Better Building: Issue 1

Better Building

MEET JOHN FIELDING: THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BUILDER OF ARCHITECTURAL HOUSES

GREEN SCREEN GRASS OF HOME: THE WORLD’S FIRST VIRTUAL DISPLAY VILLAGE

MONTORO WINERY: CONSTRUCTION TO COMPLETION AND LESSONS FROM THE TRADE

betterbuildingdaily.com

ISSUE 01 ISSUE 01

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Better Building | Contents

Co n t e n t s

8 EDITORIAL FROM PETE COLQUHOUN 10 QUOTES 13 INDUSTRY UPDATE PROFILE 16 JOHN FIELDING Arguably Australia’s greatest ever builder of architectural houses shares the secrets of his success.

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BUSINESS

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22 MARKETING How to make the most of social media 24 TECHNOLOGY Villawood’s brave new VR world 29 FINANCE Securing the loan

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PROJECTS 32 MONTORO WINERY Orange NSW 38 TAMBORINE HOUSE Mount Tamborine QLD 44 RUYTON GIRLS' SCHOOL Kew VIC EXTENSIONS 50 PRODUCTS The latest musthaves for those in the building trade 56 DOWNTIME Craft beer

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Better Building | Editorial

Publisher Joanne Davies joanne.davies@niche.com.au (03) 9948 4929

Welcome to the very first edition of Better Building. This is for the hands-on people, those who make and create. We are a nation of builders and I'm constantly amazed by how many innovative ways there are when it comes to building and designing in this country.

Honestly though, is there really room for yet another builder/construction magazine?

Well, not unless we have something new, interesting and entertaining to offer. Inside we’ve brought together the best of the best. This is for anyone who wants to look beyond industry news and regulations and delve a little deeper into the real building game, as well as the design methods behind the projects.

Inside you'll meet hardened, innovative professionals who won’t pull any punches on how to get things done. You’ll get steel-capped booted on-site info from straight talkers who have spent their lives designing and building Australia.

A warning: you may get dirt under your nails as you flick through these pages.

In the building business, every decision we make must be weighed against competing forces. Combining our strengths through respect, collaboration and inspiration is key. I want you to feel the passion, dedication, tension, conflict and sweat that’s gone into each project. Great interviews, the best buildings, informative, inspiring stuff – but please give us a kick up the bum if we miss something or you’ve got a different opinion on anything.

The footing has been laid so let’s pour. I hope this and the issues to come will help all of us build better.

Yours sincerely PETE COLQUHOUN

Associate Publisher Lachlan Oakley lachlan.oakley@niche.com.au (03) 9948 4952 Editor Peter Colquhoun peter.colquhoun@niche.com.au Managing Editor Madeleine Swain madeleine.swain@niche.com.au Designer Norsham Husaini Advertising Tali Ben-Yehuda tali.yehuda@niche.com.au (03) 9948 4918 Shaaron Martin shaaron.martin@niche.com.au (03) 9948 4954 Production Production manager Alicia Pinnock alicia.pinnock@niche.com.au Production coordinator Joel Sampson joel.sampson@niche.com.au Design and digital prepress Karl Dyer

Chairman Nicholas Dower Managing director Paul Lidgerwood Publisher and Commercial director Joanne Davies Head of content Madeleine Swain Financial controller Sonia Jurista Subscriptions Subscription enquiries Call 1800 804 160 or email subscriptions@niche.com.au Cover: Clockwise from top left: Point House © Michael Nicholson, Tamborine House © Lachlan Nielsen, Montoro Wines © TFAD Tom Ferguson, Ruyton Girls' School © Woods Bagot Stock images via 123RF Printing Southern Colour Architecture and Design Division Better Building is a publication of Niche Media Pty Ltd ABN 13 064 613 529 Suite 1418, Level 14, 1 Queens Road, Melbourne VIC 3004 T (03) 9948 4900 F (03) 9948 4999 All unsolicited material should be addressed to the attention of the editor at the address above. Material will only be returned if a postage prepaid self-addressed envelope is supplied. Niche Media Pty Ltd accepts no liability for loss or damage of unsolicited material.

Pete Colquhoun is a national award-winning architect with a range of media credits. For the last 14 years he has been the resident architect on Channel 7’s flagship home show Better Homes and Gardens and creator and host of Sandcastles and Australia’s Most Amazing Homes. Gaining wide national and international exposure for his work across a range of TV genres, Pete is also a contributor to several leading home and design magazines. Throughout his architectural and media career, Pete has had the pleasure of dealing with the best, most experienced, innovative builders in the country and visited numerous award-winning and ground breaking homes. When not travelling the country seeking out the latest amazing builds, Pete lives in his childhood home of North Bondi with his young family.

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, internet, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, the publishers accept no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences including any loss or damage arising from reliance on information in this publication.

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily endorsed by the editor, publisher or Niche Media Pty Ltd.

Niche Media Privacy Policy This issue of Better Building may contain offers, competitions, surveys, subscription offers and premiums that, if you choose to participate, require you to provide information about yourself. If you provide information about yourself to Niche Media, Niche Media will use the information to provide you with the products or services you have requested (such as subscriptions).

We may also provide this information to contractors who provide the products and services on our behalf (such as mail houses and suppliers of subscriber premiums and promotional prizes). We do not sell your information to third parties under any circumstances, however the suppliers of some of these products and services may retain the information we provide for future activities of their own, including direct marketing. Niche Media will also retain your information and use it to inform you of other Niche Media promotions and publications from time to time. If you would like to know what information Niche Media holds about you please contact The Privacy Officer, Niche Media Pty Ltd, 1 Queens Road, Melbourne VIC 3004. Better Building is a publication of Niche Media Pty Ltd, ABN 13 064 613 529, 1 Queens Road, Melbourne VIC 3004 Australia, tel +613 9948 4900, fax +613 9948 4999, Better Building ©2018 Niche Media Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Better Building | Quotes

No matter what we’re asked to do, we never say, ‘That’s a ridiculous idea, it can’t be done.’ The attitude is always: ‘OK, that’s what they want, how can we make it happen?

John Fielding PAGE 16

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“The house is about an hour and 10 minutes from Brisbane and about 45 minutes from the coast so, trade wise, finding trades to work on a project that is not the run-of-the-mill was quite interesting. ”

“This is the first time CGI paired with an Oculus Rift set-up has been utilised in this way, delivering the closest comparable experience to exploring a physical display village the property industry has seen.”

LACHLAN NIELSEN PAGE 38

RORY COSTELLOE PAGE 24

“The key to becoming active on social media is knowing your clients and, if your clients use it, then you can replicate the platforms they are on, so you are active where they are too.”

VIVIENNE FORBES PAGE 22

“Just do what the plan indicates, and for god’s sake clean up after yourself!”

LUKE KNIGHT PAGE 32

“The majors are always probably going to offer cheaper lines of funding, but they’re also the hardest to get approved.”

COREY SLEEP PAGE 29

“As with anything new and innovative, it was an ongoing process of learning, as you’re constantly testing the capabilities of existing technology to see where you can push it further and evolve.”

JAMIE HOPWOOD PAGE 24

“I receive calls at least once a week from people asking me how to do off-form concrete and my usual answer is, ‘It’s like ringing up Gordon Ramsay and asking him how to cook; it’s going to take you years to learn.’”

JOHN FIELDING PAGE 16

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200 George Street Sydney

Mirvac wins three IPA awards PHOTO © ALEXANDER MAYES PHOTOGRAPHY

Adding to the raft of prizes the EY Centre at 200 George Street in Sydney has already won, the developer picked up International Property Awards in the HighRise Development and High-Rise Architecture categories, as well as the Office Interior category for its own headquarters, which are located within the building.

Mirvac took a co-creation approach to the development of the EY Centre, collaborating with all stakeholders, including anchor tenant EY. Australia’s fi rst fully LED lit building, EY Centre has achieved

its targeted 5.5-Star NABERS Energy rating and resulted in reduced power consumption costs, lower maintenance cycles and a reduction of landfill. It also features the world’s fi rst closed-cavity façade and timber blind system, which enables tenants to control the light and heat radiating from outside.

“We are proud and delighted to have delivered a building that both enriches its communities and raises the bar for future workplaces in Australia,” says Campbell Hanan, Mirvac’s head of Office and Industrial.

The value of non-residential building approvals jumped by 14.8 percent in February, adding to growth of 18 percent over the previous 12 months according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data.

