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ARCH11-145: Designing for Climate & Sustainability

Description

This subject explores architecture and its relationship to the natural environment to further the principles and values of sustainable design. Primary environmental design principles will be expanded to include observations of cities and their regions, as well as cultural, societal, climatic, and economic systems and challenges. A range of concepts and understanding in building science and climatic analysis will be introduced along with discussion around resilience, passive design systems, building envelopes, materials and microclimates. The subject emphasises a holistic approach to creating and sustaining living environments and covers fundamental principles of embodied and operational carbon via Life Cycle Analysis of buildings to support the transition towards a carbon-neutral built environment.

Subject details

Type: Undergraduate Subject
Code: ARCH11-145
EFTSL: 0.125
Faculty: Faculty of Society and Design
Semesters offered:
  • January 2026 [Standard Offering]
Credit: 10
Study areas:
  • Architecture
Subject fees:
  • Commencing in 2026: $4,600.00
  • Commencing in 2026: $6,260.00

Learning outcomes

  1. Explain the core principles and values of sustainable environmental design.
  2. Analyse the relationships between ecological systems and architecture in urban and regional contexts.
  3. Evaluate approaches to sustainable development in the built environment.
  4. Collaborate with peers to produce shared environmental design deliverables and orally present the work using appropriate visual aids.
  5. Write reports that articulate environmental design concepts to a professional audience.

Enrolment requirements

Requisites:

Nil

Assumed knowledge:

Assumed knowledge is the minimum level of knowledge of a subject area that students are assumed to have acquired through previous study. It is the responsibility of students to ensure they meet the assumed knowledge expectations of the subject. Students who do not possess this prior knowledge are strongly recommended against enrolling and do so at their own risk. No concessions will be made for students’ lack of prior knowledge.

Assumes experience and familiarity in using Rhino or 3D modelling software or equivalent.

Restrictions: This subject is not available to
  • Study Abroad Students

This subject is not available as a general elective. To be eligible for enrolment, the subject must be specified in the students’ program structure.

Subject dates

  • Standard Offering
    Enrolment opens: 16/11/2025
    Semester start: 19/01/2026
    Subject start: 19/01/2026
    Last enrolment: 01/02/2026
    Teaching census: 13/02/2026
    Withdraw - Financial: 14/02/2026
    Withdraw - Academic: 07/03/2026
Standard Offering
Enrolment opens: 16/11/2025
Semester start: 19/01/2026
Subject start: 19/01/2026
Last enrolment: 01/02/2026
Teaching census: 13/02/2026
Withdraw - Financial: 14/02/2026
Withdraw - Academic: 07/03/2026