A new apartment development in Western Australia is the first in the state to be registered in the One Planet Living (OPL) program.
Liv Apartments by Hassell architects will be developed by Defence Housing Australia (DHA) in Fremantle’s new East End and will keep the City of Fremantle and Western Australia on track as global trailblazers in sustainable living.
One Planet Living is a green communities framework based on ten principles covering areas such as carbon, waste, transport, food and water. The OPL certification is managed by Bioregional Australia Foundation in Australia.
The City of Fremantle was only the second city in the world to achieve recognition as a One Planet City in September 2014. If successful, Liv Apartments would be only the fifth endorsed One Planet Community in Australia and one of fewer than 20 worldwide.
The166-unit Liv Apartments will feature solar panels, edible gardens, landscape irrigation, a waste reduction strategy, energy saving ceiling fans and a public plaza space with lawn. These initiatives are expected to reduce household bills and energy consumption at the apartment development.
Bioregional Australia Foundation Executive Director Suzette Jackson says the Foundation looks forward to supporting Liv Apartment’s application of the One Planet Living international framework.
DHA is now working with international sustainable design consultants Cundall to develop the One Planet Action Plan to secure recognition in the Australian One Planet Program for Liv Apartments.
The feasibility of the development is backed by recent research from the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute which showed that Western Australians are increasingly assessing the green factor when buying apartments.
It also comes as construction on the biggest living laboratory project ever to be undertaken in Australia gains momentum at White Gum Valley, WA.
Images: Liv Apartments
