3.3 Low resource building techniques and materials

Hi Raphael,

To get more context about your proposed design, I’d like to know what building techniques and materials are you currently exploring and for what purpose, and why you think they might need to be upgraded.

Regards,
Jean

• This reply was modified 4 months, 2 weeks ago by Jean Aquinde.
• This reply was modified 4 months, 2 weeks ago by Jean Aquinde.

Hi Raphael,

Thanks for sharing your idea of building a floating dock system for the community! I understand that designing for Saibai Island’s unique context presents challenges, but I’m confident your team is up to the task.

We have a detailed list of design considerations in the brief that we’d like you to reflect upon in your design process. One example that directly connects material selection and impact on the environment is the lifecycle of the materials:

Lifecycle: Effective engineering solutions to a problem should minimise environmental impacts throughout the entire lifecycle of a product. What happens to a product after it reaches the end of its utility is a crucial consideration for the resilience and sustainability of ecosystems and communities. By integrating end-of-life considerations into designs, students can contribute to developing a circular economy that promotes the reuse, recycling, and repurposing of materials. Students can explore the concept of designing for durability and longevity, which can prolong a product’s useful life and reduce the frequency of disposal. Additionally, incorporating remanufacturing and refurbishment processes into the design can extend the product lifespan, minimising waste generation.

I hope this helps!

Regards,
Jean

Hi Randall,

According to this resource from TSRA – Torres Strait Sustainable Land Use Plan, Part 2 Saibai:

“Houses located in the village are generally one storey, but are on stumps that elevates the house to the equivalent of a two-storey building.

Older houses and community facilities are generally one storey at ground level. Recent homes are generally, slab-on-ground open ground level, with the dwelling elevated on stumps and timber construction.”

Also, make sure to explore the Gallery section of Design Area 3 – Infrastructure, as we have some close-up photos there of the houses and other Council-managed facilities.

I hope this helps!

Regards,
Jean