“It confirms the strongest outlook that commercial construction has enjoyed in years and that the long awaited upturn in the sector is underway,” says Matthew Pollock, national manager economics and housing at ABS. “Better still, the pipeline of non-residential construction projects is broad based, with the data showing strong growth across a wide range of sectors, including for new offices, factories, warehouses, aged care facilities, education, entertainment and accommodation buildings.

“Master Builders expects non-residential building activity to grow by 14.6 percent in 2017/18, with the value of work done estimated at just over $41.5 billion,” adds Pollock.

“New dwelling approvals fell by six percent in February and are down by around 600 new dwellings compared to the same month last year. The fall in new starts is a good indicator that new housing commencements are likely to moderate towards the latter half of 2018.”

“However, approvals for new renovations continue to perform strongly, supporting an expectation of an elevated level of work in 2018 and laying the foundations for a forecast boom in alterations and additions over the next five years.”

Better Building | Industry Update

OUTLOOK FOR COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION STRONGEST IN YEARS

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As the Sydney and Melbourne markets go flat, some property professionals are touting Central Queensland as the ‘next big thing’ in the investment property market, following strong price reduction in recent years.

RiskWise Property Research CEO, Doron Peleg, says the research house has received a number of enquiries about Central Queensland as an investment alternative to the major east coast hubs of Sydney and Melbourne.

“Central Queensland is attracting a new wave of attention because many investors believe this property market has hit rock bottom and that the only way is up,” says Peleg.

However, he adds that the economy of Central Queensland has been in decline “at an alarming rate” since the end of the mining boom.

“This is followed by negative capital growth of, on average, (-17.5 percent) for houses and (-18.7 percent) for units in the past five years,” he says.

“Some areas, such as Gladstone/Biloela experienced even more severe price reductions, with (-28.7 percent) negative growth for houses and (-39.9 percent) for units in the past five years, including -7.3 percent and -10.4 percent in the past 12 months, for houses and units, respectively.

“So, it’s no surprise many believe strong capital growth will follow.”

123RF'S LEV KROPOTOV © 123RF.COM

POST MINING BOOM HITS CENTRAL QUEENSLAND PROPERTY MARKET

FOURTH QUARTER SAW LOWER CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY, BUT THIS WILL RISE The recently released CoreLogic Market Movement Report indicated that 2429 projects moved into construction in Australia in the December quarter. This was -7.8 percent lower than the preceding quarter, with a corresponding lower dollar value of $13.1 billion, down seven percent.

CoreLogic’s commercial research analyst Eliza Owen attributed the lower number of projects and value to seasonality; however, commenced construction projects are already 40 percent up on 2017. Additionally, the number of commencements is lower than the five-year average, but the value is rising.

Owen says, “2017 marked continued participation in construction from state and territory governments, which accounted for 36 percent of construction value in the year to December 2017. In fact, 85 percent of the value of civil engineering projects commencing in 2017 was held in government or joint venture projects, leaving only 15 percent owned wholly by the private sector.

“However, economic data suggests that the private sector is in recovery, and reflected in new projects added to the pipeline over 2017. The pipeline over 2017 indicated that private ownership accounted for 47.4 percent of the value of new civil engineering development applications in 2017, as opposed to just 24.9 percent in 2016.

“With new pipeline values up 10 percent on 2016 and commencement values up 40 percent, it is fair to say that the construction sector will see higher levels of activity going into 2018,” concludes Owen.

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Better Building | Profile

John Fielding – builder He is arguably the greatest builder of Australian architectural houses of all time. At an age when most people have retired, John Fielding has just returned from heli-skiing in Canada. We arrange to meet on-site at a project overlooking Sydney Harbour. He arrives in a collared grey shirt with a genuine look of amazement and pride at what he sees.

TEXT PETER COLQUHOUN PHOTOGRAPHY JULIAN PITT (JOHN FIELDING PORTRAIT)

above: Point house, Collaroy opposite top: Hermit Bay house, Vaucluse opposite bottom: Beach house, Newport – Peter Stutchbury Architecture photography: Michael Nicholson

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Sometimes I wonder how they’ve dreamed up their ideas,” says Fielding, referring to the imagination of the visionary architects he works with and the sculptural curves he is currently running his hand over. Bouncing from ladder to scaffold with the dexterity and curiosity of the 15-year-old ‘brickie’ apprentice he once was, he describes with passion his genuine love for building and design.

JF: From an early age I had a liking for architecture and got concerned about how buildings were built. I remember at the age of about 14 we were building the family home and I argued for weeks about the roof design until I got my way.

PC: What did bricklaying teach you?

JF: It taught us a lot about structures, waterproofing and set outs, but not about the end result. You would leave the building when the structure was done so you never knew a lot about finishes, but I wanted to learn.

Did you ever consider a career as an architect?

No, I never considered being an architect. When I left school I couldn’t even spell ‘architect’ and at that time architecture was a very different profession. Nowadays architects are much more approachable and have a genuine interest in the building process and working as a team with the builders to produce the best result.

What type of buildings do you like?

I like simple buildings, ‘less is more’. When I travel, I am often focused on the details or innovative ideas and ways of building. Japan in particular has been a source of inspiration for me. For example, the precision and finesse in their details or the way someone will have built a cutting edge extension to the back of an historic 16th century building.

Are simple buildings harder to build?

Always, absolutely always. You cannot hide anything.

How do you instil in young tradespeople the standards you set?

I think apprentices and tradespeople often don’t get the right opportunities. We get people who have never had the chance to perform at

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their best level come to us. They have that passion, more so than people think, but it starts from the top down. If the management aren't passionate, then the team never have a chance to excel.

What advice would you give to architects in getting the best outcome?

Make sure the budget is correct to do it properly, and that the architect, builder and client form a working team. That’s really the key to our success.

No matter what we’re asked to do, we never say, ‘That’s a ridiculous idea, it can’t be done.’ The attitude is always: ‘OK, that’s what they want, how can we make it happen?’

How the architects are telling us to detail something mightn’t work, but we always think about how we can build to the design intent.

Any frustrations with architects?

Generally none at all. We have a common goal and just work together for the best results.

In terms of your company, how much of it is building and how much is running a business?

We have people in the office running the business. I’m out on-site 90 percent of the time and we have four to five projects running at any one time and always a couple of smaller ones. We also have a maintenance division where we look after houses that we’ve built. Architects have often also asked us to maintain other houses that we didn’t build.

What’s your leadership style?

A good site manager, good administrator and they’re all site-based and are all totally trained to work with the architects and engineers.

Is there a clear hierarchy?

No, not at all. We are all on-site doing different things, but we are all here for the same reason: to deliver the client and architect the best possible building.

What still amazes you when you walk on-site?

When I look at the concrete and know that it can’t be done any better. The secret is perseverance, practice and thinking. It’s carpentry, craftsmanship and wanting to do it as best as we can. I receive calls at least

once a week from people asking me how to do off-form concrete and my usual answer is, ‘It’s like ringing up Gordon Ramsay and asking him how to cook; it’s going to take you years to learn.’

What injuries have you had on site over the years?

None, except the occasional cut finger, a scratch... I think the building industry is often rumoured to be more dangerous than it actually is.

Any close call moments?

The closest was when we were doing a concrete pour at Crackenback village one year.

Unexpectedly, a tornado came screaming down the valley. There were sticks, trees and leaves flying everywhere and objects falling down around us. We could see this thing coming while we were standing on the deck and we’d just managed to drop a cubic metre of concrete. I think if we hadn't got that little kibble of concrete in, we would have ridden that deck all the way to Jindabyne!

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What advice do you give owners before signing up to do a house?

A lot of times they say, ‘How do we trust you?’ and my answer is ‘If you don’t, keep looking until you find someone you do trust because it’s a long relationship. We would be signing now, but we mightn’t start for two or three months.

Then there are 18 months of building and another year after that at a minimum.’

Most, if not all, of your jobs are ‘cost plus contracts’ aren’t they?

Yes, it’s responsible construction management.

We want it costed accurately in the beginning, we spend more money on quantity surveyors than any of our competitors and when we do a cost plan it’s as right as you can get it.

Have you ever ended up in court?

Yes – every builder has, but only with a developer, so we don’t do developer work anymore.

left: James Robertson house, Great Mackeral – Casey Brown Architecture photography: Elliot Cohen below: Magney house, Bingie Bingie Point – Glen Murcutt Architect photography: Max Dupain

What are some of the seminal projects that changed your career?

