Design of an Australian National Sustainability Centre

Abstract

The Australian National Sustainability Initiative (ANSI) is a proposal for a living, working and learning centre that will address social, economic, environmental and ecological sustainability. ANSI was proposed some years ago by the Nature and Society Forum in Canberra to demonstrate truly sustainable design and a centre for sustainability education. Birkeland developed the design, in which the built environment produces ecosystem services and supports endangered ecosystems. There is no known demonstration of net ‘Positive Development’, or development that increases social and natural capital beyond the pre-settlement conditions as yet. Green buildings only reduce resource consumption relative to conventional buildings. The ANSI design challenges the basic precepts about green building design. A lightweight, demountable structure supports ecospheres that create a variety of ecosystem goods and services as well as environmental controls. The modules will heat, cool and ventilate the building passively; produce clean energy, air, water, food and soil; and increase urban biodiversity. Within a unifying modular (deconstructable) design, the project will also integrate about 200 eco-innovations in the building itself. The building can be continually updated. Associated displays will show how to measure net positive impacts (see Positive Development).