A collaborative group of industry experts, researchers, designers and practitioners across the Australian built environment today launched the Nature Design Guide – a substantial new resource available online and as a downloadable PDF.
The Guide, which also incorporates a Country and Nature design tool, provides a forward-looking framework for anyone involved in shaping the built environment to embed nature-positive approaches into design. Its aim is to protect and restore biodiversity, regenerate ecosystems, support communities, and deliver climate-resilient places through a Country-centred approach to nature-based design.
Practical and Industry-Led
Developed collaboratively, the Nature Design Guide combines diverse knowledge, design elements and best practice case studies. These real-world examples demonstrate measurable benefits achieved through embedding Country and Nature outcomes at the outset of projects.
The guide provides guidance on key Country and Nature concepts, processes, a decision-making tool, and practical steps to help project teams embed Country and nature-positive outcomes into the design process. Featuring practical advice, the guide equips professionals designing new developments to do more than target the minimisation of harm, but instead to actively protect, regenerate, restore, and respect the cultural landscapes and natural world that sustains us all.
Wide-Ranging Collaboration
Specialists from across industry and academia contributed their expertise, representing organisations including Lendlease, OCULUS, Nature and Climate, Fytogreen, Living Future Institute of Australia, Arcadis, Living Seawalls, Curtin University, Francisii Ecology, Harrington & Low Consulting, Mott Macdonald, Mansfield Advisory, Global GreenTag International, Hollow Log Homes, and AECOM.
Together, they bring perspectives spanning environmental science, architecture, urban and landscape design, property and infrastructure development, sustainable construction and engineering, urban ecology, building materials design, regenerative, building design and certification, sustainable product and materials certification, and higher education.
“The Nature Design Guide is a valuable resource that provides the industry with a framework to design Country-centred and nature-positive places,” said Andrea Vargas, Principal Sustainability Consultant at Arcadis. “By providing practical and actionable strategies, it helps project teams create built environments that restore ecosystems, strengthen resilience and enhance community wellbeing. At Arcadis, our mission is Improving Quality of Life, and we are proud to contribute to this guide as part of our commitment to shaping a more sustainable and equitable future.”
A Guide to Inspire New Leaders
Abigail Heywood, Environmental Sustainability Expert and Climate Action & Nature Impact Advocate, who led the Guide’s development, said:
“We hope that more leaders will emerge through interaction with the Nature Design Guide. It was important that this document was collaborative to share diverse knowledge and perspectives that readers can quickly engage with and apply to projects. It is our response to the growing call from investors, clients, communities and regulators for stronger nature outcomes in the built environment – and we hope it will accelerate outcomes in that direction.”
“Importantly, we wanted the Guide to be grounded and practical — to provide step-by-step support for decision-making across design, development and delivery phases. Above all, it helps ensure the best possible decisions are made to amplify benefits for all realms of nature.”
The Nature Design Guide is available to support designers, developers, planners, policymakers, communities and industry leaders in reshaping the built environment with Country and Nature at its heart.
We invite you to download the Nature Design Guide here: [LINK]
- Nature Design Guide (PDF) [Insert Appropriate Link]
- Nature Design Guide Tool (Microsoft Excel) [Insert Appropriate Link]
- How to Navigate the Guide (PDF) [Insert Appropriate Link]