Phillips/Pilkington Architects

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ESD

Since 1992 our practice has pursued the design expression of an architecture suited to its location. Almost all of our projects are broadly located in a ‘hot-arid’ climate and we have sought to express these characteristics by designing low-energy, sheltering structures which require less energy to operate due to the incorporation of many passive design features such as active shading systems, reverse veneer wall systems, high thermal mass interiors and super-insulation. Over the last decade, these strategies have been developed and overlaid with a stronger consideration of materials selections and attention to move active energy systems such as solar space heating and PV power generation. Further active environmental considerations have involved the source of products selections, resources use din the production and transportation (embodied energy), waste minimization and materials recycling. In 2008 we designed a 5 star GreenStar ‘Office’ project: a New Research Building for the University of South Australia, at the Magill Campus. This project provided office accommodation for 80 social research academics, but was not built. The projects listed below illustrate our directions in the regard to the production of Environmentally Sustainable Design.

University of South Australia, New Research Building, Magill Campus, 2007 – 2008
• 5 star GreenStar ‘Office’ rated, “as designed”
• Shaded ventilated south/north day/light light/air system
• Extensive sunshading verandah’s and sun-control fins

MADEC, Mildura, 2005 - 2007
• Use of low embodied energy materials including rammed earth, recycled and plantation timbers 
• Underground water storage and re-use in flushing toilets
• Effective sun-shading to all elevations
• Internal thermal mass to modular temperature
• High-level exhaust of hot air
• Winter solar entry directly onto thermal mass
• Hybrid steel/timber framing system for floors and roof

McCormick Centre for the Environment, 2001 – 2002
This project in regional South Australia Renmark incorporated the following ESD features:

• 5.4 KW power generation
• Solar/Gas wet radiator space heating system
• Large internal thermal mass
• Collection and re-use of all rainwater
• Passive solar design, shading etc.
• Large-scale LVL structural framing system

Innes National Park Visitor, 1996 - 1998
This project located in coastal Innes National Park tested ESD principles involving the following considerations:

• Simple 5° ‘shed’ roof form with simple roof overhang to provide shading.
• Suspended and slab-on-ground floor system
• Timber cladding
• Domestic evaporative cooling system in lieu of commercial refrigerated
• Local stone walls
• Landscape integration

Monarto Zoological Park Visitor Centre, 1995 - 1997
The building employed a number of environmental strategies to minimise environmental impact, including:

• Use of recycled timber for the structural framing, cladding, flooring and joinery.
• Development of a suspended floor above natural ground level to minimise impact to the site.
• Development of subsidence cooling towers, in association with architect Emilis Prelgauskas,
--as a low energy alternative to air conditioning.
• Collection of all rainwater to eliminate use of River Murray mains supply.
• On site treatment of waste water.
• Promotion of natural ventilation through extensive use of glass louvres on both internal and
--external walls.
• Design of wet radiator solar heating system for future installation.
• Provision for future roof-mounted photo-voltaic power cells.

This project won three Awards of Merit in the Royal Australian Institute of Architects’ (SA Chapter) including Energy and Environment and is very popular as a conference and meeting venue.

McLaren Vale Visitor Centre, 1994 - 1996
The building employs the following strategies to minimise environmental impact:
• Use of low embodied energy materials including locally sourced rammed earth and stone.
• Use of plantation grown timber roof trusses. Use of recycled timbers for main structural framing
--and joinery.
• On-site treatment of waste water, recycled for irrigation.
• Orientation of building to maximise solar performance.
• Collection of rainwater.
• On site retention of stormwater.

The facilities are extensively used for conferences and meetings.
This project won a Civic Trust Award for Buildings in their Setting and was displayed in the 40 UP Exhibition, an international touring exhibition featuring the work of 40 young Australian Architects.