The one that probably helped us the most was a house for Glenn Murcutt (Magney house in Bingie Bingie Point circa 1984). The design had already been completed before I became involved and this was my first house for a renowned architect.

Were you nervous?

No, I wasn’t nervous but I was careful. I found someone who had experience working with architects and together we built it (with the tradies).

What was Glenn Murcutt like to work with?

He was quite amazing. He’s got a rare talent to walk onto a site and if something’s not right he can often turn it into a positive. When it’s absolutely not right, there’s no negotiation, that’s it.

What were the most difficult things to get right in that house?

We started building the house and the access road at the same time and then it rained for four months. We started in June and wanted it finished by November, but I learned a lesson from that – get your access right first. The most difficult thing was keeping the council workers on side to keep towing us out of bogs.

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left: Crackenback stables, Crackenback – Casey Brown Architecture photography: Rhys Holland below | right: Tamarama house, Tamarama – Durbach Block Jaggers Architects photography: John Gollings

Most satisfying memory of that job?

Listening to Glenn tell some people that it was his greatest house ever. I got really lucky with that job and it gave me at least a five-year jump on things, it was an amazing break for a young builder.

You and your team have built dozens of award-winning homes including the James Robertson house at Great Mackerel Beach

by Casey Brown Architecture. What was the most difficult thing about that house?

Nothing is difficult in building if you sit and think about how to do it. Once again, access was the hardest thing, so we had to build a jetty without approval. Sometimes it’s easier to beg for forgiveness than ask permission.

But the locals loved the jetty; they used it for fishing.

More recently Casey Brown Architecture designed a building for you in the Snowy Mountains?

I put all the names of the great architects I have worked with in a hat and drew one out.

I wanted to design a beautiful building using the cheapest material money can buy, which is corrugated iron. It’s beautifully executed and it’s just cheap. I mean, corrugated iron costs about as much as two coats of paint.

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Tell us about working with architect Peter Stutchbury?

Peter's got a saying, ‘off the trowel’, which means whatever material and finish you get, that’s it. So you have to do it properly.

and know who is happy to come along on the journey.

Greatest weakness?

We’ve all got weaknesses, sometimes trying too hard. That’s a weakness with some of our site managers as well. But ultimately it pushes us to find the best solutions.

Last year you and your team at Bellevarde built Tamarama house by Durbach Block Jaggers, which took out the Robin Boyd Award, the highest accolade for home design given by the Australian Institute of Architects.

It’s something that worked really well – it was mostly concrete, timber, steel and beautifully executed. But then again, good building, no matter who the architect is, just involves care.

Best advice for a young builder?

Get your jobs costed right in the first place and be honest about what it costs. Inform people of changes straightaway. Embrace the architect.

Communicate properly and whatever you say you’re going to do in the negotiations, do it.

John has no intention of retiring any time soon and is still majority shareholder in the company. The rest is owned by long-term employees.

What type of buildings do you like?

Tin sheds.

What is it about a simple tin shed you love?

Zero maintenance and good use of simple materials that can be left to age naturally.

What’s the greatest thing about being a builder?

John lowers his head then after a long silence raises his gaze and answers in his thoughtful country manner.

I don’t know – but I’d probably do this job for nothing if nobody paid me.

To do a project as well as human hands can do, that’s a pretty good feeling.

What’s your greatest strength?

Building good relationships with the architects, clients and our team. I like finding the best people to create teams that work well together on-site. It is also important to have an understanding of personal relationships

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Better Building | Marketing

Is social media relevant for the building industry?

Many businesses in the building sector feel that they should have a social media presence, but find it daunting or are unable to dedicate the time and resources to it.

The key is knowing if your business will benefit from having a social media presence or not. Vivienne Forbes navigates the possibilities.

HOW DO YOU KNOW? The answer is with your customers or potential customers. Do they have social media? How well does it work for them? Chances are, if they are active in social media that's how they source information about businesses and products for their builds.

IF YOU'RE NOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA DOES THAT MEAN YOU ARE MISSING OUT? Even if you don’t have professional business social media profiles, you need to be paying attention to what’s going on in your industry. The key to becoming active on socially media is knowing your clients and if your clients use it, then you can replicate the platforms they are on, so you are active where they are too. Find out where the movers and shakers in your industry are on social media and, join those networks. Start engaging in their posts by liking them, following them or making comment. You can do this as yourself or as your business name.

If you are doing this as yourself you need to have a

strong enough identity in the building market that you are identifiable with your business.

We hear all the time – Why use social media? What is in it for me?

For starters, you can extend your brand past your website, past your salespeople and past your front door. You can interact with your clients, your business community and share information about your business, regularly, as it happens.

Your web page is the formal representation of your business; it’s professional, whereas social media shows the personality, the skill set of your staff and your business’ abilities. Social media can give your business personality and people do business with people they like.

Social media is always on, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It works for you when you are not working; it supports you when you are and ensures you are top of mind no matter what the time of day.

It can be used as a photo gallery of the work you have done, to provide a snapshot of your team or your facilities. Social media can add to your credibility.

Do you do advertising? PR? How do you get the word out

Vivienne Forbes

about your business after the trade show is over? Think of social media as a form of advertising, communication and promotion, with the bonus being you can talk directly to the clients, industries and suppliers that you want to talk to and you can do it… regularly…

WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM TO CHOOSE? The simple answer is you go where the fish are. First, think about this industry, it’s a visual one that works well with photos.

Photos of the build, product design, the finished product, dramas along the way and how you overcame them etc. Think about your clients. Do your research. As mentioned, what social media are they on? If they are on Facebook, go there, if they are on Instagram, go there. You only need to be on a couple of platforms and you can link them together so you don’t double your workload.

Facebook is for the more lighthearted side of your business. It's a great place for sharing your business news, sharing the fun part of your business with images, staff

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updates, new products, great wins or images of a terrific project you have completed.

The simple way of explaining it is this: it's like a conversation you have with people about your business. It’s not the place for a hard sell, but a place to share the great things that you do at work. It is also a place to get feedback (or not, depending on how you set up your account).

You can follow your clients, your competitors or your suppliers and create a community. You can have people engage with you and your business on a closer level.

Instagram is like Facebook, but for images. If your business is high on visuals – a picture paints a thousand words. You can show your products as they need to be shown. You can detail their development and show examples of product usage. Lots of architects and designers use Instagram. You can utilise #s (hashtags) by ensuring that all of your images are in one place and can be sourced by using the # symbol. If the thought of #s makes you feel like you have entered the twilight zone, don’t worry. That can be explained another day.

Video is becoming more and more popular. It’s now so easy to do with mobile phones and can be uploaded onto any social media platform – videos on your product in situ or in action have fantastic appeal.

THINGS TO CONSIDER LinkedIn is becoming a stronger B2B platform these days, as it is about connecting with people in your industry, with your clients and suppliers. These days it is more than just a platform for your résumé. There are many discussion groups on LinkedIn, which you can join, or even start.

It's a great way to become a

voice in your industry, a thought leader. It’s a place where you can discuss your business with likeminded people. It is also a great way of connecting with people in Australia and around the world.

You can find contacts in virtually any business everywhere, connect and communicate with them.

Twitter has now expanded its word count to 280 characters, so you can say a lot more. It may be handy to have a Twitter account as the movers and the shakers in the industry may be there and you can follow them, like politicians, industry bodies, legislation etc. Announcements in these spheres tend to be broadcast on Twitter. If such things affect your building and construction business, Twitter may be of value to you. You can join the conversation and make your voice heard, it can be your opportunity to communicate with the people that matter, or be a silent observer.

GETTING STARTED Once you know the social media platform that suits your business, how do you get it going? There are many tools on the internet that show you step by step how to set it up. There are also companies that can help you.

Once it is set and ready to go, how do you build it?

“Here, your staff are the key. Find the staff who are passionate and care about your business, so they can become brand advocates for your business on the social media platforms.”

Here, your staff are the key.

Find the staff who are passionate and care about your business, so they can become brand advocates for your business on the social media platforms. By having them on board, you will see the benefits as they in turn promote it externally and help grow your following. Advocates become actively involved – by liking your posts, sharing your posts and providing information for your posts. You also need to start following people who interest you. They will then follow you in return and, the next thing you know, you have a community. Make sure you support it by having links on your website, email signatures and any communication that is sent externally.

AND DON’T FORGET… There are a couple of things to keep in mind if you want to have a social media presence.

First, do you have a social media policy? You need to be aware of any possible ramifications of having a social media presence.

How would you react if it goes sour, with negative feedback, for example? There are many social media policy examples on the internet to help you prepare for any pitfalls.

