. You are asked by your client to make some deliberate ‘mistakes’ in your assessments, which would save it money on construction costs, and you would still get 80 per cent - an audit pass. There are no legal consequences for errors, deliberate or otherwise. The client says: “If you won’t do it, there are plenty of thermal raters who will! So, it looks as if I’ll have to take my business elsewhere.”

Discussion Q: Does this situation raise any ethical issues for you?

Q: If so, what are they? Is the DMN code of conduct relevant?

Q: Are there other matters which suggest you might decline the job?

You have ethical duties to act honestly and in the best interests of your prospective client. Knowing that your prospective client has made a mistake in their selection of you, and then taking advantage of that mistake for your own financial benefit, would both be dishonest and showing a lack of integrity. It would also involve you in a serious conflict of interest for you and potentiality give rise to professional legal liability in the event that you make mistakes in carrying out the assignment.

You should be upfront with your prospective client and explain the true situation with your qualifications and experience. You never know, you might still get the assignment, and many more from this client, if you do a good job!

Discussion: Q: W hat ethical issues (if any) does this raise for you given that your own business is under economic strain as well? How would you respond to this client request?

You are working for a regular client who is a volume builder, with standard plans.

You make an error, meaning your thermal assessment performance rating was wrong, causing you to fail an audit.

Do you tell your client the truth and risk your steady income stream, or do you simply say the error was caused because of ‘changes to the scheme’? Alternatively, do you not tell the client what has happened and just change your work practices to correct the error, fully aware that when the client’s house is next rated, it will have a different rating?

Discussion: Q: What ethical issues (if any) does this raise for you given that the builder sends you a lot of work? How should you deal with this client situation?

Always be upfront and honest in your business dealings. Your ethical duties include acting honestly and with propriety and integrity. In this case, you should be When confronted by an ethical issue in your business the starting point is often to open and transparent with the builder and ask yourself who is your client? The answer offer to rectify your mistake. Always remember that ethics is about doing the to that question will then dictate to whom right thing when no-one is looking. If you you owe ethical duties and what they are say nothing, you may not only be in in order to resolve the matter. In this breach of your ethical obligations, but case study, your client may well be the also be liable legally for damages in the builder if it is the project developer. As a future if and when the error comes to professional thermal performance light. assessor, you have an ethical duty to obey the law as well as act with honesty and integrity. Acting in the manner suggested would not be in accordance with those ethical duties. In addition, you are required

by Design Matters National’s Code of Conduct to act competently and in a manner consistent with the good reputation of building designers, and refrain from any conduct that might bring discredit to, or be prejudicial to, your peers and the design sector.

In addition, you are required to ensure that you are free of any interest that might be regarded as being incompatible with your integrity and objectivity.

B U S I N E S S M A T T E R S

39

Issue 32

06. Industry Matters CASE STUDY 6

CASE STUDY 7

It sometimes happens…

Demanding more

Raising concerns

You’ve already gone back to your client a few times regarding lack of information provided to do an assessment and they are reluctant to put the required information on the plans supplied.

You’ve been handed a job to certify and note the initial energy assessment has been done by another accredited assessor however, there are a few things that are incorrect, impacting the star rating.

Discussion:

Discussion:

Q: How do you get the information needed? Do you persevere or just make assumptions to get the assessment done?

Q: Do you raise this with the client?

Do you inform the assessor?

Do you inform the assessor’s AAO?

Never make assumptions. If the client is not prepared to give you the required information, you decline to act further in the matter. To do otherwise would involve breaching your ethical duties of acting honestly and with integrity.

You have an ethical duty to act honestly and with integrity and to uphold the reputation of the profession. You cannot overlook the matter. In the first instance, you could approach the assessor and discuss it with him as he may be happy to correct the errors. You cannot sign off errors as being correct.

Conclusion Ethics matters in the design and construction sector. Ethical behaviour is good for business. In the current business climate in Australia the public is no longer tolerant of unethical behaviour in the delivery of goods and services provided to them.

You only have to look at the large number of Royal Commissions in Australia during the past several years and currently ongoing to see clear evidence of widespread consumer dissatisfaction. By always being ethical in your professional duties you will enhance the reputation of the building design profession and achieve good business outcomes for yourself.

