Radical Centre: Innovating bushfire resilient architecture

Content The artwork comprises a digital presentation of original digital images and designs produced by the author and is accompanied by verbal provocations. The artwork was presented/performed at the Blue Mountains Theatre in Springwood NSW on 8th Sept 2017. Context Borrowing from Indigenous leader Noel Pearson's concept of the Radical Centre (applied by Pearson to political science) the author here appropriates the notion of a Radical Centre approach as a means of instigating lateral thinking around a critical international problem pertaining to bushfire resilient architecture - where the key challenge lies in resolving the (otherwise) conflicting management goals of bushfire safety and biodiversity conservation. That is; how might designers of bushfire resilient architecture achieve the aim of vegetation conservation when natural vegetation is the primary source fuel for bushfires. Rather than seeking a moderate balance between safety and vegetation clearing (or a 'sensible centre' approach as Pearson defines it), the Radical Centre instead presents a mode of operating from within the conflict zone outwards. In doing so instigates novel design thinking and therefore encourages innovation. Significance In the last 100 years over 800 people have been killed by Bushfire with over 5000 homes lost - just in Australia alone. Most people die in or close to their houses. With a drying and warming climate and an increase population we will see greater human life loss from bushfires around the world unless we address the most critical issue which is the design of houses. The greatest barrier that curtails innovation in building design is the misconception that bushfire safety and bushland protection can not co-exist. The author challenges this paradigm with his provocation of the Radical Centre.