The Specification

This week Joe and Laurence a 65 room hotel which is built every year only to be destroyed a few months later, and see how Melbourne's urban density compares to a range of international hubs (spoiler alert, it's not great news). Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.     For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at podcast@laurello.au .    Links:...

This week Joe and Laurence discuss an engineering marvel and icon of South East Asian architecture and dig deeper into Victoria's freshly released 10 year housing statement. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.     For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at podcast@laurello.au .    Links:   CTBUH article: https://global.ctbuh.org/resources/p...

This week Joe and Laurence discuss a well known project in the centre of Manhattan which almost collapsed under wind loads, and cover the launch of a new safety reporting tool from the Australian Government. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.     For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at podcast@laurello.au .    Links:   Citicorp Centre E...

This week Joe and Laurence discuss some of the projects receiving funding from Australia's defence budget, give an update on the infamous 'Death Star' bill preventing construction workers from taking drink breaks in Texas, and discuss what could be the next global ACP disaster. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.     For any questions or suggestions please contact...

This week Joe and Laurence discuss 'The Line', a 170km long, 500m tall structure currently under construction in Saudi Arabia, and dig deeper into the concept of 'green concrete'. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.     For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at podcast@laurello.au .    Links: The Line video: https://youtu.be/0kz5vEqdaSc?si...

This week Joe and Laurence discuss one of the world's oldest and most expensive structures, reveal the freshly appointed builder for Australia's next super tall tower, and compare how Australia's construction industry shapes up against the USA in the world of embodied carbon. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.   For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe...

This week Joe and Laurence discuss one of the few projects to receive full Living Building Challenge Certification in the Southern Hemisphere - Frasers Property's Burwood Brickworks, review some of the biggest infrastructure spending blowouts (and hypothesise why these may occur), and Joe gets hot under the collar on the topic of footpath paving. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories beh...

This week Joe and Laurence discuss Japan's tsunami walls, review China's recently built 'City of the Future', and consider the electrification of construction sites amidst the news of Sweden's first all-electric trial. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.    For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at podcast@laurello.au.    Links: Japan's Ts...

This week Joe and Laurence discuss Australia's newest physics laboratory which is located 1km below the earth's surface, a recent law in Texas which eliminates water breaks for construction workers, and mining on the moon. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.     For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at podcast@laurello.au .     Links:   S...

This week Joe and Laurence discuss the national asset but regional concern that is the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the effort to rebuild Ukraine, and thermal conductivity in building envelopes. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.     For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at podcast@laurello.au .   Links:   Grand Ethiopean Renaissance...

This week Joe and Laurence discuss the Svalbard "Doomsday" Seed Vault – humanity's back up plan in the event of an agricultural disaster, and delve deeper into Australia's Long Term Emissions Plan. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.     For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at podcast@laurello.au .     Links:   Australia's Long Term Emis...

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) is Australia's national system for rating the energy performance of homes. Referred to in our National Construction Code, NatHERS considers a wide range of inputs to generate standardised energy ratings, helping consumers to understand the performance of their homes.   NatHERS gives a 'thermal' rating based on how much heating and cooling is need...

This week Joe and Laurence discuss what could be the World's tallest single residence (if not for one pesky technicality), and take a specialists dive into cross laminated timber, and the ideal approach for designers and builders looking to reduce the environmental impact of their projects through mass timber. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.     For any questio...

This week Joe and Laurence discuss Australia's largest wind farm which is under construction in Victoria's West, and shine a light on Australia's plans for hydrogen production and export, with special consideration of what this means for our current built environment. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.     For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and La...

This week Joe and Laurence discuss the $30 billion solar array slated for Australia's Northern Territory, simplify the science behind fire, and review a new practical guide to upfront carbon reductions authored by the Green Building Council of Australia, Lendlease, the NSW Government, Sustainability Victoria, and Mott Macdonald. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics....

This week Joe and Laurence discuss the future location of Sydney's massive produce markets (and the potential usage of their current site), delve deeper into the recent voluntary administration announcements of residential builders, and consider Australia's potential as a solar power juggernaut. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.     For any questions or suggestio...

This week Joe and Laurence discuss Mies Van Der Rohe and Lilly Reich's iconic Barcelona Pavilion, break down the festival of art and design that is the Venice Biennale, and take a closer look at a strong, highly sustainable building product growing right under our noses. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.     For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and...

This week Joe and Laurence discuss Western Sydney's new international airport, take a closer look at earthquake design requirements, and review a recent report which quantifies the cost of defects and re-work in construction projects. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.     For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at hello@nwmedia.au.     Li...

This week Joe and Laurence discuss the incredible and iconic Habitat67, take a closer look at ETFE facades and roofing, and review a recent report from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute looking at the challenges and opportunities associated with sustainability at a neighbourhood scale. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.     For any questions or s...

This week join Joe and Laurence as they review the range of projects so far announced in preparation for Victoria's $2.6b commonwealth games, get into the nitty gritty of sub surface tanks, and dissect the Federal Government's announced $1.6b policy targeted at improving residential energy efficiency without feeding the inflation dragon.   For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and La...

Your Home (or  www.yourhome.gov.au ) is a free and independent initiative of the Australian Government which provides valuable resources and information for designers, builders, and others involved in designing and building residential homes. Almost 20 years old, the site is regularly visited by consumers and professionals looking for unbiased and reliable information about sustainable design, bui...

This week the Joe and Laurence explore the huge network of underwater tunnels connecting islands and communities at the Faroe Islands, laminated veneer lumber, and discuss what Australia's electrificition means for our built environment. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.     For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at hello@nwmedia.au.    ...

This week the guys discuss the incredible Metropol Parasol in Seville,  BubbleDeck  concrete, and some significant new updates to the City of Melbourne's planning requirements for sustainable building design. Join in to hear more on the interesting stories behind these topics.     For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Laurence at hello@nwmedia.au.  

This episode join Joe and Laurence as they introduce an exciting new segment based approach to The Specification. As discussed this week, moving forward our regular conversations with building product experts will be complemented by solo sessions, allowing the guys to delve deeper into projects, products, news, and events than historically possible.     For any questions or suggestions please cont...

That's a wrap for The Specification's  mini series  on product certifications! In this final episode of the mini-series Laurence and Joe discuss their  takeways  from the last four episodes of this series, and the series as a whole.      Check in with the guys next week for more news and commentary from the world of building products.     For any questions or suggestions please contact Joe and Lau...