Architecture, Building and Planning - Research Publications
Permanent URI for this collection
Search Results
1 - 10 of 16
-
Item
-
ItemFuture Finance and Business: Potential for Disruptive Contributions to Urban Decarbonisation and Resilience(Victorian Eco Innovation Lab (VEIL), 2015)
-
ItemVisions 2040 - Results from the first year of Visions and Pathways 2040(Victorian Eco Innovation Lab (VEIL), 2015)
-
Item
-
ItemLeeuwarden European Cultural Capital Eco-Acupuncture: Catalysing Urban Transformations(VEIL, 2015)We are almost halfway through the period that has been described as ‘the critical decade’ (Hughes and Steffen, 2013), being the time in which our decisions and actions on climate change will determine whether we succeed globally to limit temperature rise to less than 2 degrees. It is increasingly recognised that the main focus for global action in this decade will be cities. More than half the world’s population now reside in cities and their contribution to global greenhouse gas production is estimated at 75%, even though they occupy only around 2% of the global land area. Nearly half of the world’s cities are already experiencing the effects of changing climate (UNEP 2011). The implication is clear – over the coming decade cities will be engaged in a significant and rapid process of transformation, of existing urban infrastructure and established pattern of living, as they de-carbonise their economies and to adapt to climatic changes that are already becoming evident. In this period of climate transformation, it is the very essence of what makes cities so socially and culturally successful –their complexity – that presents the greatest challenge and, importantly, offers the greatest hope for success. Cities are a human invention; as they grow, their infrastructure, their physical form, their cultural characteristics become intertwined systems – complex and embedded, forming together the very essence of a particular city – making rapid transformation very difficult. These tightly interlinked systems support urban life, giving each city its particular cultural and economic identity (or in more current parlance, its liveability). The ‘de-carbonisation’ of the city involves, for example, a process of ‘dis-embedding’ of all its fossil fuel energy dependencies – reducing total energy consumption and switching to noncarbonaceous energy sources. That will require changes to many physical elements of the city (most obviously buildings and transport). Also, the infrastructure and form of any city reflects the climate conditions of its location. New climate patterns and extremes weather events can threaten the resilience of established infrastructure. Climate responses – mitigation and adaptation – means transforming the infrastructures of provision of cities (e.g. energy, water, food, transport, shelter, waste, products and services and information). One characteristic of the development of the infrastructures of provision for most cities is an increasing separation of consumption from production; most of the resources on which city life depends are produced well beyond the city boundaries, isolating them from the lived experience of urban citizens. Sometimes the very idea of the city is that it is a ‘refuge from nature’, obscuring the real bio-physical dependence of the city on natural eco-systems (as well as the social processes that turn those ecosystems into goods and services). In the last decades, interest in cities as a focus for action on climate change has derived more from a recognition of their apparent agency –the expression of interest, willingness and ability to make changes. The process that resulted in the application and selection of Leeuwarden as an EU Cultural Capital is an example of a wider phenomenon – the increasing evidence of the social, cultural and political interests of cities as actors in national and even international affairs. Cities (and networks of cities) are active in adopting greenhouse reduction targets and investing in programs to reach them. The contribution of cities to national economies in many nations is disproportionally significant and that reflects their success in providing the conditions that support creativity and innovation.
-
ItemEBD: Ecological Business District(VEIL, 2010)New mixed-use developments present a unique opportunity for an innovative response to the challenge of climate change. We can now build new communities that demonstrate ways of living within the limits for greenhouse gas production proposed for 2050. Such communities can model desirable low-carbon lifestyles – ways of living better while consuming less – and test innovative products and services that could form the basis of our coming low-carbon economy. The EBD [Ecological Business District] is a design vision from the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL). VEIL was established in 2006, funded through the Victorian Government Sustainability Fund. A collaboration of four leading design universities and a network of design professionals, VEIL forms an ‘open laboratory’ for new ideas for technical and social innovation for a ‘lowcarbon’ economy and a resilient infrastructure. VEIL delivers future concepts and prototypes for goods, services, built infrastructure, systems and lifestyles, for a sustainable Melbourne in 25 years time. This six-month EBD project, for the site known as ‘E-Gate’ (between Docklands and North Melbourne), culminated in a substantial exhibition of work in the Docklands in February 2009. That vision, for a new high-density ‘eco-city’ next to the CBD, can claim considerable influence on the direction in which development of that site is now taking. In the words of Minister Tim Pallas (Roads, Ports and Major Projects) at the opening of the EBD exhibition: “…What could be done with this new land? This is where projects such as Eco City have great value. All good strategic planning begins with a discussion and I, for one, believe that this dialogue is always improved by the number of intelligent voices involved. In this case we have a brains trust of students and academics from four leading universities, as well as local and international experts generating some very exciting ideas…[VEIL’s] ideas will have a real influence on the site’s future.” This booklet lays out the vision for this innovative and experimental ‘city within a city’, with design work across a range of scales from the urban to the domestic that are able to support a diverse, low consumption, highly productive and truly sustainable community.
