Throughout a forty-year architectural career working in contested environments, Nigel has excelled in sharing his deep green and social equity commitments to create a broad sustainability portfolio. From student leadership through to heritage work, environmental practice, education, waste reduction and on to ‘sustainability’ planning design and construction (following a Churchill Fellowship 1994), he has long progressed environmental principles and architectural practices. This includes progressing alternative (organic) materials and finishes, recycling, biomimicry, energy efficiency (embodied and operation), composting toilets and more, always promoting the architectural delight of what nature provides for free.

Nigel’s sustainable educational work started early with community, TAFE (2003) ‘Environmental Building Principles’ noted by UTS Institute for Sustainability as “.. the outstanding comprehensive environmental educational module across Australia” and teaching across four universities. He was recognised as the Blue Mountains ‘Outstanding Environmental Business Practice’ before becoming a ‘Greenstar Professional’ and ‘Climate Reality’ leader. His commitment includes over twenty years of running pro-bono the ‘Blue Mountains ECOhomes Tours’; leading bushfire recovery (Victoria, NSW), representing the profession on Australian Standards and the 2020 Royal Commission and more.

Nigel has spent years on the Institute of Architects Sustainability Committee plus been elected multiple times to the NSW Chapter Council and Architects Registration Board. His contribution to the profession led to becoming a ‘Fellow AIA’ in 2014.

Photography courtesy of Nigel Bell.