This can’t tell you what to think, but it can help you know what to think about – now there is a brand new book designed to be that guide…
Rethink Building Materials is written by 35 of Australia’s leading thinkers and practitioners in sustainable design and building.
Edited by Dick Clarke, the director of Envirotecture and a judge in the BPN Sustainability Awards 2014, the book includes contributions from designers, architects, academics, and scientists on various aspects of materials and sustainability in the building industry.
The content is devised to equip architect/designers, builders, and consumers with the knowledge and tools to make decisions based on science and experience. Clarke explains, “it does not tell you what to think, but what to think about.”
It focuses on different themes, including:
- What a sustainable future in buildings is all about
- Issues behind the choices we make
- Contested ideas about material impacts
- The fast-approaching horizon of new materials
Experts showcase the process of selecting appropriate materials for houses, while manufacturers also demonstrate how they have embraced sustainability. The characteristics and impacts of building materials are also reviewed.
Among the impressive line-up of contributors:
- Caroline Pidcock (Sustainability Awards 2014 jury)
- Chris Reardon (Suntech Design, former judge)
- Malay Dave (UNSW, former judge)
- Tone Wheeler (Environa Studio, award winner)
- Jeremy Spencer (Positive Footprints, award winner)
The book is now out of print but is available for PDF purchase via the Rethink Building Materials website.
