What is the Environment Design Guide?

A historical peer-reviewed series of ESD notes for Australian built-environment practice. This site reconstructs the public catalogue with original summaries and 301s from classic PHP paths.

How should students cite EDG notes?

Cite the note ID and title, name this rewrite as the page you read (with access date), and name the current Australian agency document you relied on for compliance. See the insights post on citing notes.

What is the CH2 building and why is it famous for ESD?

Council House 2 is the City of Melbourne office at 240 Little Collins Street, opened in 2006 and widely cited as Australia’s first 6 Star Green Star Office Design project. CAS 36 records the integrated design process.

What is water-sensitive urban design (WSUD)?

An Australian approach to urban water that keeps, treats and reuses rain close to source. Start with DES 11 and the Docklands CAS 46–48 trio.

What is Passivhaus in Australia?

A fabric and ventilation performance method discussed in EDG 79 and EDG 89. It sits beside the NCC and NatHERS; it does not replace them.

Are these the original PDFs?

No. Original notes were often paywalled. Pages here are new educational writing that attributes IDs and titles.

Do you give project advice?

No. Contact the editor for catalogue corrections. Hire licensed professionals for a site.

Daylit commercial interior with pale surfaces and work tables

FAQ

Answers first, then the catalogue

Each answer starts with the sentence an answer engine can lift. Links take you into the note that earns the claim.

Questions, answered first

What is the Environment Design Guide?: A historical peer-reviewed series of ESD notes for Australian built-environment practice. This site reconstructs the public catalogue with original summaries and 301s from classic PHP paths.
How should students cite EDG notes?: Cite the note ID and title, name this rewrite as the page you read (with access date), and name the current Australian agency document you relied on for compliance. See the insights post on citing notes.
What is the CH2 building and why is it famous for ESD?: Council House 2 is the City of Melbourne office at 240 Little Collins Street, opened in 2006 and widely cited as Australia’s first 6 Star Green Star Office Design project. CAS 36 records the integrated design process.
What is water-sensitive urban design (WSUD)?: An Australian approach to urban water that keeps, treats and reuses rain close to source. Start with DES 11 and the Docklands CAS 46–48 trio.
What is Passivhaus in Australia?: A fabric and ventilation performance method discussed in EDG 79 and EDG 89. It sits beside the NCC and NatHERS; it does not replace them.
Are these the original PDFs?: No. Original notes were often paywalled. Pages here are new educational writing that attributes IDs and titles.
Do you give project advice?: No. Contact the editor for catalogue corrections. Hire licensed professionals for a site.

A short how-to: cite one note this afternoon

Pick the question your brief actually asks.
Open the matching hub — strategies, case studies, or papers.
Copy the ID and title into your bibliography.
Add this site’s URL and today’s date if you did not hold the PDF.
Add the NCC, NABERS or state page you will actually obey.

Worked prose lives in How students should cite Environment Design Guide notes.

This independent editorial guide is not affiliated with the Australian Institute of Architects or any ratings body. Historical Environment Design Guide note IDs, titles and authorship are cited for attribution only. Summaries are original educational rewrites — not a substitute for the original peer-reviewed notes, current NCC / NABERS / Green Star documentation, or professional advice. Trademarks remain with their owners.