You can also advertise and pay to promote yourself on social media. This comes down to knowing your market, as you can pinpoint your advertising quite easily. The good thing is it doesn’t cost much to trial and a small investment will give you an indication if that is the platform for you. Just be aware that with any advertising it is all part of the mix and you can’t just focus on one medium to get your message across. www.socialties.com.au

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23/04/18 2:59 PM

Better Building | Technology

The green screen grass of home In March this year Villawood Properties launched what it is describing as the world’s first virtual display village. Utilising an Oculus Rift headset and hand-held controllers, the technology allows users to visit the location of a new development and not just look at the room layout of a building, but wander outside and get a feel for the layout of the whole neighbourhood. Villawood Properties executive director, Rory Costelloe and the project’s facilitator Jamie Hopwood tell us more.

TEXT MADELEINE SWAIN

Better Building: Where did the original idea spring from for the technology?

Rory Costelloe: We identified the virtual display village as a way to build stronger relationships with our builder partners, by providing a vehicle for them to engage with purchasers much earlier in the process of buying land and building a home. It can take up to 18 months from the launch of a community and land becoming available through to the opening of a physical display. With the virtual display village we can be working with builders in the lead-up to launching the community so that from the moment the sales office opens, purchasers can explore both the lot they may buy as well as a selection of homes they could build on that lot.

How long did it take to develop?

RC: Approximately six months – as this is a new application of technology, it took some time to finesse the product to the point where we wanted to engage collaborators. A prototype of a single home and part of the Rathdowne streetscape was presented to a selection of Australia’s most forward-thinking builders and from there it became

a matter of ‘building’ each of our collaborator’s homes in the virtual world and refining each to the point they were happy to unveil.

Were there any challenges or obstacles along the way?

Jamie Hopwood: As with anything new and innovative, it was an ongoing process of learning, as you’re constantly testing the capabilities of existing technology to see where you can push it further and evolve.

In terms of overcoming obstacles, there was a lot of collaboration between Villawood and the builders and me – we knew the outcome we wanted to achieve, it was a matter of putting heads together and sharing ideas of how we got there.

opposite: VR launch (l-r) Jamie Hopwood, Minister for Housing Richard Wynne, Rory Costelloe, Seb Chan below: Villawood exterior render

What’s the ‘big idea’ of the technology?

RC: While various iterations of virtual reality (VR) have been used by the property sector to market their products, most have been utilising 360 photography or videography of existing spaces or structures, simply viewed through a VR headset. This is the first time CGI (computer generated imagery) paired with an Oculus Rift set-up has been utilised in

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this way, delivering the closest comparable experience to exploring a physical display village the property industry has seen.

The limitations of previous 360 VR technology meant that a user could only experience a 360-degree view from the physical position of a camera, and then ‘jump’ from one viewpoint to the next. Their perspective is limited to a fixed camera viewpoint, and the content designer determines the narrative of the user journey.

Whereas, a true virtual reality experience can almost seem limitless. Instead of simply looking around, a viewer can move around (virtually) and interact with the environment in a seemingly real way – each journey is unique to that user.

How will it help builders and property developers in their businesses?

RC: Where a display village in the physical world can take years from planning to delivery, a virtual display could be completed in a much shorter time-frame and for a fraction of the cost. This offers builders agility in testing home designs that have never been built before, along with enabling them to quickly respond to shifting consumer feedback, needs and demands.

The virtual display village also encourages innovation and creativity, presenting builders with the opportunity to showcase a diverse range of designs as there is less financial risk associated with developing virtual home designs.

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“ To date this type of immersive, explorable VR has been predominantly used in VR gaming and this is the first time it has been used to create a display village.”

RORY COSTELLOE, VILLAWOOD PROPERTIES

From a developer’s perspective, the virtual display village will allow us to give customers better guidance around the size and type of home suitable for their block of land, which in turn provides greater choice and convenience in selecting their home.

Particularly in the greenfields space, a virtual display village provides an opportunity to give an immersive demonstration of the future landscape of a community and convey the placemaking elements that will make each project unique. We can’t wait to roll this out across future communities!

RC: We’ve given the user experience a lot of thought and have refurbished the Rathdowne sales office so that customers can explore the virtual display village in absolute comfort. Staff at our Rathdowne sales office are well-equipped to ensure the customer experience is a positive one.

Or using the headsets incorrectly? Is there a concern that the novelty will soon wear off?

JH: There is very little room for human error in the set-up.

RC: As a younger generation of home-buyers comes through, we wanted to be adaptive to

What are the current applications for the technology?

RC: To date this type of immersive, explorable VR has been predominantly used in VR gaming and this is the first time it has been used to create a display village that homebuyers can explore as they research and consider builders.

the type of technology they are engaging with.

The response from builders and wider industry has been positive and we have plans in place for future iterations.

The fact that a virtual display can save our builder partners a significant amount of time and money makes us confident that the technology will have a staying power. It provides greater opportunity for creativity and innovation – and the ability to test in an active market – with far less of a financial risk than building a bricks and mortar display.

This is only the starting point and there is so much scope for additional elements that can further evolve the user experience.

What about cost? How expensive will this technology be?

RC: Like any new technology, the cost comes down as it becomes more mainstream.

Villawood interior render

How will you address people becoming disoriented by using the headsets?

JH: Like any new technology or user experience, it can take some getting used to. The user is in complete control with the VR headset and, if they’re not loving the experience, they can take it off and the effects are generally short-lived.

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Better Building | Finance

The loan arranger Banks and builders, they hardly go together like a horse and carriage, but every builder and property developer will need funding at some point. How do banks decide who to back and how can you make sure you secure that loan when you need to? Better Building gets some advice from broker Corey Sleep at m8finance.

123RF'S IGOR ZAKHAREVICH © 123RF.COM

TEXT MADELEINE SWAIN

I

t would hardly be a radical notion to suggest that most people who go into the building trade do not do so because they love numbers and playing with figures, although this may not be quite as true for property developers, whose very modus operandi is to see an opportunity to build something and then sell at a handsome profit.

“Taking the time to do your research upfront can help you avoid costly headaches down the track.”

But even for those experienced with balance sheets and profit and loss calculations, negotiating the minefield that is the world of finance and banking can be daunting.

When the time comes to negotiate loans and funding, how do you distinguish between the myriad suites of products offered by the big banks, to say nothing of the smaller financial institutions?

One solution is to consult a mortgage broker that can do all the heavy lifting for you. Corey Sleep is a director at m8 Finance, a company that covers multiple industries but has a significant amount of experience in the building trade.

“We’re essentially a onestop shop for finance,” says Sleep. The team of directors at m8 all have specific areas of expertise, covering everything from residential home loans and property investment to superannuation funding, and asset finance for motor vehicles, equipment, plant and machinery.

Sleep is one of three with an extensive commercial finance background. “That’s anything from importers to wholesalers to property developers, and complex property investment portfolios,” he explains.

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As an industry, building and development has possibly had the most changes in policies and lending appetites across all the finances, according to Sleep.

“Back in the old days, you used to just be able to go to the bank and Mum and Dad could get an equity line against their house and go off and build townhouses.

These days the banks won’t lend to them and even mainstream developers are finding it hard, so they engage our services to stay on top of the market and get the best package to get their project done.”

So what does a broker like m8 offer and what does the term ‘lending appetites’ mean anyway?

The latter refers to cycles and banks’ internal policies. It’s all about “how many presales they want in the development, what they’re willing to lend against, what they’re willing to leverage up to the project against, whether that be the end value of the project or a percentage of the total development costs,” says Sleep. “Every one of the majors probably has a change each year… one bank will have a run on and appetite for development for, say, one to two

Corey Sleep, director, m8finance

“The majors are always probably going to offer cheaper lines of funding, but they’re also the hardest to get approved.”

years, and then they’ll cool off a bit and be replaced by another lender who picks up the slack.”

It’s the job of brokers like m8 to always be across those fluctuations and know which is the best place to target for a business looking for finance at any given time.

The other thing to bear in mind, he notes, is of course the great variety in interest rates.

“The majors are always probably going to offer cheaper lines of funding, but they’re also the hardest to get approved.”

The difference can range from about five to seven percent to a nine or 10 percent mark with a second tier credit specialist and funds manager like La Trobe Financial. Private lenders will be even more expensive, with interest rates of 12-plus percent.

Understandably most businesses seeking capital then will make the majors their first port of call. But if loans are so much harder to get approved in these institutions, how do you make sure that yours is the one that gets the tick? What are the criteria that will secure you the funds?

