Amid a cyclone, aid team turns to 3D printers for rare parts

As the wind pulled at the edges of the roof so hard he thought it would lift right off, Mazher Mohammed hugged a 3D printer to his body, vaguely hoping that might provide it with some sort of protection from the sheeting rain.

 Mazher Mohammed was part of a team that used waste
 plastic and a 3D printer to help improve water supply
in the Solomon Islands.

“All the stuff around me was just flying around — and I’m holding this printer down as it’s printing out the part we needed to fix the pipe,” he says, shaking his head. “But a Yorkshire man never worries.”

In late January, Dr Mohammed found himself in Visale, a couple of hours along the coast from the Solomon Islands’ capital, Honiara, as cyclonic conditions battered the region. Some local nuns kindly agreed to put up the bedraggled doctor.

Read the story by Liam Mannix in The Age - “Amid a cyclone, aid team turns to 3D printers for rare parts.”

Rooftop urban farm revealed at Frasers’ Living Building Challenge retail site

The Burwood Brickworks retail centre, designed to be the world’s most sustainable shopping centre, has revealed it will house a 2000-square-metre urban farm and restaurant on its roof.

The Burwood Brickworks retail centre.

Teaming up with environmentalist Joost Bakker on the project, building developer Frasers Property Australia is now calling for expression of interest from tenants wanting to take over the rooftop space.

Last year, Frasers executive general manager, retail Peri Macdonald revealed to The Fifth Estate intentions to create an urban farm that would be a financial boon for the developer.

Read Cameron Jewell’s story on The Fifth Estate - “Rooftop urban farm revealed at Frasers’ Living Building Challenge retail site."