Carol Marra, co-founder of Marra+Yeh, is a distinguished architect renowned for her commitment to sustainable design.

With a passion for creating environmentally conscious spaces, Marra has been instrumental in integrating innovative practices that prioritise ecological balance.

Her work not only reflects a deep understanding of materials and energy efficiency but also embodies a vision for architecture that harmonises with its surroundings.

Through her leadership at Marra+Yeh, she champions a future where sustainability is at the forefront of architectural practice, inspiring both clients and the wider community to embrace responsible building methods.

She sat down with Architecture & Design’s Digital Editor Clémence Carayol to talk about her career, her aspirations and her approach to sustainable architecture.

Architecture & Design: Throughout your career, how have you consistently prioritised addressing the climate crisis in your projects?

Carol Marra: In the early days (25+ years ago) the emphasis was more on energy efficiency and high-performance buildings. However, those were low-hanging fruit, and we soon realised there was an opportunity for architecture to address the climate crisis in a double-pronged approach, by both reducing/eliminating reliance on fossil fuels in buildings as well as designing for adaptation and resilience. Over time as new technologies or research come to the fore, we have been refining our approach and also ensuring it is project and place specific.

Can you share a specific instance where you faced significant challenges in integrating sustainable practices into your work? How did you overcome them?

I can’t think of a project that didn’t have challenges, sometimes there is a big knowledge gap on the client side, or there may be opposition to innovate, or the budget doesn’t match the project aspirations! My husband and business partner, Ken Yeh, says I have a combination of charm and steely determination and I use this to help clients navigate challenges all the way to the finish line.

How have your views on climate-conscious design evolved over the years, and how has this influenced your approach to architecture?

I keep up with the science and evidence-base as more evidence of the impacts of climate change come to light, which in turn influences different aspects of the built and natural environment that we must take notice of during the course of a project. One particular approach we have taken is to incorporate natural systems into every project, regardless of location, as well as considering project impacts far beyond the site boundaries, to larger ecosystems, watersheds etc.

Are there particular projects or achievements you’re most proud of that reflect your commitment to tackling the climate crisis?

Both my Churchill Fellowship (2009) and Alastair Swayn Grant (2023) research demonstrate a long-term commitment to the climate crisis and to making our expertise available to the wider community.

There are three projects that I’d like to single out – Shelter@Rainforest where we integrated Indigenous knowledge with contemporary architectural practice, technology and building science, creating a building system that is robust, modular and simple to build.

Sky House is an adaptive reuse project where we completely challenged the idea of the inner-city terrace through the insertion of an atrium and sky window. This house incorporates adaptable and flexible elements to accommodate not only climate impacts but also privacy, amenity and connection to nature.

More recently we have been working in Dubbo on a precinct masterplan and diverse housing designs for a new village of 15,000+ residents. By working closely with the local Tubba-gah people, a great client and design team, we are transforming a 375ha site into a new precinct promoting walkability, housing diversity, climate resilience for heat and drought, and protection of the natural and cultural landscape.

How do you stay motivated and inspired to incorporate sustainability into your work amid industry challenges and pressures?

I think as architects we have a lot more agency than we give ourselves credit for. Design is a powerful tool to help clients understand problems, to invent multiple options and find an optimal solution – and this can happen at any scale, which means we can do something positive in every single project. When things get really discouraging, I go and tend to my garden, I get some perspective and then I get back on the tools.

What advice would you give to aspiring architects who want to focus on sustainability and climate-conscious design in their careers?

Don’t hesitate, go for it! Understand it is a long game, you may not see the change you want in your own lifetime but your efforts will not be in vain. Seek out great teachers, and most of all spend time in nature, be still and observe, be patient and learn, and you will be rewarded.

How do you believe architects can effectively incorporate sustainability into their designs to address the climate crisis?

As a starting point, we should humbly accept the free gifts of nature — sunshine, breezes, soil and water — and incorporate them into each project. If budget allows, then other strategies and technologies are added. We must have a good foundational understanding of climate impacts and both the opportunities and limitations of the built environment to mitigate those impacts.

What role do you think innovative materials and technologies play in reducing the carbon footprint of new buildings?

I think we have to look at this question in two ways. On the one hand, there are new materials or new processes to make materials, particularly ones which incorporate recycled content and cut down on waste streams, which are reducing the embodied carbon content within buildings.

On the other hand, we have to be mindful that new materials can become the waste of the future and new technologies will eventually be obsolete. It’s really crucial that innovation, in any area, is considered in a circular and holistic way, otherwise we are creating future problems.

How can architects balance the need for modern aesthetics with the imperative for environmental responsibility?

We are very adamant that environmental and high-performance buildings can be beautiful. The first comment I get from a lot of people visiting one of our projects is how beautiful it is — before they are even aware of the environmental credentials. I’d go as far as saying the role of the architect is to make buildings that are technical, functional and complex into beautiful, simple, joyful spaces.

What strategies are most effective for retrofitting existing buildings to improve their energy efficiency and sustainability?

First and foremost, a holistic understanding of that building’s existing condition, to amplify its positive aspects and reduce or nullify the negative ones. Our approach is always to improve solar access, reduce thermal bridging, introduce insulation and sealing, reduce heat loss, recycle anything salvageable and then apply a layer of technology that may include phase change materials, coatings and renewable energy. There is no silver bullet and each retrofit needs to be considered on its own merits and potential.

How important is it for architects to collaborate with other disciplines, such as engineers and urban planners, to tackle climate-related issues?

Collaboration is absolutely crucial, but it can only be robust and fruitful if architects are knowledgeable and conversant in the various disciplines. We must collaborate early and integrate all the disciplines into a cohesive design solution. As an advisor to government, I see so many projects where climate-change impacts are addressed solely through engineering systems and architects fail to grasp the opportunities for design-led interventions — for the integration of design and engineering (and other disciplines) to create innovative and robust buildings.

What policy changes or incentives would most support architects in their efforts to design with the climate in mind?

I would like to see planning controls that acknowledge climate-change impacts. For example, in bushfire-prone areas, instead of placing houses side-by-side because of prescribed front setbacks, controls should encourage staggered house positions because this has a direct correlation with house-to-house fire spread. In flood-prone areas, building heights need to reflect the potential maximum flood, not a blanket  height limit across vast areas.

In the main, our planning controls are primarily used to create consistency from one project to the next, but are not being used to create climate-resilient places. I’d like to see more input from architects and other external experts into the planning process. Why? Because planning for climate change is equally as important as designing for climate change.

How can architects influence and educate clients about the benefits of sustainable design in the context of the climate emergency?

We must lead by example and share knowledge widely. We recently compiled Design for Climate | Design for Change, a toolkit of strategies for climate-resilient design, packed with precedents, principles and case studies.

This is freely available via our website, written in accessible language and beautifully illustrated. Through efforts such as this, we can reach out to clients and others who are interested but often unsure of where to start.

Image: Carol Marra by Brett Boardman/supplied