“The main ones that the banks are really looking at these days always comes back to the applicants,” says Sleep. “So the experience and character of the sponsor. Also then the experience of the developer or builder that they’re going to engage. If it’s not a known builder, the complexity of the build, whether it’s got basements

or high-rises and that sort of thing. Any Heritage restrictions or council issues.”

And there needs to be margins for errors, he advises.

“With the applicant, do they actually have any room for ‘hurt’, so if there are any overruns or time delays on the project, is there a buffer in there that they can go on to get the project done or is it going to fall on the bank to cough up more funds?”

For a broker such as Sleep there are certainly red flags he looks for when considering whether an applicant is likely to secure funding.

“If somebody has had a building permit for quite some time and the project’s never taken off, there are always issues around that,” he says.

“Having been in the industry that long, it all comes back to your gut feel on whether you back some people. Most of them are fairly honest. In our game, you’ve pretty much got to take everybody at face value.”

But once you’ve got the loan how do you ensure everything stays rosy? Sleep advises staying vigilant. “It’s a lot about who you know in the industry. There are a number of subcontractors or builders who go broke and then start up a new business the next day. Making sure you know who you are dealing with in the industry is critical,” he advises.

“Taking the time to do your research upfront can help you avoid costly headaches down the track…”

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9/04/18 3:48 PM

Better Building | Project

Mo n t o r o

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Wines Designed by Source Architects, this cellar door in Orange in New South Wales was built by L-Con Building + Construction. Builder Luke Knight answers questions about the build and shares some of his experiences in the building trade.

TEXT MADELEINE SWAIN PHOTOGRAPHY TFAD TOM FERGUSON (COMPLETED PROJECT) SOURCE ARCHITECTS (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

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MONTORO WINES Better Building: How did you become involved in the project?

Luke Knight: It was a tender request from Source Architects. As soon as I saw the schematic design I knew I had to do this build.

Have you worked with [director] Sally Sutherland or Source Architects on any previous projects?

Yes, we have worked with them on many projects since 2015.

How long did the build take?

12 weeks.

Were there any other particular specialists that you had to work with on-site?

Yes, our structural steel fabricator ICR engineering was pivotal to the success of the project.

What was the relationship like on the build with both the architects and the clients?

We have a very good working relationship with Source; our combined experience was used to ensure best practice/value for our clients.

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“ We fabricated the majority of frame elements off-site in a ‘pod’, then simply craned them into position for an instant frame. ” Generally, the clients were on-site every day; we maintained a professional and accommodating relationship with them, while keeping one eye on the design brief.

What were the particular challenges on this job and how did you address them?

Time-frame: due to the brief of being ready for October’s ‘wine week’ (Orange Wine Festival, which ran from 13 to 22 October 2017), giving us 12 weeks from start to finish and the fact it was the middle of winter, we fabricated the majority of frame elements off-site in a ‘pod’, then simply craned them into position for an instant frame.

Roof: due to the sheet length and the flexible nature of the roofing material, special transport had to be arranged as well as custom lifting devices for the sheeting install.

Now that it’s finished, what are your favourite elements of the project?

My favourite elements of the building are the relationship of the roof system to the ‘pod’ underneath, creating an expansive feel, especially from the north and west elevation, and I also like the small slab overhang on the elevations.

Conversely, is there anything you’re unhappy with or would like to do more work on?

No, we are very happy with the building.

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LUKE KNIGHT ON… What was the best advice you received as an apprentice?

The item you walk past is the item you accept.

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve ever made on a job?

Missing numbers in a tender.

What are the funniest characters or nicknames you’ve come across with people you’ve worked with on-site?

Tiny, because he’s huge and Blue, because he’s got red hair. Funniest characters, where do I start? Last year we were doing site works for a new build and we needed a tank install done at the rear of the site due to access.

When the installers were on-site they needed some roadworks done to allow access for the roof sheets. I went to the site to inspect and found the installer in the tank talking to me from the other side. When questioned about time-frames, his voice bellowed out from the round structure, “Well, you better get it ready soon mate, I’m not here to f#*k spiders you know!” Well, that just summed this bloke up…

When questioned about time-frames, his voice bellowed out from the round structure, “Well, you better get it ready soon mate, I’m not here to f#*k spiders you know!”

Who are the best and worst trades to work with and why?

Best – steel fabricators, because generally their work is precise and you can see instant gains on install.

Worst – bricklayers, as they don’t seem to understand that the job hasn’t been designed around them.

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What advice would you give them to make your life easier?

Just do what the plan indicates, and for God’s sake clean up after yourself.

What sort of margin do you put on new builds as opposed to renovations?

It depends on the project’s overall size. Small renovations up to $150,000 will incur an extra five to 10 percent over larger jobs. Large renovations up to $500,000 will be the same as new builds.

What are the biggest disputes/ misunderstandings that occur with clients usually about?

Variations, time-frames…

What are the secrets of a good working relationship with architects and/or clients? What advice would you give to other builders in this regard?

Communication is key. Don’t assume and keep everyone informed – good, bad or ugly.

If you weren’t a builder, what do you think you would be?

Psychologist – after many years

of listening to subcontractors and clients, I’ve got a talent for listening and offering considered advice… I even have a couch in my office!

Would you advise your children (if you have any) to become builders?

I have three sons aged seven, nine and 11. The building trade has been good to me, so I guess I would advise my boys to become involved in the industry. It can be very satisfying.

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Tamborine

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Better Building | Project

House

Architect-cum-builder Lachlan Nielsen of Nielsen Jenkins Architecture gained a unique perspective of, and appreciation for, the building trade when he took on the challenge of building a home for his parents in Mount Tamborine.

TEXT NATALIE MORTIMER PHOTOGRAPHY ALICIA TAYLOR (COMPLETED PROJECT) LACHLAN NIELSEN (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

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Why did you decide to take that time away from architecture to build Tamborine house yourself?

At the time I was working for Jamie Russell and I’d already started the project for my parents in my final year of university and it got to a point where I was looking for builders. I was building quite a bit of stuff with Jamie at that stage and I thought, ‘why not?’ My dad grew up on farming property so he was always pretty good with welders and steel work. So we decided if we were going to build it we would start by using trades and things that he could do and also create something that was really robust that could withstand the Mount Tamborine climate.

“The house is about an hour and 10 minutes from Brisbane and about 45 minutes from the coast so, trade wise, finding trades to work on a project that is not the run-ofthe-mill was quite interesting.”

What were some of the challenges you encountered having never built a house before?

The house is about an hour and 10 minutes from Brisbane and about 45 minutes from the coast so, trade wise, finding trades to work on a project that is not the run-of-the-mill was quite interesting. We tried to get local trades, which some of them were, but some of them were from Brisbane or the Gold Coast. We were quite lucky that the glazier who did all the windows and doors was from just down the bottom of the hill.

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“The biggest problem we have though is with subcontractors. On one project lately we had labourers that were three steps away from the contractor and the quality was just woeful.”

The other challenge was being quite naive and being trained in architecture and not building. I did have some experience having worked on a number of built projects with Jamie Russell, but that was more the project management side.

How has your experience as a builder helped to improve the architect/builder relationship today?

It’s helped massively. Through my experience of being a builder we now document things that are buildable: so we will often get builders to tell us if what we are planning is doable.

We’ve got three graduates and students in the office now and we get them to really make sure they understand what they are drawing so that it can be built. So rather than us all staring [at the plans] on-site and the builder saying, ‘We can’t build it’ and us saying, ‘Well, we think you can, but we actually don’t know’, now we are certain when we have discussions on-site about whether we can and can’t do things.

Who would you say are the best and worst trades to work with and why?

We’ve had dramas with joiners, with windows and doors, but roofers seem to be consistent.

The biggest problem we have though is with subcontractors. On one project lately we had labourers that were three steps away from the contractor and the quality was just woeful.

We now explicitly put in our specification that contracts are not to be subcontracted out, so that’s probably been our biggest drama.

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“We’ve got three graduates and students in the office now and we get them to really make sure they understand what they are drawing so that it can be built.”

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Better Building | Project

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Ruyton Girls’ School Designed by Woods Bagot, these additions and renovations to the McRae Building at Ruyton Girls’ School, in the Melbourne suburb of Kew, were built by McCorkell Constructions. The project was the winner of the 2017 Master Builders Excellence in Construction Award in the Commercial Building $10-15 million category.

