Nathalie Craig

The benefits of sustainable buildings are far reaching, from a reduced ecological footprint to keeping occupants healthier and preserving resources for future generations.

Quality aged and health care design seamlessly integrates safety, accessibility and hygiene with comfort and style for residents, patients, and staff. Numerous studies have shown that patients and residents are directly impacted by the physical design and aesthetics of their environment.

Quality aged and healthcare design is centred around maximising resident, patient, and staff wellbeing. An important consideration is thermal comfort. This is especially important as older people find it difficult to cope with temperature extremes. Well-insulated buildings also offer better noise control and create a more peaceful living environment.

Security and access control solutions in commercial settings are rapidly evolving as customers seek more seamless, efficient, and adaptable options. This comes as we see complex security needs such as office spaces shared by multiple tenants with differing risk profiles. A layered approach to security and access control is often recommended, integrating smart technology with physical barriers.

When choosing cladding and facade materials for commercial builds there are several key considerations including aesthetics, safety, functionality durability and environmental impact. With several tragic cladding-related fires in Australia and worldwide, it is more important than ever that safe, non-combustible building products are used for all building facades.

When selecting outdoor paints, stains and coatings for residential buildings, homeowners are increasingly looking for products with a low environmental impact that can help reduce the thermal load of their homes. Lighter colours are also popular, not only for achieving the sought-after earthy, coastal look but also for the added benefit of reflecting the sun and helping to reduce the thermal load.