Discovery Centre&

Sustainable Concepts

F15 – Lauren, Rosalind and Lily

The Centres

The Community HallThe Information Centre

The Discovery Centre

ContentsIntroduction Sustainable

Concepts

My sustainable ideas

The Design Brief Encouraging Sustainability

Energy

WaterWaste

Travel

Introduction: The Design Brief

• Our team, E.C.O. is taking part in a government launched competition to design, develop and submit a proposal for the area around Wentworth point, and to encourage people to visit, work and live in the area, as well as identify solutions to promote connectedness and the community.

• The location is also very suitable and will be valuable for offering opportunities to connect and grow a new community – it is close to Parramatta River, major sporting facilities, shopping centers, major businesses and a vibrant restaurant.

Introduction: The Public Space

• To cover all areas of the proposal, our group has been identified into groups – Environmental Consultant, Community Developer and Marketing Consultant.

• The role of the Environmental Consultant is to design a public space or building called the “Discovery Centre”.

• Another job is to include aspects of sustainability in their designing of the building of all centres, but especially their own centre, the “Discovery Centre”.

• The task is to transform the Wentworth Point industrial site into a thriving new sustainable area for people to live and work alongside playing and learning.

SustainabilitySustainability is a key factor to consider when designing a building. We need to look after the environment and make sure we are using the most sustainable options, and make sure that we think about its sustainability in the future.A definitions of sustainability is:• Continuing to do what it was designed to do and maintain itself.• To reduce our dependence use of fossil fuels• To reduce our dependence on synthetic chemicals (aerosol cans)• To reduce our destruction of nature• And also ensuring we are not stopping people from getting their

needs.• Sharing resources or creating systems that promote recycling and less

waste

Encouraging Sustainability

It is most important for this generation to begin to be as sustainable as we possibly can because of some arising issues such as:• The population is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050 so

the demand for buildings and homes will be much higher.

• We have been depending on resources that are running out and are non-renewable, such as the fossil fuels – coal, natural gas and oil.

• Non-renewable resources are also used up more quickly than they can replenish themselves.

My sustainable ideas• I have included aspects such as renewable and recycled materials

such as timbers and wood which are definitely renewable, as well as 100% recyclable, reusable and refillable glass. I have chosen for the

• I have included the native plants (such as bottle-brush) and trees (blue gum) that will encourage native species to inhabit Wentworth Point. I will also try my best to ensure we don’t cut down excess trees, by possibly keeping trees that are currently standing.

• I have ensured that the building is properly made so that there it continues to stand without decaying or rotting.

• But I also have to ensure that we are not stopping people from getting their needs.

Energy Source - Solar Panels

• I have included the use of solar panels on the roof of our building. This is a sustainable energy source as it is producing energy that natural comes from the sun. This will reduce the electricity cost as well as reducing the fossil fuels that would be burnt to create the electricity. Solar Panels can generate electricity to power lighting in the centre as well as any other needs.

Water Source – Water Tank

• I have included a water tank on all of the buildings as this is an effective method to preserve water that could be used for many appliances such as toilet and watering systems. I have included a water tank also because it will reduce the water bill and it will save the world’s most scarcest natural source.

Waste – Compost Bin/Worm Farm and Chicken Coop and a Vegetable Patch

• The use of both a compost bin and a chicken coop are both a method of recycling waste that would benefit the environment. Instead of discarding our waste into a rubbish bin which ends up in a dump, we could feed chickens who would potentially create eggs for us in return. It can be the same Symbiotic relationship with a worm farm, as the worms are turning nutrients from food scraps into rich soil for our gardens. A compost bin is also a method of breaking down food scraps into nutrient-rich soil.

• Using the compost bin or worm farm, worms produce nutrient-rich soil which could definitely help the vegetables grow in the vegetable patches.

Travel – Bike Racks and Bus Stops

• I have included the use of bike racks to encourage the community o take additional and less harmful travel methods, as cars are very polluting of the air. Buses are also a great way of reducing air pollution as it transports a large quantity of citizens all going to the same place, which also would reduce pollution.