TEXT MADELEINE SWAIN PHOTOGRAPHY PETER BENNETTS (COMPLETED PROJECT) WOODS BAGOT (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

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A VIEW FROM THE BUILD WITH HOWARD MCCORKELL, CONSTRUCTION DIRECTOR

Better Building: What did the project entail?

Howard McCorkell: The McRae Building at Ruyton Girls’ School is a state-of-the-art, multi-use facility, consisting of a basement auditorium with catering facilities and performance studios and three upper levels of general classrooms, common spaces, staff rooms and science laboratories.

Can you elaborate on the most notable elements, particularly the arresting façade?

Externally, the curtain wall glass façade, feature steel windows, sculptured timber and stone cladding systems were completed as a design and construct component, with our site team taking a lead role in the coordination of the façade development.

And what about inside the building?

Internally, the combination of black butt veneer, solid timber lining, bespoke joinery and intricate architectural detail have been complete to the highest standard.

What was your experience of this particular project?

This is a jewellery box of a building, with layer upon layer of complexity. We were delighted with the opportunity to work with such a wonderful school as Ruyton and with the likes of Woods Bagot Architects and Accuraco Project Managers.

What was your personal response to winning the award?

The National Master Builders award recognises our uncompromising attention to detail and our great passion for educational building projects.

What does winning the award mean for McCorkell Constructions as a company?

It is a fantastic launching pad into 2018 – our 90th year of operation.

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Better Building conducts an informal post-occupancy evaluation with Leanne Smith, business manager, Ruyton Girls’ School, to find out what it’s like to use this award-winning building.

Better Building: What were the top elements that were most important for the school to have integrated into the design?

Leanne Smith: Flexible learning, formal and informal learning spaces, girl centred, integrated technology, collaboration, a feminine building in the heart of the school, which would sit well in its environment.

During construction, how easy was it for the school to continue its daily business and how long did the construction process take?

The construction site was in the middle of the school so it did pose some logistical issues.

The main traffic corridors were narrowed considerably and staff and students learned to take alternative routes during the project. We found that communication was key during this time, particularly when large deliveries or particularly noisy construction was occurring. The whole community were very patient

during this time and, in spite of the size and position of the construction, we had very few issues or complaints. The school community and the construction company worked well together to manage the impact of the noise.

The process took approximately 18 months.

Now that the project is finished, how well does it respond to those top elements, individually?

The project has provided staff and students with a learning environment that strongly supports both flexible learning opportunities and collaboration.

This is noticeable in student engagement and through feedback. Students are also seeking out the informal learning spaces during break times and free lessons, while staff are using these spaces with classes or small groups during class time. The building has a distinctly feminine feel to it. With curved lines and a sense of flow, the girls feel very much at home and parents and old scholars are extremely impressed. The access to technology, with features such as two screens in each learning area, is well utilised. We extended the project to include full landscaping of the courtyard in which the building sits (Hiscock Court). As a result, the building looks beautiful in its environment and sits proudly

with the other buildings facing the courtyard.

How is the building being used on a day-to-day basis?

The building houses Year 7 and 8 students and all science classes.

Currently the Junior School music lessons are being held in the Drama rooms while we wait for our Junior School building to be completed. The Events space is used by classes, year levels, sub schools, parents, old scholars, board and community events. It is truly a flexible and well-used area.

Are there any unexpected or surprising elements that have become apparent through daily use?

The building includes a stage in Hiscock Court. The girls love this space and use it frequently for informal productions or just to sit and enjoy the sunshine. The building also includes wide windowsills, which the girls love to use as seats during informal learning.

What has been the reaction from the various stakeholders in the school body – the principal, other staff members, pupils, parents?

There has been an extremely positive response from all sections of the School community.

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Client: Ruyton Girls’ School Location: Melbourne Builder: McCorkell Constructions Architect: Woods Bagot Area: 3000 square metres, four levels Completion date: December 2015 Photography: Peter Bennetts Collaborative partners: project manager – Accuraco, service engineer – Murchie Consulting, structural and civil engineer – 4D Workshop and MA Design, building surveyor – Kinban Building Consultants, quantity surveyor – Wilde and Woolard, acoustic consultant – Marshall Day, façade consultant – Inhabit, DDA – Architecture and Access, landscape architect – Woods Bagot

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Better Building | Products

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS Better Building investigates some of the latest and greatest building-related products on the market.

Kennards Hire Hilti TE 2000 Kennards Hire is never short of equipment that will suit any job. With the introduction of the Hilti TE 2000 Demolition Hammer to its range, concrete demolition just got easier. And in Australia, the demo hammer is exclusive to Kennards Hire for the next few months.

The TE 2000 Demolition Hammer is a reinvention of a classic style breaker, created with safety at its core. Weighing only 14.5 kilograms, this lightweight model is easy to transport and manoeuvre for either specialised trade or residential use. It’s also highly versatile, easy to operate and quick to set up. kennards.com.au

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23/04/18 5:14 PM

ILVE Versa The new ILVE Versa stylishly combines both induction and gas cooking and is sure to excite home cooks. Australian homes have had a long-term love affair with Asian cuisine, so ILVE has cleverly combined its brass ‘infinity’ wok burner with a fourzone induction cooktop, giving cooks the best of both worlds.

The spacious 90-centimetre cooktop offers induction, which is fantastic for low simmers and the powerful gas burner with wok is the go-to for when a stirfry is on the menu. www.ilve.com.au

About HouseLab HouseLab is a digital handover tool for builders, architects, interior designers, developers and real estate agents. It reduces your post handover support costs, improves business efficiencies and elevates your customer experience and professional image. All project and home-related information can be uploaded to a secure, personalised online hub. From warranties, manuals, plans, permits and paint colours to key contact details – everything is kept safe, ready to access whenever needed.

It also has a defect management module, which allows for easy reporting and remediation. Launched in late 2017, HouseLab is now available to the broader residential construction industry. www.HouseLab.com.au

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Oliver Footwear Corporate range Leading safety boot manufacturer, Oliver Footwear presents its corporate range, developed for those who operate day-to-day between both the worksite and the office.

The footwear is designed with comfort, style and practicality top of mind, so that industrial sector employees can now invest in just one professional black leather and steel capped compliant shoe from the catalogue. From site supervisors, architects and engineers, to security personnel, facility managers and executives, Oliver’s corporate series allows workers to traverse between the office and hazardous construction sites without the inconvenience of changing. All models come in stylish black leather and comply with Australian and New Zealand safety standards. www.oliver.com.au

Introducing Window Goop – designed to protect your glass during construction.

Window Goop is applied to all types of glass, including Low-E coated glass, in the early part of construction, generally as soon as the windows are installed and can remain on the glass for up to 12 months.

While on the glass Window Goop creates a protective

barrier from mortar, render, paint, grinding sparks and mistreatment by other trades in the construction process. Window Goop is simply peeled off in one sheet to reveal a clean and undamaged window underneath and is Australian made and owned, non-hazardous water-based product. www.goopguys.com

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Buzon pedestal The award-winning Buzon Pedestal appeals to architects and builders when it comes to the design and construction of raised floors.

It can be used with pavers, timber decking and steel grating to create raised floors on balconies, terraces, green roofs, temporary floors and water features. Capable of accommodating heights from 17mm to 1070mm, it can conceal services and offer easy access for maintenance of waterproof membranes.

The Buzon pedestal incorporates a patented slopecorrecting device, which

compensates for a substrate fall of zero to five percent (0-5%), to provide a perfectly level floor finish. The interchangeable spacer tabs allow for 2mm, 3mm, 4.5mm, 6mm, 8mm and 10mm gaps between pavers, providing positive drainage and making uneven paving lines a thing of the past.

Designed, manufactured and tested in Belgium, the Buzon pedestal is capable of supporting up to 1000 kilograms.

Used on projects all over the world, the Buzon pedestal has endless applications. www.pasco.net.au

Halliday + Baillie HB2010 + HB2020 (sliding doors), HB2015 + HB2025 (hinged/pivot doors) Halliday + Baillie has introduced independent lock bodies with Euro key design, for both sliding (HB2010/HB2020) and hinged/ pivot doors (HB2015/HB2025).

These locks are sold independently, so you can either couple them with a selection from the large range of H+B flush pull designs and pull handles or use with your own designed handles.

Available in 30mm and 55mm backsets, the lock includes the strike plate and screws.

Simply add the key cylinder and escutcheon plates depending on your door type and thickness.

There are rectangle or round key escutcheon plate options in 3mm and 5mm thickness or supply your own.

