BLOGS
Sustainability Research Centre (SRCe)
The SRCe is a pioneering framework designed to bring together community, industry, and research in co-governance of sustainable urban development. Rooted in circular economy principles, the centre will facilitate collaborative master planning, data-driven decision-making through digital twins, and community empowerment via citizen juries.
More than a concept, SRCe is a blueprint for how future communities can be governed - equitably, transparently, and sustainably.
In Memoriam - Walter Burley Griffin
86 years after his passing, we reflect on Walter Burley Griffin’s enduring vision - not just for Canberra, but for places like North Arm Cove, where his deep respect for nature, Indigenous knowledge, and urban foresight still resonate. Through excerpts from Marion Mahony Griffin’s Magic of America, this tribute reaffirms why heritage matters - and why North Arm Cove remains a living legacy worth protecting and reviving.
#NetZero Diplomatic Mission in Sydney
In Sydney’s heritage suburb of Woollahra, DESIM is transforming the Serbian Consulate into what may be Australia’s first Passive House–certified diplomatic mission. Through the reuse of materials, circular design principles, and cutting-edge energy efficiency, this project sets a benchmark in sustainable architecture - reducing energy use by 75% and achieving full off-grid capability with solar power.
Circular Economy and Sustainability Strategies
In July 2021, Dejan Simovic completed the Circular Economy and Sustainability Strategies program at the University of Cambridge, Judge Business School. The course explored how to lead sustainable transformation through circular thinking - bridging social, environmental, and economic priorities. With a strong focus on innovation, impact investment, and systems thinking, the program equipped professionals to build sustainable business models and drive measurable change.
Form Follows Performance - Part 2
As we approach a future that demands radical rethinking of our built environment, performance in architecture must go beyond aesthetics. In this reflection, Dejan Simovic explores what it truly means for form to follow performance - balancing efficiency and flexibility in space, materials, energy, communication, time, and environmental impact.
With nearly 30 years in practice across three continents, he offers a candid critique of the architectural profession’s current state and a call to return to its roots: building with purpose, care, and integrity.