Australia is creating stunning buildings that adapt to their environments

When researching the most interesting sustainable buildings and regions for my book Hyperlocalization of Architecture, I kept ending up in Australia.

From the largest office building in the southern hemisphere to a tiny cabin in the outback, these projects consistently challenge and provoke. They push to the outer edges of environmental architecture. 

One of the stand-out features in Australian contemporary building design is a quality of movement — a kind of kinetic design that allows buildings to be adaptable and comfortable. Some buildings open to provide a path for the prevailing cooling breeze, or close to protect from wildfire or prying eyes. 

In the book, architect Sean Godsell describes it as "animated architecture" that keeps buildings from being predictable.

Kinetic architecture creates extraordinary experiences by engaging with building occupants. Most importantly, it's perfectly adapted to a region already undergoing the stress of climate change.

RMIT University's design hub in Melbourne has an exterior made of sandblasted glass disks, which pivot through the day like vertical blinds to control interior light and heat gain. The facade changes tempo throughout the day; sometimes it's a teal grid in direct daylight, then a more delicate steel blue lace when backlit by the sun.

The Anz Center, a bank headquarters located in Melbourne, is one of the largest open offices in the world. The eclectically designed interior, dotted with somber natural tones, primary colors, and oversized objects, brings the expanse down to a manageable scale.

Photovoltaic panels and wind generators dot the roof, a tri-generation power plant reduces the facility's CO2 emissions, and river water cooling is used for the air conditioning. The building also has an extensive black and grey water reclamation system, as well as rainwater collection. It's an environmental village cloaked as an office building.