Sustainability and Toxicity of Building Materials : Manufacture, Use and Disposal Stages

• Examines toxicity in the extraction and manufacturing of materials
• Presents the short and long-term toxicity effects of natural and manmade building materials
• Guides readers in selecting building materials that have a positive impact on the health of occupants and the environment

Dr Emina Kristina Petrović is recognised for her expertise on toxicity, sustainability, and healthiness of building materials. Petrović emphasises the importance of informed building material selection for both the built and natural environment, calling for a more detailed consideration of building materials for the totality of their impacts, from ecosystem health to ethics of production. By asserting the relevance of the interrelatedness of these issues, Petrović is providing a critical leadership in a transition to less impactful construction. Because knowledge itself is not enough for the needed change, Petrović has also contributed a new sustainable transition framework, and examines aspects of behaviour change in building industry.

Associate Professor Morten Gjerde has a strong interest in the different ways materials can be used to support design intentions, to enhance energy efficiencies and comfort of occupants, and to minimize impacts on climate and resources. As the son of a cabinetmaker, he gained an appreciation for craft and making early on, which he has continued to develop throughout his architectural and academic careers. He invites his students to exploit the sensory qualities of materials in their design work and to consider the way they age and change during the life of the building.

Dr Fabricio Chicca is a senior lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. He is recognized for his expertise as a critical thinker and researcher in the field of sustainability in architecture, with a background spanning over 20 years as an architect and urban designer. Fabricio's focus is to examine whether the prevailing conventional approach to sustainable architecture effectively addresses the current environmental challenges. He is studying the potential of a paradigm shift towards sustainable architecture, as well as the role of the environmental impact of materials in the construction industry. His diverse research covers sustainability, life cycle assessment, urban agriculture, city impacts, and critical analysis of environmental certification and architectural practices and critical analysis of environmental certification and sustainable architectural practices.

Guy Marriage is a Senior Lecturer in Architecture with a specialist interest in Construction. Having worked full time in commercial practice for over 20 years, he has now been teaching construction for the next 20 years. His research is primarily focused on improving the construction of buildings, and spans topics such as structural prefabrication, tall building construction, innovative engineered timber technology, and ways to design better medium density housing.