CWA EXPERIENCE DESIGNING IN
TROPICAL ENVIRONMENTS
1. CWA AWARD WINNING SUCCESS IN TROPICAL DESIGN
The climate of the wet tropics enables you to think about buildings in an entirely unique manner – one
can literally design an open outdoor room under a large roof canopy due to the minor annual
temperature fluctuation’ Charles Wright AR magazine September 2008.
CWA have purposely developed the business in the tropics to produce unique, vibrant and
progressive sustainable architecture “that really works” .We have managed to do this through
understanding the potentials and constraints of designing in a tropical environment.
Our work is about place-making, striving to capture a sense of place in our projects, a belonging. We
set-out to innovate and revolutionize current thinking in tropical architecture, to develop a progressive
body of work intent on constant research and experimentation. In the tropics, you have the freedom to
design buildings in a unique manner, like no other place in the world. The minor annual temperature
fluctuation allows for outdoor living to take on a whole new meaning for architecture. There are
constant sources of inspiration from the surrounding environment that become part of the creative
sub-conscious, culminating and taking shape in intuitive design decisions. As a pristine environment,
sustainability is not just a “buzz” word in the tropics, it can’t be. We find that design innovation often
occurs in the meeting of sustainability with the demands of the extreme and corrosive conditions of
the wet tropical climate. Even stainless steel can rust here.. Innovation lies in solutions for everyday
use of our building s by the people who are met with the task of on-going maintenance and actual
realisation of the building life cycle.
Our vision for the future is to redefine what tropical architecture can be, to develop a new architectural
language across the globe as tropical latitude. We want to attract national and international attention
to the tropical Region through design innovation. We see the real potential for projects as both global
and local landmarks. Great architecture exceeds the highest standards and needs to incorporate the
local stories, themes, Indigenous Cultures and people of the region and inspire imagination.
2. ONGOING RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATION
CWA are perpetually testing and analysing new ways of designing in tropical environments. We see
innovation not as a process of reckless experimentation but a sensible development and process of
research into new and better ways of designing buildings.
3. ALTERNATIVE ARCHITECURAL AGENDA
As well as the technical side CWA are committed to exploring new possibilities of what tropical
architecture can look like. CWA are committed to producing architecture which is expressive of the
people and organisations which use it and not simple mimicking of conventional tropical types.
CWA through their architecture are committed to focusing international attention on the tropics.
VALUE ADDING STRATEGIES
1. DE-RISKING THROUGH A COMMITMENT TO COLLOBORATION
Through their workshopping process CWA are able to reduce the risk on any project by:
-successfully indentifying and resolving potential conflict at the early stages of the project and not
allowing them to become an issue at a later critical stage.
- creating a project culture where decision making is a collective process made with the client and not
the fault of the consultants or contractor.
2. NOT DESIGNING IN FUTURE PROBLEMS
CWA are able to design out potential future risks problems. CWA’s are focused on resolving whole of
life costs from the outset of the project including:
- Service delivery outcomes,
- Functionality,
-operational efficiency,
-capital and recurrent cost effectiveness
-OH&S outcomes for staff and clients.
- Energy usage
3. PROVEN EXPERIENCE IN LARGE SCALE UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS
With extensive experience on research buildings CWA are able to value add to the projects by:
-Knowing how to manage large complex clients groups.
- being experts in the field and knowing what may work and what may not work from the outset.
- having the technical knowledge in this building type
- knowing the right questions to ask
4. PROVEN LOCAL EXPERTISE IN ICONIC & ESD PROJECTS “ON BUDGET”
CWA are one of a few architectural firms who have been able to deliver iconic tropical ESD buildings
on budget. They do this through:
- Knowledge and experience in delivering the best solution within the limits of the budget
- Demonstrated experience with the Local Construction Industry in actually delivering innovative
solutions by working with the local building industry not against it
5. TROPICAL ESD “THAT WE KNOW WORKS”
With experience in the building type and experience in working in the tropics CWA are able to deliver
the ESD solutions in the tropics that work. They work from a position of experience in the field and are
able to bring this experience in designing innovative ESD solutions to the project.
6. QUALITY ASSURANCE
Proven quality assurance systems which assess and manage the developing design and functional
planning work against your requirements CWA have all the necessary Indemnity and Insurance as
well as Quality Assurance Protocols to deliver any major project.
We have a Quality Management System to ISO 9001 that is second party audited by Queensland
Government registration No 7145 and also currently hold Queensland Government Pre-Qualified
Consultant Level of 3 – PQC no. 2303A. CWA has been assessed against the National Code of
Practice for the Construction Industry and Guidelines by Australian Government Department of
Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) confirming that CWA is compliant.