Harmonising Nature and the Built Environment

Building design has evolved over time, using a variety of materials and resources to meet the builder’s demands. The materials have evolved as well, with engineers, architects, and scientists using innovation to improve their application and overall efficiency, driving development in residential, commercial and industrial construction.

Biomimicry

Adelaide’s Architectural Icon

A mesmerising new building shimmers above Adelaide’s River Torrens. Called everything from the spaceship and the prickly pear to the cheese grater and the pine cone, the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) is anything but ordinary.

South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute

Innovation in Construction

The resource boom in Australia has had far-reaching impacts on other industries, including the construction sector. As a direct result of the boom, there was an enormous inflow of international capital, foreign investments, skilled migrant labour – as well as its associated expertise – and new materials and applications. All factors have had a role in shaping Australia’s growth and development.

Building up Ideas and Constructing Results

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Home Automation

Call it ‘domotics,’ and you are likely to receive a blank stare, but refer to it as ‘smart home’ or ‘home automation,’ and you will get a nod of acknowledgement. For the past few years, consumers have heard the word ‘smart’ attached to countless products and services, from food and drink to snacks like popcorn and mobile phones, which no one seems to refer to as a ‘cellphone’ anymore. Yet what, exactly, constitutes ‘smart’?

Feature Article

August 21, 2017, 7:12 AM AEST