David is an architect and builder, and the founding director of student Design Construct program at the School of Art, Architecture and Design. David’s teaching and research is focused on climatically and culturally responsive architecture for remote communities in Australia and overseas. David’s specialises in passive solar building design, autonomous energy systems, waste water treatment systems, prefabricated construction and transportation, and cross cultural consultation aimed at improving built environment outcomes for remote indigenous communities.
Over 25 years, the Design Construct program has grown to become the longest running and largest practice-based teaching program of its type in Australasia. In 2013, the program was awarded the Australian Teaching Award for Programs that Enhance Learning and has attracted numerous other teaching, professional and community awards. The program engages students from an increasingly wide range of disciplines including architecture, design, building, engineering, construction management, and health in the design and construction of culturally and climatically responsive projects for indigenous communities in remote locations and extreme climates of Australia and Vanuatu.
David’s current research is focussed on appropriate design technologies for remote community building projects including the application and monitoring of passive environmental design strategies in tropical and arid desert climates to achieve thermal comfort, developing strategies for a zero energy housing, and developing low-tech aerobic waste water treatment systems.