Finishes include: satin chrome, brushed nickel, electro black ace, electro med bronze, electro dark bronze, Dulux appliance white and polish chrome. www.hallidaybaillie.com

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Better Building | Downtime

FEELING CRAFTY? The explosion in the boutique brewery industry over the last few years would not have passed by anyone’s radar, but if your idea of a crafty ale is hiding a VB in your overalls to enliven your lunch breaks, here are a few newer fellas on the block you may like to try.

TEXT JOHN TEI

Hargreaves Hill Lager A great entry-level craft beer brewed in the Yarra Valley, this is a German style lager with subtle fruity characters and a crisp mouth-feel. A slightly sweet malt profile adds some complexity and enhances the soft hop presence of Hallertau and Ella. It’s the perfect after-work beer with just enough going on to keep your interest and it’s extremely smashable.

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La Sirene Saison Based on the style that was born in southern Belgium, these ‘Farmhouse’ ales were brewed to quench the thirst of the field workers.

They feature a deep, golden colour, showcasing aromas of wild fruits and complex rustic flavours of spice and a little funk (courtesy of the yeast).

And there’s a crisp and dry fi nish to keep the workers happy! In our opinion, this Alphington Brewery is at the forefront of this style.

Bridge Road Pale Ale For us, this is the quintessential pale ale.

Based on the everpopular US style pale, it epitomises the terms ‘dry and refreshing’.

Boasting a hop profile from both US and New Zealand hops, this beer has a lot going on, but is also very accessible for an everyday pale ale. Having picked up ninth place in the GABS (Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular) and an array of awards over the years, it is a truly accomplished beer. Its lean malt base with an aromatic hop aroma leads to a dry finish and, at 4.8 percent ABV, it is the perfect session beer.

Modus Operandi Sonic Prayer Modus Operandi has absolutely nailed the IPA style with the Sonic Prayer.

Sitting at six percent ABV and with a truckload of American and Kiwi hops, this beer is deliciously addictive. Sonic Prayer is a tribute to brewer Dennis’ favourite band, US psychedelic rockers Earthless, whose first album bore the same name. It’s described as “a psychedelic conglomeration of the holiest of ingredients”, which in earthly terms means a ‘skeleton’ of English and German malts into which “life was then breathed [by] ungodly amounts of American and Kiwi hops”. Following fermentation “the humulus heavens opened up and rained down upon her a torrent of American and Australian hops” too. As a result, the drinker can “expect mind altering, reverberating, aromas of citrus, peach, passionfruit, stone fruit and pine followed by an unstinting malt body and bitterness”.

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Mornington Peninsula Brewery Porter GLOSSARY ABV alcohol by volume.

IPA India Pale Ale. SESSION BEER a beer that has a relatively low ABV, making it suitable for sipping in a genteel fashion over a lazy afternoon at the cricket.

SMASHABLE er, get it down your neck with all due alacrity, good sir.

The benchmark for porters in Australia, Mornington Peninsula Brewery’s take on the style is the perfect winter warmer. Showcasing very distinct notes of coffee, chocolate and vanilla, this porter is extremely moreish. First introduced to the world in 2010, it has become a stalwart of the Mornington core range.

Rich and big with a luscious mouth-feel, this is excellent for those cold Melbourne nights when all you want is a dark beer and some comforting chocolate.

Balter Strong Pale Ale Located on the Gold Coast, this brewery has been making serious waves (pun intended, surfing legend Mick Fanning is a co-founder) since opening in March 2016. Its XPA took the number one spot in last year's hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers and the Strong Pale Ale is the latest addition to its range. Sitting at 5.9 percent and in between an IPA and pale ale in style, this beer has a lean malt base overlaid by an intense fruit salad hop bouquet. It boasts a summer cocktail of pineapple, mango, deep citrus and passion fruit flavours wrapped in a firm lively bitterness. Delicious!

Co-Conspirators The Matriarch New England IPA… East Coast IPA… Hazy IPA – Call it what you will, this is the hottest style in Australia at the moment. A perfect example of the style would be The Matriarch by gypsy brewing company, Co-Conspirators. Despite having only been on the scene for just over a year, it has churned out some excellent beers. NEIPAs (for short) are brewed to be low in bitterness, unfiltered and usually very hazy. The Matriarch ticks all the boxes.

Bursting with stone fruit and citrus flavours, it is full bodied and dangerously session-able at 6.5 percent.

If you haven't tried the style yet, this would be the ideal gateway into the juicy world of New England IPAs.

John Tei is the owner of Grape and Grain Liquor Cellars in Moorabbin. www.grapengrain.com.au

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Better Building is a brand new magazine aimed at the hands-on people, those who make and create the buildings in which we live, work and play. Inside this first issue you’ll meet hardened, innovative professionals who don’t pull any punches on how to get things done. You’ll get steel-capped booted on-site info from the straight talkers, who have spent their lives designing and building Australia. You’ll also get plenty of advice for those in the business of building – how to get the right loan, how to sell yourself on social media and, most importantly, what’s the best new craft beer to sample when the job is done.

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Design as Dialogue : Case study projects from Lyons Architecture

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David Broadhurst – CodeSafe | John Darcy – Head of Health and Safety, Master Builders Association of Victoria Merrily Hunter – Director, MAC Energy Efficiency Group | Michael Tomlinson – Managing Director, Pointsbuild Tomi Winfree – Project Manager, CRC for Low Carbon Living, Swinburne University

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Prefab: A threat or an opportunity for building and construction?

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How to Innovate with BIM When it is Normal Practice for the Industry

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How Building Regulation Relates to Design

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Sustainable and Fit for Purpose: How to select safe construction products

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How to Effectively Implement BIM in Construction

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The Procurement Process: Shoring up the Weak Points

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Top 10 Crucial Items to Include in a Building Contract

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How to Protect your Intellectual Property in Architecture, Building, Construction and Design

2:00 – 2:45

Designing Integrated Future-Ready Homes

Warren McGregor – CEO, PrefabAUS | David Parken – Design Futures Council | Waco Tao – CEO and Founder, Powerhouse Homes Peter Blythe – Managing Director, Dynamic Steel Frame | Peter Healy – Managing Director, Hollow Core Concrete

Belinda Hodkinson – Digital Engineering Strategy Lead, SMEC Shannon Thomas – Executive Manager BIM–MEPAUS, Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors’ Association Dr Paul Kremer – Fellow, Melbourne University | Phuong Hua – Digital Engineering Manager, Mirvac Group

Tone Wheeler – Principal Architect, Environa Studio | Des Smith – Deakin University Jerry Tyrrell – Architect, Tyrrell Architects | Angus Kell – Business Development Manager, CSR Building Products

David Baggs – CEO, Global GreenTag | Jonas Bengtsson – CEO, Edge Environment Kate Harris – CEO, Good Environmental Choice Australia | Matt Fitzgerald – Technical Director, The Sherwin-Williams Company

Belinda Hodkinson – Digital Engineering Strategy Lead, SMEC

Wendy Poulton – Risk Manager, informed

Madeleine Swain – Editor, Architectural Review Angelo Simonetto – General Counsel / Head of Legal, Master Builders Association of Victoria

Greg Pieris – Senior Associate, K&L Gates

Rob Sanders – CEDIA

23/04/18 2:00 PM

DESIGNBUILD 2018

SEMINAR THEATRE PRESENTED BY WATTYL WEDNESDAY 2 MAY

3 MAY

FRIDAY 4 MAY

LOCATED ON THE CONCOURSE, OPPOSITE DOOR 9

11:00 – 11:45

The Future of Australia’s Building Regulatory Framework

12:00 – 1:30

Australian ‘Green Buildings’ and the Property Sector’s Alignment to the Paris Decarbonisation Target

2:00 – 2:45

THURSDAY

BOOK SEMINAR TICKETS AT THE REGISTRATION DESK

Rodger Hills – Executive Officer, Building Products Innovations Council | Norman Faifer – Chair, ACIF Kim Lovegrove – Lovegrove & Cotton Solicitors | Stephen Kip – SKIP Consulting Stephen Natilli – Vice President, Association of Accredited Certifiers | Edward McGuire – Incubator Program Manager, Standards Australia

Jonas Bengtsson – CEO, Edge Environment | Lorraine Moore – Sustainability Manager, Cbus Property David Parken – Design Futures Council | Dr Philip Alviano – Sustainable Building Adviser, Master Builders Association of Victoria Kate Harris – CEO, Good Environmental Choice Australia ‘Stuck in planning’: How town planners and architects are effectively working together to achieve mutual outcomes Stephen Crafti | Simon Knott – Director, BKK Architects | Michael McCormack – Founder & Director, Milieu Property Group Robert Simeoni, Director & Design Architect, Robert Simeoni Architects

3:00 – 3:45

Technology in Design & Build: In the face of the digital limelight

11:00 – 11:45

Product Conformity: Now a Matter of Life and Death?

