CH2

Melbourne's Council House 2, built in 2006, is the first building that has been given a 6 star rating by the Green Building Council of Austrailia. Designed by DesignInc, this 10 storey office block is predicted to have paid for itself, in savings, the $51 million it cost to build it. Its even stated by the Victoria council that the fresh air circulating the building has increased staff productivity so much that it has saved them $2 million a year.

The building has many special and innovative design features. Particularly visually impressive are the recycled timber shutters that are sensitive to the strength of light on them dictating their angle of shade from the strong Australian sun without restricting natural light. So many of the features that make this building work are simple but so often in this world under used, such as the maximising of natural light to reduce the need for artificial. Or the use of thermal mass (large exposed concrete areas on the outside) to regulate internal heat instead of air conditioning. The five shower towers manage to cool air and water purely through the lost energy utilised by the water falling through it turning into vapour. Or simply vaulted ceilings that help with air flow within the building.

Check out more pictures and a run through of any extra information at www.melbourne.vic.gov.au