Architecture is to be overun by the arbitrary computer systems of a narrow minded energy/environmental lobby without regard to architectural expression, culture, economics or informed debate of any kind. This is the direction being taken in the use of prescriptive rating systems in NSW and other states as they are adopted as ‘requirements’ by the planning authorities.

Begining with the adoption of compulsory energy rating systems, a star rating was required for each development application involving new dwelling(s) by the approval authoritities. Gradually, over time these ratings were tightened up, requiring more and more stars as the benchmark. Easy to administer, the applications either measured up or they didn’t, simple tick the box bureaucracy.
Critically these systems, seemingly designed to improve the quality of project homes, failed in what they attempted to do in key ways as they were missaplied to housing as a whole.
They could not deal with a courtyard house, with cold bridging, with the differences between specific building products, with the context and vagaries of site and sometimes with the architects intentions. This program defied logic in certain circumstances enforcing bad decisions, causing the reduction of glazed areas in buildings, requiring certain types of curtains, excessive insulation. Putting Architects in the position of taking advice from computer program operators, sometimes with little or no building experience, on how to meet the required rating! is preposterous and insulting. Most architects being highly aware of environmental issues and materials and environmental approaches.
Architects, I think accepted the limitations of the system in good faith and to an extent hoped that more sophisticated versions would improve the system. However, the system was sufficiently flexible that the required ratings could be achieved without undue detriment to the quality of the building. But what about the next system on the horizon?

BASIX already out an about in NSW and threatening to spread further may surpass its predessors and actually be detrimental to the architecture profession. According to the Planning NSW, website,
“BASIX is a web-based planning tool designed to assess the water and energy efficiency of new residential developments. It has been developed by DIPNR in association with other government agencies, local government and utilities”

Fantastic, note there is no mention or reference to architects, we kinda have something to do with the built environment. Note also the little architectural sketch in green on the website, fine use us for marketing. Further,

“To obtain a BASIX certificate you need to complete the Basix assessment to meet the mandatory targets for Water, Thermal, Comfort and Energy”

With mandatory targets such as these a project will either pass or fail these ‘exams’ and projects will be required by the planning authorities to pass, to enable the process of approval to proceed. How prescriptive these process’s are I do not know, however the following excerpt is pretty scary

” the cross ventilation section is optional and only available to certain areas. Completing this section will enable up to 3.5 % extra glazing” I’m not sure this would have helped Mies Van der Rohe with his Farnsworth house.

The thrill of knowing I can put an extra 3.5% of glazing into my next project is dampened somewhat as this program seems about as flexible and easy as applying for an apartment in the Stalinist Russia.

The system is overdetermined as evidenced by its online demonstration. Critical to architects is the relaxation of these systems to make them optional or variable where an Architect is concerned and they clash in a detrimental fashion with the design intent of a project. If this does not occur Architects and the community will suffer, losing a richness in the environments that we inhabit and degrading our national culture as expressed through architecture. Ultimately the problem with these systems is that they are anti design, anti lifestyle and represent neither sustainablity nor a balanced consideration of the problems we face in contemporary Australian society.