The Fifth Estate

13/03/2025

The big questions on Lasse Lind’s mind in architecture and the circularity of buildings include how to work with our history and “part of our building stock which is often unloved?”

The big questions on Lasse Lind’s mind in architecture and the circularity of buildings include how to work with our history and “part of our building stock which is often unloved?”

13/03/2025

News of the demise of the National Construction Code 2025 may be greatly exaggerated, but a set time for its release has been quietly shelved. The Fifth Estate spoke with the former head of the ABCB, Neil Savery, to shed some light on what’s happening.

News of the demise of the National Construction Code 2025 may be greatly exaggerated, but a set time for its release has been quietly shelved. The Fifth Estate spoke with the former head of the ABCB, Neil Savery, to shed some light on what’s happening.

13/03/2025

Australia’s obsession with housing in this country is legendary. An introduction to TFE Review: Residential - out soon!

Australia’s obsession with housing in this country is legendary. An introduction to TFE Review: Residential - out soon!

13/03/2025

The EV market is set to boom over the mid-term despite the Tesla backlash, and Australian consumers will be the first to benefit.

The EV market is set to boom over the mid-term despite the Tesla backlash, and Australian consumers will be the first to benefit.

13/03/2025

Australia sees itself as having one of the most sustainable commercial property sectors in the world, but a new analysis from an HVAC climate startup has just smashed a hole in that theory.

Australia sees itself as having one of the most sustainable commercial property sectors in the world, but a new analysis from an HVAC climate startup has just smashed a hole in that theory.

13/03/2025

Housing is a shambles, but there are brilliant ideas and loads of promises around pre-fab…

This amazing event, coming up on 1 April, will have three of the best minds in Australia and Denmark trying to solve our building and construction problems.

Grab your tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/navigating-sustainability-2025-building-construction-and-materials-science-disrupted

We interviewed Karl-Heinz Weiss, Lendlease’s former guru on modern methods of construction, on Monday. It was in preparation for our next Navigating Sustainability 2025 monthly leaders’ forums.

And, wow, what a knockout. We kept Weiss talking way beyond what we promised. His views were both penetrating and illuminating. It gave us an inkling into why he was so highly recommended as one of the handful of insiders in Australia who truly understand what’s going on in the world of MMC, or prefab or whatever other name is given to finding ways to disrupt the stagnant old and inefficient ways continue to use to deliver buildings.

In February, Danielle Wood, chair of the Productivity Commission, took an almighty swipe at this sector, which is one of the most important in the Australian economy. We use it for the most important economic activity of all – building our houses and our workplaces.

Productivity was appalling, Wood said. Worse than any other sector, and in recent years, it had deteriorated further.

On that score, Weiss was an eye opener. We’ve got a full story coming soon on that and the other issues Weiss flagged. But here are a few nuggets: there’s a “tech as a silver bullet” fascination, and it’s not enough to make MMC work; and we need a business model that squares up to the opportunities, with better supply chains. There’s also a lot that can be done to improve traditional building methods.

Weiss started his life in cabinet making, choosing this hands-on career ahead of university before being headhunted by Lendlease, which brought his entire team to Australia. More to come … soon.

Also sharing their deep expertise on the day will be:

Lasse Lind, whose company the Danish based GXN specialises in circular design (designing for disassembly), behavioural design (how people interact with buildings) and technology to push innovation to make buildings more sustainable, as UNSW’s Philip Oldfield said in an interview with Lind a few years ago. GXN designed Circle House in Denmark, the country’s first circular social housing project – “90 per cent of its building materials are intended for future re-use”.

Ross Harding, creative consultant and principal at Finding Infinity, whose work you have probably come across and been intrigued by. Harding says it’s about “speeding up the world’s transition to self-sufficient cities” through working with architects, businesses and government to build master plans and blueprints. The company’s A New Normal was a proposal from 15 architecture firms to turn Greater Melbourne from a consumer to a producer, allowing the city to become completely self-sufficient.

