Ralph takes us through the various site activities such as geothermal digging and drilling, as well as running power and water services to site. Meanwhile product testing has begun, with a energy efficient dryer and natural ranges of cosmetics and cleaning products in use. For more video interviews head to our YouTube channel BarleyStore for the full Construction Diary Interviews playlist.
Archive for the ‘Interviews’ Category
Interview with Ralph Alphonso – The Month of August 2014
Interview with Ralph Alphonso – The Month of July
With preparation going on both on and off site, Ralph updates us on the progress of the build – finalising plans, designs and budgets. With the budget blowing out of proportion, some changes need to be made… For more video interviews head to our YouTube channel BarleyStore for the full Construction Diary Interviews playlist.
Australian Geographic: Innovative Australians
Innovative Australians: Ralph Alphonso
BY Fiona MacDonald
Ralph Alphonso is showing that individuals can reduce their impact in a big way, with some planning and commitment.
On a 4 x 5m Plot down an East Melbourne laneway, Australian Geographic photographer Ralph Alphonso is attempting to build a liveable apartment on a leftover slab of land.
“I was going to build a garage or an extra room but I live here by myself and I thought, ‘Do I really need this space?'” he explains from his current living room, which has twice the floor area of his soon-to-be-built home.
When he looked for examples of carbon-neutral buildings for inspiration, he struggled to find one locally that looked at the whole picture – including where products originated from and -lifestyle.
“I found it frustrating. A lot of architects were talking about what could be done, but I wanted to actually do it. Waiting for someone else to go first isn’t my thing,” he says, with a smile.
Interview with Pooran Desai, OBE on ‘One Planet Living.’
Pooran Desai, Co-Founder of Bioregional and International Director of One Planet Communities talks about ‘One Planet Living.’ and its relevance to the 5×4 Project. See the interview below, or head to our YouTube channel, BarleyStore, for more interviews!
Interview with Danny Vadasz (ACF)
Today we interviewed Danny Vadasz, COO of Australian Conservation Foundation.
Issues discussed include:
– ACF’s work in urban challenges
– ACF’s contribution to sustainable building and how they support any project with similar aims on sustainability
– Defining success in build projects
Interview with Prof. Robert Adams – Melbourne City Council, supporting the ‘5×4 Hayes Lane Project’
Our interview with Professor Rob Adams AM, Director City Design at City of Melbourne. His thought on the 5×4 Hayes lane Project.
Rob was awarded the Prime Minister’s Environmentalist of the Year Award in 2008 and the Order of Australia in 2007 for his contribution to Architecture and Urban Design.
A champion of both the arts and environmental sustainability he has worked to ensure that good urban design is established as a platform for city development into the 21st Century. Some key projects include CH2 Australia’s first 6 Star Green Commercial Office Building, Birrarung Marr, Swanston Street, City Square, Sandridge Bridge, East Melbourne Library, Urban Forest Strategy and the City of Melbourne Street Furniture range.
His current interests concern the health and sustainability of the Metro city and he has published and presented extensively on the subject of Transforming Cities for a Sustainable Future.
Interview with Trent Hawkins (Beyond Zero Emissions)
The 5×4 Hayes Lane Project is supported by Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE).
Check out our interview with Trent Hawkins, BZE’s Project Director of the Buildings Plan.
Issues discussed include:
– How BZE works to investigate solutions to the current fossil fuel economy
– Why it’s important for BZE to associate with the 5×4 Hayes Lane Project
– The desired outcome from the Project
First interview with Dr Robert Crawford
Prior to the construction of the build, we interviewed all members of the Project Team. Here’s the first interview with Dr Robert Crawford who’s in charge of measuring and assessing the Project’s Embodied Energy.
Issues discussed:
– Opportunities for minimizing the carbon and energy input of the Project
– The input-output based hybrid assessment approach that will be used for quantifying the embodied energy and emissions, which is more comprehensive than using traditional industry based process analysis techniques
– The benefits of the prefabrication approach used to construct the 5×4 Hayes Lane Project
– Other considerations for selecting construction materials, such as recyclable content
– Opportunities to showcase the 5×4 Hayes Lane Project to other design & architect students as an ideal outcome of the project
Craig Chatman speaks about Design Development
Watch Craig Chatman speaking about the design response of the 5×4 Hayes Lane Project.
Issues discussed:
– The design solutions of the mini tower
– The interesting dialogue between private and public realm of the dwelling considering it’s location
– The constraints of the build due to its small scale
– Being able to offer a design solution which talks about circulation, movement and flow
– Showcasing the engineering of the project within the structure of the building
First Interview with Craig Chatman
Prior to the construction of the build, we interviewed all members of the Project Team. Here’s the first interview with Project Architect & Builder, Craig Chatman.
Issues discussed:
– An overview of ARKit & Offsite Constructions
– The importance of Sustainability, Design & Construction in the build environment
– The educational benefits and the contribution to the build environment as his motivation to get involved
– Examples of similar projects overseas
– The unique prefabrication solution for the 5×4 Hayes Lane build, made specifically for the site
– Constraints to the site due to limited accessibility and the Project’s scale
– The collaboration process of the Project Team