Renew Hunter Region would like to invite you to a special lecture at NUspace in Newcastle on Tuesday 2 September at 5.45pm.
We are collaborating with the University of Newcastle’s School of Architecture and Built Environment on their Spring Lecture series together with SONA, the student members of The Australian Institute of Architects. This first event will explore sustainability in the built environment, with a focus on materials, ethics and earth building. Local Somersby company Mudtec are revolutionising the building industry and using a low carbon alternative to traditional fired brick and cement base products, their large compressed earth bricks are non-combustible and breathable.
Hear from this fabulous line-up of guest speakers as they share their perspectives on sustainability in practice. A panel discussion will follow, along with a Q&A so you can join in the conversation.
Dr Sarah Breen Lovett will introduce an exciting new project, developed with Mudtec, called the Fast Slow Project. This innovative technique brings together prefabricated structural systems to make earthen infill buildings more accessible to more people.
Sarah is an artist and academic, Senior Lecturer at the School of Architecture and Built Environment, engaging in practice-led, industry-collaborating and socially-engaged research projects. She is passionate about how earth building is on one hand a sustainable, low carbon material, which can be used to support planetary wellbeing; and on the other hand has many health benefits that can be used for the development of personal wellbeing. Sarah is driven to research the use of earth materials in the building industry for more regenerative architecture.
Dr Hugo Moline is an architect, artist, urbanist and researcher. He is co-director of MAPA Art & Architecture.
Central to Hugo’s architectural work is the ongoing question of why only those with money and power should decide on how the city is made, and seeking ways to make the products and processes of architecture radically democratic. His specialisation is in working with collective client groups, from the tight knit communities of migrant housing cooperatives to the complex, interwoven interest of diverse users of public space.
Kenney Lemire will present various earthen homes Mudtec have built in the Narara Ecovillage, as well as several R&D projects they have undertaken. For Kenney, Integrated Bio-Tecture Design (IBD) represents a combination of highly creative design principles, environmental sustainability, healthy living, and knowledge sharing. Kenney joined forces with Will Eastlake in 2013, A lover of nature and the built environment alike, Kenney aims to create harmony between the two, embracing biophilic design principles and natural building; marrying that with latest technology and building science in a wholistic view of care for the client and environment.
Ian Sercombe is director of a small architectural practice on Worimi Country, on the MidNorth Coast. The practice specialises in residential and small commercial developments. Ian’s work is influenced by a desire to integrate with the natural world which is evident in the way the buildings connect with their site through passive design and material selection. Ian is equally passionate about aiming for qualities of tactility, beauty, serenity and joy in spaces. Qualities that make a space feel great and provide inspiration and healthy environments for the occupants..
Tim Meyer is a long time member of Renew Australia, an engineer, environmentalist, and a passionate advocate for Sustainable House Day, Renew’s flagship event. Tim will talk about the significance and influence that Sustainable House Day delivers in neighbourhoods around the country, and how homeowners, architects and uni students can get involved in this unique peer-to-peer learning experience.
You can register below, or contact us by email and we will add you to our branch guest list. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to hear from the architects and the innovators about this exciting local project. We will be following up with a site visit later in the year.
Please note: this is an person event only, not online or hybrid.