Read more: https://thefifthestate.com.au/tfe-events/building-unbuilding-what-construction-needs-now/

We interviewed Karl-Heinz Weiss, Lendlease’s former guru on modern methods of construction, on Monday. It was in preparation for our next Navigating Sustainability 2025 monthly leaders' forums.

12/03/2025

Climate policies and programs in the US continue to take a thumping under President Trump, but already there’s been a major win to unlock Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds he’s froze.

Climate policies and programs in the US continue to take a thumping under President Trump, but already there’s been a major win to unlock Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds he’s froze.

12/03/2025

The sustainability industry has lost a supporter with the death of Master Builder NSW’s executive director Brian Seidler.

The sustainability industry has just lost a bright light that came from an unexpected quarter with the death of Master Builder NSW’s executive director Brian Seidler over a week ago.

11/03/2025

We interviewed Karl-Heinz Weiss, Lendlease’s former guru on modern methods of construction, on Monday. It was in preparation for our next Navigating Sustainability 2025 monthly leaders' forums.

We interviewed Karl-Heinz Weiss, Lendlease’s former guru on modern methods of construction, on Monday. It was in preparation for our next Navigating Sustainability 2025 monthly leaders' forums.

11/03/2025

Australian green bus firm, GoZero group, has hit multiple bumps in its goal to electrify all of NSW’s 8000 buses, after its ambitions to become a public trading company were dashed last week.

Australian green bus firm, GoZero group, has hit multiple bumps in its goal to electrify all of NSW’s 8000 buses, after its ambitions to become a public trading company were dashed last week.

11/03/2025

There’s a lot of fluffy stuff written about nature, like it’s good for our wellbeing to have it around or spend time within it. But when the bean counters say to show them the money in terms of its benefits, data has been hard to find.

There’s a lot of fluffy stuff written about nature, like it’s good for our wellbeing to have it around or spend time within it. But when the bean counters say to show them the money in terms of its benefits, data has been hard to find.

11/03/2025

David Naismith sold Solgen Energy to AGL back in 2021 when it was the largest developer and integrator of commercial PV projects in Australia.

David Naismith sold Solgen Energy to AGL back in 2021 when it was the largest developer and integrator of commercial PV projects in Australia.

11/03/2025

Thousands of residents are mopping up in the wake of ex-Cyclone Alfred, which has damaged homes and cars, flooded roads and gouged out beaches.

Thousands of residents are mopping up in the wake of ex-Cyclone Alfred, which has damaged homes and cars, flooded roads and gouged out beaches.

11/03/2025

Governments are all on board the transit oriented development train, and NSW is ahead, being the first to focus on housing for seniors. But without a clear vision, we may miss the opportunity altogether.

Governments are all on board the transit oriented development train, and NSW is ahead, being the first to focus on housing for seniors. But without a clear vision, we may miss the opportunity altogether.

06/03/2025

Two people at the intersection of the biggest global changes under way that will determine our future: Matt Kean, chair of the Climate Change Authority and Martijn Wilder, founder of Pollination. + Snaps.

Two people at the intersection of the biggest global changes under way that will determine our future: Matt Kean, chair of the Climate Change Authority on the politics; Martijn Wilder, founder of Pollination and chair of the National Reconstruction Authority on capital. Plus get your snaps!

06/03/2025

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation has partnered with specialist medical non-bank lender Credabl to create $20 million in green loans for medical practitioners.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation has partnered with specialist medical non-bank lender Credabl to create $20 million in green loans for medical practitioners.

06/03/2025

Victorian apartment buyers in buildings higher than four storeys may soon be able to benefit from the proposed new buyer protection legislation.

06/03/2025

A growing number of people are abandoning the open market and banding together to develop their dream homes. Now, there’s a consultancy to help, and it riffs off Germany’s baugruppen model.

A growing number of people are abandoning the open market and banding together to develop their dream homes. Now, there’s a consultancy to help, and it riffs off Germany’s baugruppen model.