Ross Harding is an engineer by profession, a solutions based, problem-solving professional. But in an acknowledgment of the climate crisis and sustainability challenges we face, Harding takes this further. Much further. He’s one of the most creative built environment people we’ve come across.
In this episode of TFE Learn, Harding scales the ramparts of imagination and gives great ideas material practical manifestations. Including the new 100 per cent timber building plan he’s cooking up with Melbourne developer MAB – still in its concept phase – but with plans that aspire to more sustainability solutions than we’ve seen on the Australian landscape.
One building Harding speaks fondly of is a “tech startup hub” next to Richmond, 3 kilometres east of Melbourne CBD.
“The client brought us in and asked us … ‘What would make the biggest impact on this project? And we said we want to build a 10-ton-a-day waste-to-energy plant in the basement. I think everyone just about fell off their seats when we mentioned that, but everyone worked through it together,” Harding says.
The idea received enthusiastic support from the local council, who had approved the plant, but the team is still awaiting approval on additional height.
“It’s designed to generate more energy than it consumes, it actually provides treated water to the building as well – it’s pretty exciting.”
“The planning approval process in Melbourne has been a bit tricky, but it feels like it’s getting a bit easier to support great developments like this, that needs that support as they go.”
Harding says work on the “tallest building in the world”, which will have “no concrete in it” is also underway.