Rachel Kidwell – Founder, TCP | Paul Kouppas – Head of Innovation, Auggd Tom Leyden – IT Director, Woods Bagot

Rodger Hills – Executive Officer, Building Products Innovations Council | Norman Faifer – Chair, ACIF David Baggs – CEO, Global GreenTag | Dr Paul Kremer – Fellow, Melbourne University Jerry Tyrrell – Architect, Tyrrell Architects | Long Le – Structural Engineer and Estimator, Nullifire Australia

12:00 – 1:30

Future–Proofing Commercial Buildings: How design and construction needs to adapt for the workplace of the future

2:00 – 2:45

Changes in Buyer Expectations: From the cookie cutter to bespoke materials and fixtures and fittings with an artisanal appeal

3:00 – 3:45

Building Innovation: New Australian construction products & materials are leading change in global build & design solutions

11:00 – 11:45

Healthy Buildings = Healthy People. How do the design and construction of buildings need to change to meet WELL requirements?

12:00 – 1:30

2:00 – 2:45

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Anneke Thompson – National Director Research, Colliers International | Eliza Owen – Commercial Research Analyst, CoreLogic Des Smith – Deakin University | Nick Travers – Director, Technē Architecture and Interior Design Tim Phillips – Industrial Designers, Tilt Industria | Peter Healy – Managing Director, Hollow Core Concrete

Stephen Crafti | David Allt–Graham – General Manager Residential, MAB Corporation Debbie Ryan – Owner, McBride Charles Ryan | Jeff Provan – Founder and Design Director, Neometro

David Baggs – CEO, Global GreenTag | George Katsanevakis – Managing Director, Sussex Taps Dominic Cannalonga – Airtopia

Jonas Bengtsson – CEO, Edge Environment | David Baggs – CEO, Global GreenTag | Tony Short – Workplace Project Manager, Charter Hall Kate Harris – CEO, Good Environmental Choice Australia | Kim Chadwick – Director, Australian Trend Forecast Build to Rent: How the US model is shaping Australia’s multi–residential market and the impacts on the apartment market Nerida Conisbee – Chief Economist, REA Group | Chris Kakoufas – General Manager Development, Cbus Property Adrian Harrington – Head of Funds Management, Folkstone | Cameron Kusher – Head of Research Australia, CoreLogic Adam Hirst – General Manager, Capital Allocation, Mirvac Group Is the Word ‘Resale’ Compromising Innovation in Architectural Design?

Stephen Crafti | Clare Cousins – Clare Cousins Architects | Fiona Dunin – Director, fmd architects Tim O’Sullivan – Director, Multiplicity

23/04/18 1:59 PM

DESIGNBUILD – FEATURE

WELL BUILDING STANDARD: HEALTHY BUILDINGS CAN REDUCE THE STRAIN ON HEALTHCARE

David Baggs

Mirvac HQ 200 George Street Sydney © Mirvac

David Baggs is the CEO of Global GreenTag, an independent green product ecolabel recognised by the most prominent certification schemes around the world. As a panellist at this year’s DesignBUILD, Baggs is driven to demystify the complex market of rating tools in the long-term to create better and healthier buildings.

– Annie Reid WHAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES TODAY AROUND CREATING HEALTHY BUILDINGS? There’s one word for it: awareness. Generally, people have a lack of awareness about the impact of design, and the way material and product selection can impact on their health. A simple place to start is to head to the city and look around – a large percentage of people living and working in buildings are impacted by the bad decisions of the architects, designers and builders who have designed and built them.

For example, the current aluminium cladding catastrophes are a manifestation of how the industry is not willing to properly research and apply appropriate discipline to the design and construction process.

HOW DOES POLICY HELP OR HINDER THIS? The problem is that governments are blaming the products, and that’s a shift of responsibility.

They fail to see that healthy buildings can actually reduce the strain on healthcare by providing spaces that promote wellness and healthier lifestyles. Another problem is the failure of privatised compliance certification,

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together with the fixation on lowest possible price, because there is still an assumption that buying sustainable [products] costs more. We think there needs to be an awareness and willingness to not simply deliver the cheapestat-all-cost, because it is possible to deliver sustainable outcomes for the same cost, that are equally fit for purpose, given there is generally a sacrifice of quality at the lowest price point possible.

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY EXCITED ABOUT IN THE INDUSTRY? We are excited by recent rating tools, such as the WELL Building Standard. It’s come in with a bang and we are getting good feedback from it. Consultants are reporting that, as a result of WELL, the feedback from the design to manufacturing loop has become closer and that issues are raised proactively, which is a huge step forwards compared to other rating tools that were also launched a couple of years ago.

We think it’s a good framework in the way it is aligned with the way our bodies work and how health works. It’s relatable too and this makes it easier to implement.

WHAT IS YOUR IDEAL VISION FOR THE FUTURE? We would like to see greater transparency around products in rating tools because, as I have already outlined, products are very complex for most people to grapple with. We know that certification can help both sides save money. For the end user, we can help them to understand and explain product benefits and, for the industry, we can create more cost-efficient, transparent and sustainable practices. We ultimately want to help deliver better – and healthier – buildings in Australia, but let’s demystify products’ impacts, make safety outcomes more robust and demonstrate more effectively how they affect users even in rated buildings and work towards a stronger industry as a result.

Hear more from David Baggs at the upcoming DesignBUILD, where he is appearing in a panel session titled: Healthy Buildings = Healthy People. How do the design and construction of buildings need to change to meet WELL requirements?

Annie Reid is a qualified journalist, professional copywriter and published author with a passion for everything bricks and mortar.

24/04/18 11:07 AM

WELCOME TO DESIGNBUILD 2018

DesignBUILD is the only trade event in Australia that is dedicated to bringing together buyers and suppliers across the architecture, building, construction and design communities, which we have been doing for over 30 years.

And this year’s event promises to be one for the ages with the most comprehensive and controversial education program yet. Plus of course, there is the exhibition floor, which has been planned to cover the entire design process, from the landscaping outside to the minutest details of the interior fitout.

We’re particularly excited about the return of some of our standout features of previous years. In a world crying out for innovation and outside of the box ideas, the Incubator program has already proven to be one of the brightest ideas itself. Six winners have been chosen and I urge you to visit the dedicated Incubator pavilion to discover the inspiring and brilliant products On a similar theme, the expo is again throwing the spotlight on the upcoming inventors and the future influencers, who are in the genesis of their careers. DesignBUILD RAW partners with RMIT to showcase the exciting and creative talents of

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#DB2018

DESIGNBUILD 2018

@designbuildexpo /designbuildexpo @DesignBUILDexpo

next generation designers. Both of our theatres have been designed by architecture and design students – make sure you check them out.

I look forward to seeing you on during the event enjoying everything DesignBUILD 2018 has to offer.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Speaker Series offers a plethora of seasoned professionals who are sharing their insights and experiences in a range of curated sessions that educate, inform and challenge.

Jamie Butler-Underwood Event Manager

With two different locations – the Education Theatre and the Seminar Theatre – it will be impossible to catch all of the sessions, but readers of Better Buildings may be particularly interested in The Future of Australia’s Building Regulatory Framework (11am Weds) Building Innovation: New Australian construction products and materials are leading change in global build and design solutions (3pm Thurs) and Build to Rent: how the US model is shaping Australia’s multi-residential market and the impacts on the apartment market (21 noon Fri) – all in the Seminar Theatre.

While in the Education Theatre, look out for Prefab: a threat or an opportunity for building and construction (11am Thurs), Sustainable and Fit for Purpose: how to select safe construction products (2pm Thurs) and Top 10 Crucial Items to including in a Building Contract (12 noon Fri).

23/04/18 1:59 PM

DesignBUILD 2018: 12,036sqm Exhibition Space | 22hrs to Network | 300+ Brands | 7,000+ Professionals

MELBOURNE CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE 2–4 May 2018

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IT’S ALL IN THE DETAIL ARCHITECTURE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION DESIGN

Register at designbuildexpo.com.au #DB2018

Supported by:

23/04/18 1:59 PM