Geraldine Chua . Articles Has prefab disrupted the building industry? It’s been said that all industry disruptors are innovators, but not all innovators are disruptive. With prefabricated construction, the question of whether this 21st century process has truly shaken up Australia’s building industry is one with no clear answer. Learning by colour: Paints and coatings in the education sector Designed by Atelier Alter, the Beijing No.12 Kindergarten is a visual feast of bold colours and clean lines. Building blocks served as inspiration for the project team, who say they began the project by converting its scale from a grown-up’s point of view to a child’s perspective. Could Hempcrete be the next big sustainable building material? Hempcrete materials provide many advantages over other insulation and wall envelope assemblies. Yet, there are many misconceptions surrounding its use. Designing for people, not profit: The story behind a multi-residential housing model changing the way we live When Breathe Architecture took out the Best of the Best category at the 2014 Sustainability Awards for its multi-residential project, The Commons, we could not have imagined what would come in its wake. Keeping your office air pure and clean Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can cause fatigue and concentration difficulties. A 2015 study found that, “on average, a 400ppm increase in CO2 was associated with a 21 percent decrease in cognitive function scores”. Five ‘green’ urban design innovations shaping our cities Good urban design is more than fostering environmental responsibility. It must also be integrated with productivity, liveability, leadership and design excellence.