The Building 4.0 showcase was held last week in Melbourne on June 19th and brought together industry, funders, universities and a range of professionals from across the building space to network and showcase innovations in building that can ‘help solve tomorrows problems’ by ‘enabling a customer-centric and connected transformation of the building industry.’

Building 4.0 CRC is an industry-led research initiative co-funded by the Australian Government. The CRC aims to develop an internationally competitive, dynamic and thriving Australian advanced manufacturing sector, delivering better buildings at lower cost and the human capacity to lead the future industry. The CRC or Cooperative Research Centre, wants to increase innovation across Australia’s building and housing landscape, to help reduce emissions through a building’s whole life-cycle, reduce project costs, reduce waste and inefficiencies, and increase and enhance jobs, skills and training across this vital network.

As CEO Prof. Mathew Aitchison outlined in his key address, there are so many barriers affecting the building industry these days from planning and zoning limitations, to renter protectionism and labour shortages that it’s hard to know where to begin attacking the problem.  The CRC was awarded funding in 2000 for 7 years, and has only just hit its stride with this showcase and a growing number of partners and affiliates.

Beyond the hype and the impressive scale of its vision, the CRC is doing something interesting and incredibly exciting for the natural building space which is why we were in attendance. We were invited as guests of our member Kenny LeMire who has been working away with his many projects and interests representing MudTec   Having joined forces with Sarah Breen Lovett from the University of Newcastle, Kate Dunn from the University of new South Wales, and earth building expert and legend Peter Hickson, president of the Earth Building Association of Australia. Together this team has developed a very big vision for where they can and will be taking natural materials into the future and it was an honour to be able to witness their first unveiling of some ambitious but hugely significant visions and projects.

The research and experimentation project being run through the CRC is looking to showcase the capacity for prefabricated earth to be included as a legitimate form of construction, with high R values and quick and affordable construction. The prototype home, known as the ‘fast slow house’ was on display and looking for funding to develop into an affordable and accessible dwelling for anyone wishing to lower costs for their build, and across many climates in Australia.

Showcasing an innovative structural box that can be lathed and filled with any type of natural infill (be it straw, hemp or light earth), this is the ultimate localised version of SIPS panels (structurally insulated prefabricated system) that can be accessed by builders and/or owner builders to be able to construct and fill with insulative mass material of their choice that can be accessible and sustainable. The panels can be clad on the outside and rendered or lined on the inside, are durable and easy to click together depending on the house design, and can also be raised up on stilts, as their model displayed, for places with moisture or flooding considerations.

The fast slow house is but one of the projects underway by this exciting research collective, and we will discuss the other two projects in future blogs.

To check out the CRC head here.