As we usher in 2025, we want to take a moment to wish you a happy new year. After a busy 2024 and a much needed break we’re kicking off the year with optimism about the new projects on our books. The team remains small and agile, which allows us to give our selected projects the attention they deserve. With trusted people comes fewer headaches, and more focus on delivering quality outcomes for our clients.
Making a Difference with Sustainability
At DMA, we’re more committed than ever to helping our clients achieve their goals while using resources more responsibly. The building industry is facing significant challenges – price increases, skill shortages, and more builders going into administration. Alongside this, we’re seeing increased scrutiny of building practices, with a stronger emphasis on compliance. In Victoria, the Victorian Building Authority is ramping up enforcement, lifting standards by having more random inspections and imposing penalties and suspension notices for non-compliance. Interestingly, the whole building industry is facing a diminishing workforce, with many older practitioners choosing to leave the industry.
This is creating a gap in good old fashioned skills and knowledge that is vital for a thriving industry. It’s a problem that will likely gain more attention as the drive to build more houses becomes more pressing.
The Case for Retrofitting
In light of these challenges, we’re continuing to advocate for the retrofitting of existing buildings—a strategy that aligns with both economic and environmental imperatives. This is where we believe retrofitting can make a significant impact – in conserving resources, reducing landfill and reducing energy consumption. We see the “knockdown and rebuild” mentality still the favoured solution for many projects. However we stand firm in our belief that retaining and improving existing buildings is in many instances the smarter, more sustainable choice.
Looking Ahead: Retrofit Lab Presentation
This March, I’ll be presenting my insights from over 20 years of retrofit projects at the Retrofit Lab at Melbourne University. I’m excited about this opportunity to discuss how architecture practice can evolve. My presentation will focus on how we can change the traditional practice model, shifting from building bigger to selective interventions. Building smarter, prioritising conservation, creating efficiencies and doing maintenance works over the unnecessary replacement of building structures will always be our thing.
I’ll also explore how this model can help organizations like schools reduce their emissions, reduce their running costs, boost their environmental credentials, and attract a growing market that values a responsible approach. It’s a timely discussion as we approach 2030 and the Federal government’s legislated target of a 43% reduction in carbon emissions. With the growing trend of transparency around carbon accounting in Europe and the increasing pressure and legislation on Australian businesses to follow their lead – it’s clear that there’s a trend towards greening up. At DMA, we’re ready to help organizations take that leap and be ahead of the curve.
Sustainability in Action
Whether it’s energy efficiency, small-footprint living, or passive solar design principles, DMA has the expertise to support your sustainable goals. These are the concepts I studied back in the 1980s at Melbourne University, and I’m keen to be expanding their possibilities in 2025.
New Podcast Launch
On top of all that, we’re relaunching our Light, Cities, and Architecture my passion project podcast this year, with my writer and editor colleague Justine Costigan. Our podcast has been a year in the planning and the first episode of Season 3 is due out in February this year. The new episode will dive into the highly controversial book The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. We’ll explore what surprising lessons we can learn from this polarising thinker and writer. More episodes will follow as we dive into the history of the built environment and extract the lessons for the present.
Let’s make 2025 a year of positive change, sustainable growth, and innovative design outcomes.