Billard Leece Partnership is committed to producing architecture of quality. Through our endeavours to partner our clients' needs with high quality solutions, we are mindful of our responsibility to consider current and future generations in the context of progress toward a sustainable future.
Our philosophy regarding Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) is an holistic approach, not purely empirical and material, but also with social, biodiversity, experiential and cultural aspects. It is about optimising the built environment. To establish the optimum environment requires cross-disciplined expertise and collaboration, as well as setting up appropriate design criteria (capital cost, recurrent cost, environmental impact, energy, etc.), and establishing benchmarks for assessment.
The optimization of the building’s environmental performance can be seen as a re-allocation of capital. For example; the use of factory sealed double glazed windows may in isolation be more expensive than simple glazing units. However, the full impact on the building in terms of plant size, duct size, reduced plant platforms, plant life etc. may far outweigh the initial capital cost.
There may be further benefits in terms of reduced recurrent cost and higher productivity because of improved comfort levels. In this way capital can be seen to have been re-allocated form hidden plant to items that might be more visible and more cost effective in terms of recurrent costs.
There are several broad interactive categories that form the basis to our approach:
This is a fundamental component that should inform every new building. It is often the simplest and most effective strategy that will either produce the greatest result or the greatest lost opportunity. Often in urban situations this is simply a given and other strategies must be employed to compensate. The siting will determine the extent of day lighting possible, the amount of solar protection required, and the opportunity for passive heating and ventilation.
In large complex projects the opportunity for alternative energy sources should always be investigated. This should also consider immediate neighbours for possible synergies of use, as well as the potential buying power from other green sources.
Material selection should always balance the requirements of the building Lifecycle with the Embodied Energy. Other aspects such as toxicity, resource protection and health and safety considerations are just as important in material usage. Fit for purpose should be the ultimate measure.
Water is our most scarce resource and must be reused and retained as much as possible. All resources should be treated with respect and where possible utilized more than once. This is just as important during the construction phase, where quite often a scant regard is paid to efficient material use and reuse.
All of these aspects are considered at every stage of the project, with increasing levels of detail as the project progresses. All of these aspects are considered in relation to each other and judgments made – often different components conflict with each other and the capital budget. B
illard Leece Partnership has incorporated sustainable principles into the planning and design of a number of projects, including the new MCRI research facility at the Royal Children’s Hospital, featuring critical external solar shading devices, reductions in embodied energy of construction materials, materials selection for toxicity, resource protection, health and safety as well as water conservation measures.
Active measures have been also been incorporated in the Social Housing components of the Athletes Village for the Commonwealth Games. These include Greywater recycling and stormwater retention, Gas boosted Solar Hot water with photovoltaic trace reheat, the use of inverted wall construction and motion sensitive switching to all light fittings.
Other examples include an innovative private residence in Fitzroy incorporating passive and active solar design and water conservation strategies; the Austin Hospital redevelopment masterplan, involving setting BPED targets, consultants briefs, checklists and design advice and Brighton Classic Residences, East Brighton, a retirement village consisting of multi-level apartments, villas and communal facilities. The project has been awarded “Winner-Energy Smart Builder” by the Energy Smart Awards 2000.