References: 1. ETHICS AND THE PROFESSION OF THE LAWYER, The Hon Susan Kiefel AC, Chief Justice, High Court of Australia, Queensland Law Society, The Vincents' 48th Annual Symposium, 26 March 2010 2. Sir Gerard Brennan AC KBE QC in describing the importance of ethics to a meeting of the Queensland Bar Association in 1992.

3. Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules 2015 4. REPORT of the PUBLIC INQUIRY into the FIRE at GRENFELL TOWER on 14 JUNE 2017 (Phase 1) Chairman: The Rt Hon Sir Martin Moore-Bick, October 2019, Executive Summary, Compliance with the Building Regulations 5. Jim Dutton, Building Design, 24 September 2020 6. Professor Martin Loosemore, The Fifth Estate, 25 May 2020, UT Sydney 7. Allen Roberts, Owner, APR Building Services, INTERSECT interview, August 2020

40

 B U S I N E S S M AT T E R S

07. Business Matters

B U S I N E S S M A T T E Rďťż S

41

Issue 32

07. Business Matters

Good CAD, Bad CAD A Member’s question about CAD software, and a Facebook Poll on the topic, elicited some strong responses in the DMN Private Member Facebook Group recently.

The Member’s question was: “I’ve upgraded my computer and I’m looking into upgrading my CAD software. For the past 25 years I’ve used an AutoCAD-based program, but I’m less and less keen on continuing down that path. I’ve been looking at ArchLine and SoftCad as alternatives as they seem to have reasonable Australian-based support and content out of the box. I wonder if other Members have experience with these programs?”

42

 B U S I N E S S M AT T E R S

07. Business Matters

Above: These drawings were created in Lumion,

by Marcio Zicarelli.

B U S I N E S S M A T T E Rďťż S

43

Issue 32

07. Business Matters

What’s your favourite CAD software?

Raves about Revit (52 votes): • Troy Dawes: Revit for me, lots of local training also.

It is getting more expensive nowadays though.

• Mick Hanley: Revit for me. If you are doing residential work mainly you can get away with Revit Lite for a fraction of the costs.

• Brett Kirkwood: Yes, Revit lite can work well for basic drafting and residential projects. I run a full version in my office, plus 2 other lite licences and the main difference is the design, massing and rendering on the full version seems to give you more range. But really, I don't think many would notice the difference, for design and/or drafting. Except the boss who is paying the bill or lack of it!! Working (design and drafting stages) with Revit for almost 10 years, typically you have to have the collection with Revit and Autocad, so you can work with DWG surveys before importing them into Revit. That’s about all I use Autocad for. But your old skills are still helpful for that purpose.

• Rhys Davies: As Revit and AutoCAD are owned by Autodesk there is a lot of shared/similar language and graphics (e.g. snaps, commands, ribbon layout).

• Greg Donaldson: If you are thinking about Revit then look at the AEC collection. You get Revit & Autocad plus a bunch of other Autodesk products. Makes more sense than individual licences. Still not cheap though.

• Marco Zicarelli: Drawings on Revit and rendering on Lumion!

• Brett Seriani: I've been using AutoCAD since 1986. I've tried to escape the clutches of Autodesk several times, and I just seem to keep going back. My recent attempts to leave AutoCAD have been Revit and Sketchup. Both have been epic fails. I would really like to become more efficient in Revit, but I need one-on-one training and mentoring. I see a quite a few people using ArchiCAD as well, and am starting to wonder if I should attempt it as well.

Recommendations for ArchiCAD (29 votes): • Michael McMullan: ArchiCAD is the best! Steer clear of Revit.

Twenty UK architects have written an open letter complaining about its slow workflow and cost!

https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/big-namearchitects-hit-out-at-cost-and-performance-of-revit?fbclid=I wAR00bx5JMGTPWlBz5LNm5smwT-b6fI46SfvHYPXTHXddLPl9imgCENJR4A

• T imothy Ellis: I was taught Revit and Archicad and spent a year training on each. I favoured Archicad. No experience with Archline or Softcad. It is close and they both have good features. Glad there is more than one strong software otherwise no competition and prices rise, and no innovation.

