Curtin University’s innovative, modular building opens doors

Curtin University’s Legacy Living Lab (L3), a modular building re-defining housing sustainability and innovation, has officially been unveiled in Fremantle, WA.

With construction and demolition waste contributing to at least 40 percent of Australia’s landfill, L3 goes against classic building techniques, showcasing more sustainable methods of construction to limit our carbon footprint.

How so? 

The building, which was designed by two Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) institute PhD candidates and supported by DevelopmentWA, incorporates innovative and sustainable technologies from a variety of organisations, including Quantify, and can quite literally be disassembled, transported and relocated, instead of demolished, thus, increasing building efficiency and reducing material consumption and waste.

Quantify joined the project in its infancy, signing a Heads of Agreement with Curtin in March 2019 to have its automation products, including the intelligent dimmer and power point, featured throughout the lab.

Quantify’s CEO Brett Savill said Quantify’s devices would help to reduce the energy used by the building, saving emissions and money long-term.

“The lab demonstrates the impact that innovative technologies, such as Quantify’s, can have on the future of sustainable living,” Brett said.

The opening event:

The building, which has its home in the East Village at Knutsford sustainable-living development, was unveiled at an intimate event last Friday 23 October and welcomed City of Fremantle’s Mayor Dr Brad Pettitt, CUSP staff and L3 partners, such as Quantify and Fleetwood Australia, who specialise in the design, manufacture and installation of modular buildings.

Dr Pettitt, who’s expertise includes climate change and sustainability planning, said the project would serve as a prototype for housing in the future.

“L3 shows built housing can be a part of the sustainability solution and will be a hub for innovation going forward,” Dr Pettitt said.

Timothy O’Grady, who is one of the two CUSP PhD candidates that designed L3, said he was exceptionally proud of the project, which continues to push the boundary of innovation.

“This is a circular economy building that aims to realise the benefit of the ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ concept,” O’Grady said.

“It’s great to see the building complete and all of our work come to fruition. I’d also like to thank Quantify for being one of the first supporters on board for the project.”

L3 includes two kitchenettes, a bathroom, balcony and several workspaces, featuring both individual desks and collaboration areas.

Moving forward, the lab will continue to be modified and tested, making it an ongoing experiment and source for research, data and innovation.

L3 also features an iHUB facility, connecting Curtin with four other Australian universities – the University of Queensland, UNSW Sydney, Swinburne University of Technology and Monash University – enabling test data to be instantly collated and shared.

O’Grady was joined by fellow CUSP PhD student, Roberto Minunno, in designing L3, under the supervision of CUSP Director, Professor Greg Morrison, as a means to support their circular economy research.

Read more about L3 HERE and HERE

Note: Quantify’s existing qDimmer and qPower devices have been installed in the project. Zimi’s products are not currently featured.