-
ItemMelbourne 2032: Looking back over the last 25 years(VEIL, 2006)
-
ItemDistributed Systems: A Design Model for Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure(VEIL, 2010)How do we prepare now for a future of unprecedented resource scarcity and environmental change? Unless we take radical steps to increase the resilience and sustainability of critical infrastructure, access to vital systems and services is at risk. This paper highlights the dynamic forces increasing the vulnerability of current infrastructure and services and presents the case for distributed systems as an alternative design model. We suggest this model exists in the natural environment and in production and consumption systems that have already begun adapting to conditions of increased uncertainty, resource scarcity and a ‘low-carbon’ future. A distributed approach to system design offers many benefits over traditional infrastructure models. Research and case studies strongly suggest such an approach can: - Increase the physical resilience of infrastructure - Foster social and institutional flexibility and innovation - Reduce the environmental footprint of production and consumption
-
ItemLocalised Solutions: Building capacity and resilience with distributed production systems(VEIL, 2010)In the national debate about how to address climate change, the role of individuals and small organisations is rarely considered. Yet households, communities, local governments and small business represent the largest body of consumers of energy and critical resources and have the most to lose from climate change and resource scarcity. Equally concerning is the way the opinion and ideas of these smaller stakeholders rarely enters the debate. Communities tend to be seen as only reactive to new government initiatives, rather than vital participants in climate innovation. At a time when many recognise individual and community creativity as the greatest source of innovation, it would be wise to learn from those tackling climate change and resource problems at a local or community level. Growing evidence points to a recent and significant growth in local initiatives that tackle social and environmental challenges. This development is significant, for it indicates community-scale actors are showing leadership on issues that are often cast as national or global in scale - beyond their ‘sphere of influence’. Furthermore, initiatives are occurring despite the inertia of state, national and international level actors. Also significant is the way these solutions involve a re-localisation of resource and service systems such as energy, food and water infrastructure. These initiatives represent a shift to more distributed methods of production and consumption and are a radical break from conventional services. To understand the nature of these ‘localised solutions’, the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL) and the McCaughey Centre organised a forum in Melbourne at the end of 2009. That event explored the value and implications of local initiatives that follow the distributed systems model. The forum brought together perspectives from the private sector, utilities, non-profit organisations and research bodies - reflecting the diversity of examples in Victoria. This paper presents key findings structured around three themes: • The shape of localised solutions and parallels with distributed systems • Implications for adapting to climate change and resource scarcity • The factors enabling and limiting further development of localised solutions
-
ItemVision: Broadmeadows 2032(VEIL, 2010)Over the coming decades we will face significant increases in the price of oil, a price on carbon, greater variability in weather patterns (e.g. rainfall) and a probable increase in extreme weather events. How do Australian cities and communities respond to these changes? One of the great challenges for the design of Australian cities is the re-visioning and retro-fitting of the existing low-density suburban fabric, the principal urban form of greater Melbourne and many Australian cities. How do we transform these locations into resilient low-carbon neighbourhoods and precincts, which are healthy to live in and support local employment and industry with appropriate provision of food, water, energy and transport? This design research and visioning project, Eco-Acupuncture 2010: Broadmeadows 2032, is the most ambitious project yet to be undertaken by VEIL. It has involved a review of the large body of work from the earlier EBD (Ecological Business District) project and exploring ways in which it could be used as a guide to ‘re-vision’ – and progressively transform – an existing urban precinct in Melbourne. It has involved all areas of design and sustainable development – from the built environment to services, public infrastructure, new businesses and the provision of resources.