Low Technology vs.

High Technology
“...we must at the outset take note of the
countries and climates in which buildings
are built.”

● Vitruvius
110BC
“The True basis for the more serious study
of the art of Architecture lies with those
indigenous humble buildings that are to
architecture what folklore is to literature or
folksong to music...”
● Frank Lloyd Wright, 1930
Architecture without Architects...
CLOSED
SYSTEMS
 Exponential growth in high energy use
consumables

In 30 years Residential Energy Consumption

increased 65%

Population increased 35%

Sustainable /vernacular architecture diminishes with the
availability of increasingly exotic materials and client
consumer demand.
legislation
Pressures on the form of human
settlements have remained
constant since 1996 while
responses have been inadequate in
most respects.
-Australia State of the Environment Report 2001 pp.98

The condition of some urban

infrastructure is deteriorating, pressures
on it are increasing and Government
responses have not been fully adequate.
-Australia State of the Environment 2001 pp.99
rhetoric=spin
Signatory = 'in principal' agreement

Party = commits country legally

binding
 party
● Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora (Brussels, 1964 )
● Agreement establishing the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (Apia, 1993 )
● Amendment of the Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific Region (Rome, 1967 )
● Amendment to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (Art.XI) (Bonn, 1979 )
● Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal,
1997 )
● Amendments to Annexes to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of
Wastes and Other Matter concerning Incineration at Sea (Torremolinos, 1978 )
● Amendments to Articles 6 and 7 of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Regina(Canada), 1987 )
● Comprehensive Nuclear Test - Ban Treaty (New York, 1996 )
● Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (Paris, 1972 )
● Convention for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (Canberra, 1993 )
● Convention on Biological Diversity (Rio de Janeiro, 1992 )
● Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar,
1971 )
● International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (New York, 1966 )
● International Tropical Timber Agreement (Geneva, 1994 )
● The Antarctic Treaty (Washington, 1959 )
● Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty on Environmental Protection (Madrid, 1991 )
●
signatory
Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish
Stocks (New York, 1995 )
● Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (Vienna, 1997 )
● Convention to ban the Importation into Forum Island Countries of Hazardous Wastes and Radioactive
Wastes and to control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within the
South Pacific (Waigani, 1995 )
● Energy Charter Protocol on Energy Efficiency and related Environmental Aspects (Lisbon, 1994 )
● Energy Charter Treaty (Lisbon, 1994 )
● International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships ( MARPOL ) (London, 1973 )
● International Convention relating to the Limitation of the Liability of Owners of Sea-going Ships (Brussels,
1957 )
● International Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and
or Desertification (Paris, 1994 )
● Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste
Management (Vienna, 1997 )
● Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (Kyoto, 1997 )
● Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the South Pacific Region by Dumping (Nouméa, 1986 )
● Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter
(London, 1996 )
● Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and
Pesticides in International Trade (Rotterdam, 1998 )
By 2005, have made demonstrable progress in achieving its commitments under this
Protocol

Formulate, where relevant and to the extent possible, cost-effective national and, where
appropriate, regional programmes to improve the quality of local emission factors,

Formulate, implement, publish and regularly update national and, where appropriate,
regional programmes containing measures to mitigate climate change and measures to
facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change:

(i) Such programmes would, inter alia, concern the energy, transport and
industry sectors as well as agriculture, forestry and waste management. Furthermore,
adaptation technologies and methods for improving spatial
planning would improve adaptation to climate change;