In 2009, George & Emma Thirkell founded the Tropical Building Network that promoted building products, construction services, news, and events relating to building in the tropics. Our service to the construction industry was recognized in the 2012 Premiers Sustainability Awards. In 2013/14 we were contracted by the Queensland Government to produce the Advance Tropical Green Build Directory and in 2015 the Regional Development Australia FNQTS Tropical Energy Saver project. We represented the Network at the 2014 World Green Building Council conference in Jakarta and have collaborated with James Cook University to publish over 40 case studies on tropical buildings and structures.
TropicalBuild promotes tropical design and building expertise by showcasing good design and construction through a series of case studies delivered by George and Emma Thirkell, along with industry colleagues and James Cook University. Tropical design guides and other literature is also presented to assist the industry and public in our collective endeavors to create buildings with enduring quality, that valuably contributes to the community, the economy and the environment.
Case Studies
Explore over 40 case studies that capture best practice tropical expertise in the Cairns and regional built environment.
Resources
Collection of guides and other literature on design and building in the tropics.
Forum and Library
Archived documents.
