Scotch College

Environmental architecture

Simon Swaney

Environmental architecture

Simon Swaney believes passionately in "environmental architecture", and he has the awards to prove that he practises what he preaches.

Over the years his architecture firm, Swaney Draper Pty Ltd has won a number of awards for designs which take environmental concerns into account, including the design of Lauriston Girls' School's Howqua campus in Victoria's high country.

The Old Scotch boy from the class of '70, together with his business partner Sally Draper, as developed Swaney Draper into one of Melbourne's best respected architectural firms, employing a total staff of 26, including 19 architects and two interior designers.

The Church, South Melbourne. Photo: Tim Griffith.

"Sally came from a background of logical design, so that complemented my experience in the building industry, and has helped us to tackle big institutional projects with confidence and knowledge," Simon told Great Scot.

To Simon, environmental architecture is not just a passing fad."It's a factor we must take into account in every project," he said."For example, t's quite shortsighted to design a building that is aesthetically pleasing, tt takes little account of Australia's unique climatic factors.

"A 12storey building with a huge bank of windows facing west that requires a powerful air conditioning system to cool it is environmentally irresponsible," he said."With care, the design could incorporate sun control and natural ventilation to offset the effects of the sun's heat."

Swaney Draper earned its first environmental award in 1992, or the design of the South Melbourne fire station, building which incorporated features of natural ventilation, thermal mass and passive solar design."Similarly, Lauriston's Howqua campus in Victoria's high country is now up to its sixth stage, and has incorporated environmental features right through, including sun control and the use of recyclable and economical building materials," Simon said.

Another example is the design of a new building for Melbourne Grammar School's Wadhurst middle school."Among other features at Wadhurst, we designed the building's interior to be column free, so that when the school wishes to change its use in future, the interior can be gutted with minimum waste and the building easily adapted, within the existing structure."

Simon studied building at Melbourne University, and initially worked for construction firms E A Watts and Jennings. then he started to become involved with architects in building houses, his interesting architecture was kindled. He enrolled in a Bachelor of Architecture course, graduating with honours in 1980.

"My building degree and experience in the building industry have been indispensable in architectural practice. I can understand the use of building materials and how buildings are assembled," he said.

Among large institutional projects, Swaney Draper has worked on building designs for the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment and the Department of Justice, as well as other school projects. The firm also does some residential and commercial work.

"I do get a lot satisfaction from institutional projects, such as the design for the South Melbourne fire station. e had to come up with a design that was utilitarian yet attractive, and we won an award for that one. he also won an award for the design of a steelbridge at Birrarung Marr in Melbourne, which followed the same principles."

Does he ever look at a building he's designed and say "If I had my time again, I'd design that building differently"?

"I wouldn't be honest if I said 'no'. Every project is a learning exercise for the next one. If it weren't that way, we wouldn't keep on innovating, and pushing the boundaries of design to new levels," he said.

Lauriston Girls' School, Howqua Campus. Photo: Peter Hyatt