ZEMCH 2015 - International Conference Proceedings | Page 765
International Conference | Bari - Lecce, Italy
Session X-XI
SUSTAINABILITY AND OFFICE TO RESIDENTIAL
CONVERSION ADAPTATION IN SYDNEY
Sara Wilkinson1 & Hilde Remoy2
1 School of the Built Environment, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, University of Technology Sydney,
Australia, [email protected]
2 TU Delft/ Faculty of Architecture, Department of Real Estate & Housing, Delft, The Netherlands, [email protected]
Abstract
The built environment contributes 40% to total global greenhouse gas emissions and 87% of
the buildings we will have in 2050 are already built. It follows, if predicted climate changes are
correct, we need to adapt existing stock sustainably. In city centres outside Australia there is
a history of office to residential conversions. These types of conversions are few in number in
Sydney although evidence suggests a trend is emerging in conversion adaptations. In 2014
102,000m2 of office space was earmarked for residential conversion in Sydney as demand for
central residential property grows and low interest rates create good conditions. Linked to
this, the Central Business District (CBD) population is projected to increase by 4% to 2031 requiring 45000 new homes and, this increase coincides with a stock of ageing offices. A further
factor is the Sydney office market is set to be flooded with the Barangaroo development office
supply in 2017; thus conditions for residential conversion are better than ever. However; what
is the level of sustainability in these projects? And, are stakeholders cognisant of the sustainability issues in these projects? Through a series of interviews with key stakeholders, this
paper investigates the nature and extent of the phenomena in Sydney, as well as the political,
economic, social, environmental and technological drivers and barriers to successful conversion. To date no major study exists on conversion adaptation in Sydney and most residential
development is new build. There is substantial potential to change the nature of the CBD
and enhance sustainability with the residential conversion adaptation of office space and this
paper explores this potential. The findings show that opportunities are being overlooked to
appreciate and acknowledge the sustainability of this type of adaptation and that there is a
need for a rating tool to encourage greater levels of sustainability; and to acknowledge existing levels of sustainability achieved in these projects.
Keywords
residential conversion adaptation, sustainability, Sydney,
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