In the face of Australia’s disaster-prone environment, architects Ian Weir and James Davidson are reconceptualising how our residential buildings might become more resilient to fire, flood and cyclone. With their first-hand experience of natural disasters, James, director of Emergency Architects Australia (EAA), and Ian, one of Australia’s few ‘bushfire architects’, discuss the ways we can design with disaster in mind.

James Davidson
James Davidson is the Queensland Director of Emergency Architects Australia (EAA) and recently coordinated an extensive study of flood damaged houses throughout Southeast Queensland following the Queensland floods and in far North Queensland after Cyclone Yasi. Involving more than 300 volunteer architects and architecture students, this team offered free advice on how to restore homes including cleaning, repairs, the drying of building materials and working with engineers on building integrity.

Ian Weir
Dr Ian Weir is one of Australia’s few ‘bushfire architects’. Exploring a holistic ‘ground up’ approach to bushfire where landscape, building design and habitation patterns are orchestrated to respond to site-specific fire characteristics. Ian’s research is developed through design studio teaching at QUT and through built works in Western Australia’s fire prone forests and heathlands.