Find the software that has the features that work for you. Re. Revit Vs Archicad, here is a good reference article from A2K. https://www.a2kstore.com/revit-vs-archicad Proponents for Datacad (1 vote): • Robert Penn: I use Datacad. Have for over 20 years.

Great company! Reasonably priced, great customer service. Excellent forum to share ideas or solve any issues.

Have never regretted choosing them from the outset.

44

 B U S I N E S S M AT T E R S

07. Business Matters

Above: A drawing created in Vectorworks,

by Marc Bernstein-Hussmann.

Facebook Poll Results: REVIT

52 VOTES

ARCHICAD

29 VOTES

AUTOCAD

20 VOTES

VECTORWORKS

3 VOTES

SKETCHUP

3 VOTES

CHIEF ARCHITECT

3 VOTES

REVIT LITE

2 VOTES

LUMION

2 VOTES

DATACAD

1 VOTE

SOFTCAD

0 VOTES

ARCHLINE

0 VOTES

B U S I N E S S M A T T E R S

45

Issue 32

07. Business Matters

Above: A drawing created in Datacad,

by Robert Penn.

46

B U S I N E S S M AT T E R S

SARAH COBET & DAVID BRUCE

Rev.

REVISION

DATE

A

ISSUED FOR DESIGNER REVIEW

2020/03/16

B

ISSUED FOR REVIEW

2020/05/01

Seriani Designs 11 Rockefeller Way Point Cook VIC 3030 +61 415 688 974 www. serianidesigns.com

A

B

GENERAL NOTES (SHEET 1)

A

B

S2

GENERAL NOTES (SHEET 2)

A

B

FOUNDATION PLAN

A

B

S4

GROUND FRAMING PLAN

A

B

S5

FIRST FLOOR FRAMING PLAN

A

B

S6

BEAM & FLOOR JOIST PLAN

A

B

S7

ROOF BEAM & RAFTER PLAN

A

B

S8

FOUNDATION DETAILS (SHEET 1)

A

B

S9

FOUNDATION DETAILS (SHEET 2)

A

B

S10

PEDESTAL DETAIL

A

B

S11

FRAMING DETAILS (EAST ELEVATION)

A

B

S12

FRAMING DETAILS (NORTH ELEVATION)

A

B

S13

FRAMING DETAILS (WEST ELEVATION)

A

B

S14

FRAMING DETAILS (SOUTH ELEVATION)

A

B

S15

INTERIOR FRAMING DETAILS (SHEET 1)

A

B

S16

INTERIOR FRAMING DETAILS (SHEET 2)

A

B

S17

-

S18

-

S19

-

S20

-

-

-

-

REVISION

-

-

REVISION

2020/05/01

TITLE PAGE & TRANSMITTAL

S1

REVISION

2020/03/16

S0

S3

CONSULTANT:

REVISION

DESCRIPTION

Sheet

CLIENT:

REVISION

07. Business Matters

-

SARAH CORBET & DAVID BRUCE RESIDENCE 42 FRITH MILL ROAD, LYONVILLE, VIC TITLEPAGE & TRANSMITTAL AS NOTED

ENG:

B.SERIANI

DRAWN: B.SERIANI

CHK:

S.RAMGOOLAM

SCALE:

JOB / DRAWING No.

S0

REVISION

B

Above: A drawing created in AutoCAD,

by Brett Seriani.

"I've been using AutoCAD since 1986. I've tried to escape the clutches of Autodesk several times, and I just seem to keep going back." - Brett Seriani.

B U S I N E S S M A T T E R S

47

Issue 32

07. Business Matters

48

B U S I N E S S M AT T E R S

07. Business Matters

Above: This drawing was created in Lumion,

by Marcio Zicarelli.

B U S I N E S S M AT T E R S

49

Hardie's Axon™ 133mm smooth vertical cladding

Mixed s l a i r e t a M

THE Modern

LOOK

In order to achieve this Modern Mixed Material look, Axon™ cladding was used to provide clean, uninterrupted lines contrasting the use of raw materials like recycled brick and timber. A salt box roof style provides a asymmetrical sloping roof.

To find out more about modern looks go to jameshardie.com.au



Copyright ©2020 James Hardie Australia Pty Ltd ABN 12 084 635 558. ™ and ® denotes a trademark or registered mark owned by James Hardie Technology Ltd.